How do I get a doctors letter for OTC medication?

[talkwithmybestfriend]

I’m travelling to Norway at the weekend. I have a knee injury and I’ve been recommended to take cocodamol with me just in case it flares up. I have done a google search and it says that because it’s a controlled drug in most of Europe, I’ll need a prescription for it.

The only issue is, it’s OTC here! Do I just need to contact my GP, explain that I’ve been recommended to take cocodamol with me, and that because of the rules in Europe I need a prescription? Or am I best off doing a private GP’s appointment? I feel a bit confused now!

Presumably you have a prescription for that though?

Guess it’s staying at home. Just really rubbish that my GP are entirely unhelpful

Unfortunately at my surgery you get charged £50 minimum for a letter from the doctor, where a prescription is £9 + , sorry don’t know how much a prescription is now a days but it’s a lot less than a letter

I’ve never taken a prescription with me for codeine nor do I take one for tramadol and tramodol is worse than codeine
I refuse to pay for a letter from the doctor £50+

Just ask the GP to prescribe some?

Sorry I missed you saying the GP won’t prescribe it. Why not?

That would cost the GP money.

Yeah, of course they have. 🙄

One of those articles is from 2017, I went to Mexico that year with diazepam and codeine pills and have been plenty of places since with the same stuff. Seriously you’re over thinking it

edited - typo

They say that because the hospital physio has seen me, my care is now in their hands and not the GP. Even though they know full well that the physio can’t prescribe me anything. And I don’t even want to be taking opiates, I just want to stop feeling agony for a week

god you are really overthinking things unless your taking in 200 300 packets of CC no one is going to take any notice of you
you really aren’t that important 😂

just get some and put in your bag
Customs aren’t gonna lock you up for a packet of CC they might lock you up for acting suspicious though

if you were going to Dubai or somewhere like that then yeah you would need the prescription to prove it’s yours and that your not taking in more than what you need

but as someone who is prescribed tramadol
co codamol and a few other heavy duty drugs prescriptions only
Not to mention all my HRT shit I have to take I’m like a pharmacy in my suitcase

I have never ever been asked about anything at all and I’ve been on 2-3 holidays a year for the past 25 years

The point being you have prescriptions and paperwork to back it up.

the rules are there for a reason and I’m not about to mess around, and potentially end up in a lot of trouble.

That’s ridiculous and completely wrong. Of you her pain a GP can absolutely prescribe medication. In fact, she he vast majority of people who are seen by hospitals are prescribed by their GP. I would be questioning that with management.

I travel regularly and always take codeine based pain relief with me as paracetamol just doesn't help. I don't have a prescription for it and have never been asked about it in any European country. Unless you are thinking of taking a dozen boxes all packed together, it won't be flagged up as suspicious or illegal. If you really are that worried, don't take it with you and put up with the pain. Your bag won't be checked upon arrival in Norway and you can ditch any leftovers before your flight home if you think you'd be stopped......

I wouldn't take it to the Middle East (but I'd rather not have to go there anyway).

Yes but it's never been asked for .

My local pharmacy offers private consults and prescriptions for when you cant get to a GP. Idk whats covered as never used it, but there's a big sign on the counter. Maybe worth checking if yours does? Independent, not a chain if that makes a difference

Id say you will be fine. Ive taken naproxen and other higher strengths abroad, and I have enough for the planned trip and a little more. You're not carrying thousands with you.

Op, if you're that worried just don't take them. Like pp have said the 8mg cocodamol isn't that strong anyway for all this angst. Just take paracetamol and ibuprofen.

One my sons lives in a Scandinavian country and has taken packs of pain meds back with him every xmas as its cheaper here, including codeine ( I didn't know this rule so I'd be classed as a supplier🥴), he's never had a problem but if your worried just take ibruphren and paracetomol (you can take both alongside each other) as above poster suggested, as 8mg codeine not doing that much anyway or ask GP for prescription of naproxen which is stronger than ibruphren, then you will have proof, probably work better than codeine anyway as anti inflammatory👍

the rules are there for a reason

That’s exactly the point we’re all trying to make, they’re not. If they were they’d be global and some drugs wouldn’t be OTC in some countries and not in others. Just stop overthinking.

Sadly they do nothing, I’ve even tried the combined.

My point is your seriously overthinking it
you are just one of thousands of people flying in to Norway on any giving day
you aren’t important
and unless your taking hundreds of packets of cc no one will bother you

https://updoc.co.uk/prescription-request?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22884474205&gbraid=0AAAAApgBOG6luxeLxkgp2pwfDgRbeGWn8&gclid=Cj0KCQiAtfXMBhDzARIsAJ0jp3BJiJoIrbvDF2OSSTWQDvT-2y5CmxA6HjyOqbweRNyKabVEeBfYEmAaAvkvEALw_wcB

You could pay £24.95 for a consultation then you'd have to pay for the Co-codamol.

Honestly, though, you shouldn't take Co-codamol for more than 3 days. It's very addictive and hard to break free from. The more you take, the more you need.

Do you know the turnaround on this? I get paid tomorrow