On holiday only i`m afraid

Jeffro

Many drugs which are prescription only here are available over the counter in Spain much cheaper than a prescription charge, eg antibiotics. I also stock up on Zovirax for cold sores as it only costs about £2.30 in Spain compared with £6+ here.

luci

Hi. I have to take medication on a daily basis, so I always ensure I have enough with me before I travel. Your GP is unlikely to double up your prescription though, so you need to submit your repeat prescription into your Pharmacy a little earlier than you normally would do. This is what i do, and by doing so you should find that you have enough medication to last you for the duration of your holiday.

I have never tried to get a UK Repeat Prescription filled whilst overseas, and I very much doubt that would be possible....but certain medication which is only available on prescription here in the UK, can be bought over the counter for much less than what you pay for it here in the UK.

For example, in Greece, you can buy Ventolin over the counter if you are asthmatic.....and its very cheap. Here in the UK, Ventolin can only be obtained via a Prescription.

I miscalculated the amount of prescription meds I needed when we went to Tenerife. I was on 11 tablets a day and only took about a third of what I needed.

I really didn't think I would be able to get them without a doctor's prescription, but I decided to ask at the pharmacists anyway. I was surprised and delighted to find I could get them and they only cost about a third of the cost of a prescription so I would say it's always worth checking with the pharmacists over there.

luci

Whilst it is possible that you could obtain these items abroad there is no guarantee. You need to ensure you have an adequate supply with you just in case.

Several years ago in Spain someone at our hotel did not. He was not able to get a further supply and they had to fly some out to him. His insurance company would not pay out as they deemed it to be his own fault.

fwh

In many countries, there is not a one-off item charge as in the UK, and therefore it is the actual costs of the medication itself you are paying for ... so it's not really possible to generalise the cost of filling a prescription.

When I was in Spain one year I was able to by antibiotics over the counter in the pharmacy for next to nothing.

I was able to get other medication that the doctor advised me to get in Tenerife when I was to get the medication at very little cost compared to the UK.

Going back to the original question....
Jeffro.
My husband is on medication (beta blockers) and he is exempt now. what he does...or I should say I do, I give the surgery a ring and tell them we are going away and he wont have enough to last....they should give you a post dated prescription to get the medication from the chemists a day or two before you fly.
My hubby usually has 3 monthly pre- dated prescriptions and sometimes this does not work out, when one prescription runs out on the first week of the holiday and the next supply starts...
I have found the pharmacists to be quite obliging and willing to dispense the prescription earlier when told the circumstances....but, we always go to the same chemist.
Whilst a lot of medicines can be bought abroad, especially antibiotics, some cannot...one should not rely on this and make adequate arrangements to take enough supply to last.

Besos xxx
sanJi

Just an update on buying prescription only drugs in Spain. As of 1st February it is now impossible to buy antibiotics over the counter in pharmacies in spain. You must have a prescription for them. It is still possible to buy other prescription drugs over the counter in certain circumstances, but they have clamped down completely on antibiotics.

'sir' is on permanent medication and whilst the doctor will not 'double up' on his prescription, they are quite happy to write a new one in time for his holiday and to make sure that he has sufficient supplies to last whilst we are away. I am sure that all you need to do is ask at your surgery and they will be quite prepared to make sure that you have all your medication before you travel.

but they have clamped down completely on antibiotics.

Hiya Sue

That is interesting reading, because I know that the over use of antibiotics by prescriptions being dished out like smarties in the past, has led society into the problems it has now.
The bugs have become resilliant to them and have mutated to the point of requiring scientists to create a new generation of stronger antibiotics, with a broad spectrum scope, that work in a different way.

I have for years, always bought a good supply of the antibiotic called Ammoxycillin in Spain.....costing a few Euros a course.
On my last visit, I bought enough tablets for 4 courses = 84 tabs at 3 a day x 7 days......the total price was just under €20...or £15.00 approx
These were shared between me and the SIL....who both pay for prescriptions in this country.

During my conversation with the pharmacist , I was asking for a long expiry date on the tablets and asked for 4 courses, she mis-heard me and thought I said enough for 40 courses and toddled off into the back to bring a huge box out and was prepared to sell them me.

I also bought a good supply of the antibiotic called Doxiciclina, or Doxycillin in this country, this is what my GP always prescribes when I have a chest infection.
I`m glad I did now ....the cost was €4.09 for a bottle of 30 tablets....by the time I run out, I will be exempt from payment here.

besos xxx
SanJi

Yes, it is the overuse of antibiotics that has forced this rule!! Although I do find it irritating that I can no longer buy them without a prescription I really do think the ruling is long overdue

My boss in UK even phoned me the other day to buy him some, cos he didn't want the "bother" of booking a doctors appointment to get his own prescription When I told him that it was now impossible, he suggested that I went to my doctor, got a prescription for myself, and then handed them to him As if!!!!!