Years ago when I travelled to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, I took a letter from my doctor which had a list of all my medications that I was carrying, whether they were prescription or not. I have travelled to various places around the world, including those named above since then and haven't even thought about another letter until now. On our first African safari will be travelling to South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and carrying medications that we have been advised to take such as antibiotics, malarone, cortisone cream, panadol etc etc, the list goes on and on and will probably weigh more than clothes (joking). I feel like a mobile pharmacy and I suppose that is why I am a bit nervous. I have never taken this amount away before. My question is do we need a letter? Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Georgie2007

Yes I do carry a letter from my specialist and it mentions all drugs, prescription and non-prescription. Most I use daily, two are in case I need to use them.

Kind regards,

Kaye

I think it is a good idea - especially for any medication you have to take. Make sure the doc includes the generic name of the medicines in your letter.

I just returned from Tanzania and Rwanda and was carrying a lot of prescriptions, aka, just in case drugs, (allergy meds, nose spray, Cipro, Malaria meds, and a couple of others) and did not bring a letter. All the prescriptions were kept in their original bottles with our names on them and packed into luggage that was checked. I also brought a small needle/medical kit also checked. No problems encountered.

Thanks for the info. I am on no regular medications at home and therefore the only medication I will be taking regularly whilst away is Malarone. All the other is Just in Case- maxalon for nausea, antibiotics for infections, cream for rashes and bites, etc etc. I will get a letter as it is better to be safe than sorry. Another question - Did you leave all your tablets in the original packaging (huge waste of space) or did you just take the inside packs. Thanks again for all your help.

MonicaH. Thanks for the info. We must have been writing our posts at the same time but you got in first. You must have ESP as you answered my question before you even knew the question. Thanks again.

I have a nerve related pain disease, and have not needed any letters even for controlled medications. As long as they are in original containers- in your name- no problem. I also have an implanted medical device, and never needed to pull out the letter for that- pat downs were not a problem. They realize that we are bringing in malarone and antibiotics etc for our own use- regular travel meds!

Hello,

From the other side of the fence -- the only meds I've ever written travel letters for are certain pain medications because they are controlled substances. The only places my patients have reported needing to show the letter are in the Middle East.

Cheers,
Julian