this might be helpful for those concerned

Codiene in the UK is not a controlled drug in oral form but when travelling out of the UK can count as for schedule 2 controlled drugs (info below), travellers needing to take codeine phosphate preparations abroad may require a doctor's letter explaining why they are necessary - so if you are prescribed it by your GP - speak to your GP who can write a letter.

Aso parents with children with ADHD who are prescribed Ritalin/concerta should also speak to their GP as these medicines are also controlled drugs.

The Misuse of Drugs regulations 2001 puts drugs into different schedules:

Schedule 1 includes drugs such as cannabis and lysergide which are not used medicinally. Possession and supply are prohibited except in accordance with Home Office authority.

Schedule 2 includes drugs such as diamorphine (heroin), morphine, remifentanil, pethidine, secobarbital, glutethimide, amfetamine, and cocaine

Schedule 3 includes the barbiturates buprenorphine, diethylpropion, mazindol, meprobamate, pentazocine, phentermine, and temazepam.

Schedule 4 includes in Part I benzodiazepines (except temazepam which is in schedule 3) and zolpidem, which are subject to minimal control. Part II includes androgenic and anabolic steroids, clenbuterol, chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), non-human chorionic gonadotrophin, somatotropin, somatrem, and somatropin.

TRAVELLING ABROAD
Doctors are advised that patients intending to carry Schedule 2, 3 and 4 Part I (CD Benz) and part II (CD Anab) drugs abroad may require an export licence depending upon the amount of drug to be exported - doctors can check with the home office for more info.

well said tigger1
my advice would be to get a letter from your gp / travle advisor
for any prescription meds to be taken with you me i also take a small locked bag in my hand luggage with any meds in it lol i have been known to take sterile med kits with me on holls with a few items like cannulas and sutuering sets and i allways carry my nmc card (nurses and midwifery councle id )
lol and when i run a travle advice clinic i will if asked wright a letter for my patients/clients and list meds allergys and med conditions for them some charge though (i dont )at the moment but often i ask for them to give me 2-3 weeks if i start a prive travle clinic though things will change as i will need to be able to contact thier gps for the info and they will charge me for it
so be safe all
lol i am a registerd nurse and also als pals trained and work in a/e and gp practice
gw

Hi
a friend who is off to eygpt in 2 weeks mentioned that she had read that you had to take a Drs note with you saying they prescribed your medicines, as some UK prescribed drugs are illegal in egypt

Can anyone shed any light on this as we are off in august and need to take general stuff eg asthma stuff and contraceptive pill eg????

This is what i found on a hotel website:-

Medication

Although vaccinations are not mandatory to travel in Egypt, a booster and gamma globin for reinforcement are recommended. For most of the Red Sea region in general, tetanus, typhoid and parathyphoid are all suggested.
However, bring your prescription medicine. It will usually be available in Egyptian drug stores, but it may be called a different name. There is no problem with bringing prescription medication into Egypt. It is also more convenient to bring your favourite non-prescription medications along. Though you may find such medication in Egypt, such as heart burn medication and pain capsules, you may have problems finding your favourite brands.
Don't forget your anti-diarrheic. While no one wants to get Tut's Trot or Mummy's Tummy, it may be handy to have some anti-diarrheic with you. The most common bottled water brand, Baraka, contains a little magnesium and therefore may act as a mild laxative.

We are very regular travellers to Egypt and both take a large amount of different prescribed medication with us. We always take it in the pharmacy packets with our names on them, just in case, but have never benn asked about them in any way.

Just a small aside to the debate.
For those of you who rely on anti-diarrhoea medication, its actually best not to take them and let the gut work the upset out. All the like of Immodium does, is stop the transit of the upset, thus giving the body more opportunity to absorb the infection/bug/bacteria whichever you want to call it. By slowing transit of the gut, it upsets the natural flora and can make the situation worse. I went to Egypt in 2005 and was bothered with diarrhoea, but i stopped eating food and relied on bottled water and some Dioralyte to replace lost electrolytes.