Zoloft is manufactured by Pfizer, it is approved by the EMA for sale in Italy. Have you spoken with your Doctor about this? You may be able to have your Dr. write a script, and then take the script to a Dr in Italy and have it filled in Italy.

You could also try contacting the EMA or Pfizer for more information.

http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
http://www.pfizer.it/cont/pfizer-italia/pfizer-italia.asp

In numerous trips to many countries, I've never had anyone examine the contents of our medicine bag. Is it Italy or Dubai you are worried about?

Obviously I haven't flown through Dubai and was unaware of the very stringent regs, even for over the counter meds. Zoloft seems to be on the "controlled list" which only requires that you carry a prescription for it. Look on the official website.

Thanks for your reply. I have rung the use consulate here in Australia and he repeatedly said please mama do not take your medicine to Dubai. It is listed as a narcotic drug to my understanding.

I've taken ADHD medication, which is far more strictly controlled than Zoloft, into Italy once and out of Italy twice by airplane. I carried it my purse and no one ever questioned me about it. I've never been questioned about medication anywhere for that matter.

Are you sure it's illegal to bring it into Italy? That doesn't make much sense to me.

Oh sorry, you mean Dubai. That's crazy if Zoloft is listed as a narcotic. I would double check that, they must have an official website with such information.

It looks like you can take your prescription Zoloft into Dubai, you just have to get a bit of extra documentation before you go. Ask your family doctor about the permit thing, they might know all about it and how to do the paperwork. If not, try looking up a medical clinic in your area that deals with travel issues (lots of them do, often catering to the immigrant community).

The latest guidelines issued from the UAE Ministry of Health state that a visitor entering or transiting the UAE who is carrying controlled drugs (narcotic, psychotropic, CDa and CDb) should have in his/her possession a valid medical prescription (if the original has been retained by the dispensing pharmacy, an attested copy of the prescription should be carried) and an authenticated certificate and/or permit from the health authority of the country of departure confirming that the traveller has legal authority to possess the drugs. Visitors should not carry more than 30 days worth of the prescription.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/middle-east-north-africa/united-arab-emirates

http://www.uaeinteract.com/travel/drug.asp

Hi

Ask your physician to provide you with a letter authorising the use of your medication. Of course if the substance is banned in that country your letter is not worth the paper it's written on. Also keep the med in its original packaging i.e don't seperate the pills and store them in a more "convenient container".

Could you fedex it to your destination in Rome so that it would be there when you arrive?

All she needs is some very routine paperwork- a notarized copy of the doctor's prescription and a government verification form.

Sorry, I may have confused some people. I am worried about taking the medication through Dubai. It is OK to take it into Italy. I will be in transit but Dubai laws are the same for transit. I will try ringing the consulate in Canberra again. However has anyone had experience with Dr in Rome for medications.thankyoueveryone for your help

Italy you shouldn't have any issues. My husband who is Bipolar takes all his heavy meds with him to Italy and I can't even fly without my Xanax that I take everywhere.

I believe if you bring your Dr. prescriptions with you you should be able to bring them to a doctor to verify them for a pharmacy.

For Dubai I can't give an opinion though.

Zoloft is NOT a narcotic - but it is a psychotropic. If you bring an Rx from your home MD you should have no problem getting Zoloft in italy, (Unless you are taking some weirdly huge amount of it - that they might question.)

Zoloft is not a narcotic it is a SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor)

As stated,, Italy is not the problem,, Dubai is , they are a completely different kettle of fish( basically freaking nuts,, don't even take non prescription meds with codeine in them there, totally verbotten) .

I think your're doing the right thing in contacting your consulate,, and absolutely get doctors scprit etc,

Good luck,, and perhaps avoid flying through Dubai next time,, too scary.

Please read what is quoted: Apres_Londee did. A letter from the doctor will NOT do. She needs a notarized copy of the prescription AND a government form even to TRANSIT through Dubai.

As to going to a doctor in Italy, what would happen to you if you arrived in Boston and had to find a doctor who would prescribe ativan, zoloft, or hydrocodone? Not easy.

I agree, I wouldn't want to fool around trying to find a doctor in a foreign country who would write me a prescription. I think that would be a lot more complicated than simply getting the required paperwork beforehand so you can take your own pills with you.

Yes, its a hassle and there is probably going to be a small expense involved, but not as much hassle as doing it the other way imo. You want to relax and focus on your trip when you land in Rome, not stress out about getting your medication.

Hope you have this sorted out already but if not my suggestion would be to have the capsules in original container, have a copy of a prescription for the zoloft from your md (or a photocopy of your original certified from your pharmacy)and contact your local(federal) government official to see if they can help with any form/letter to state that you have a legal rx for it. As stated above if you need more than a 30 day supply, it may be more difficult. If you do have to go to a doctor/pharmacy in Rome the chemical name is sertraline which may be more familiar to the medical professionals there. Note the wording of the above statement regarding "health authority" of the country may be simply your doctor but hard to say for sure. Too bad this is an issue as this drug has virtually zero abuse potential.

Sorry - hydrocodone is nothing whatever like Zoloft. The latter is an anidepressant prescribed to many millions of people and has essentially no potential for abuse nor any street value.

Narcotics are a completely differnt thing - and those you might well have trouble obtaining in any country - without a specific, strong reason. In Italy and hotel should be able to provide the contct information for an MD that would write a script for Zoloft - esp if one had a scipt or empty bottle from your own MD.

Thanks for all your information.I have a Dr coming to my hotel when I arrive. Cost 130 euros. But worth it . For peace of mind. For those that think it is a controlled, I recommend you ring the consulate for use in your country. They would be the ones to go by. I know there web site is not. Easily understood. When in doubt go the right resources I think best. Thank you one and all.

Glad to hear you got something worked out. Have a great trip!

I meant to add, it would be great if you could back after your trip and report back on how it goes with the doctor and at the pharmacy. I'd be really curious to hear.

In France and, I believe, many places in Europe you just have to go to a pharmacy and do not need a prescription for non narcotics. What you do need is the generic name for the medicine. In this case, Zoloft is sertraline HCl. I had forgotten one of my meds on a trip many years ago, and the biggest problem I had was finding the proper name, not obtaining the med itself. Always have a list of your meds by generic name with you when traveling.