Traveling with meds
 

Hi all,
I just had a last-minute root canal--two days before my trip to Europe for three weeks. My Doctor suggested I bring the pain meds (hydrocodon acetaminophen--tylenol with codeine?) with me in case I have any problems with pain. Is it OK for me to bring these drugs with me to Europe?
Thanks
K

Just leave the meds in their original containers with the prescription on the outside - tell the TSA folks what you have and you should be fine- I have actually taken refrigerated (in a small ice chest with cold packs, not ice) injectable meds to Germany and France several times in the last 5 years with no problems.

Hope you don't have trouble with the pain on the plane...

Pills are not checked and can be left in carry on bags without being passed through security in a separate 1 quart baggy like liquids and gels.

I just got back from two weeks abroad, transiting Dublin and a week each in the UK and France.

I had three meds, hydro condone, another controlled substance, and one of those pills-of-the-day things that old people carry, all full, in my carry on plus at least eight bottles of pills in my checked bags.

No questions from security anywhere, tho the controlled substances and antibiotics were in their original prescription bottles had they asked. They probably took one look at me and knew I needed all the help I could get.

You shouldn't have any trouble at all bringing prescription medicine into Europe - though it's wise to bring in the original container as mentioned above. As to whether you'll actually need it... speaking from my own experience, root canal treatment if done skillfully need not result in any significant pain/discomfort for more than a day or so afterwards. You'll be fine - enjoy your trip and try not to worry about it!

I don't want to alarm you, but most European countries seem to take a different view of hydrocodone:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocodone

On the other hand, paracetamol, and paracetamol with codeine, are available over the counter, in the UK at least (though the pharmacist may run through some checks with you on side-effects and clashes with other medicines):
http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Parace...32-Pack_11229/

Chances are no-one at customs is going to check your luggage (they target people they already have an eye on, and most people just walk straight through the green channel), but obviously it would make sense to make sure you've got the prescription with you and the original packaging, just in case. If you run out, you'll have to put up with a formulation excluding the hydrocodone.

Patrick's info puts things in a completely different light. I'd heard about some Middle-Eastern countries having severe restrictions on medicines that are legal elsewhere, but I was not aware that such differences could exist between US and Europe. It seems that many European countries have prohibited Hydrococone (presumably due to nasty side effects or risk of dependency). I'd have to now say that, knowing it is a prohibited, Class A narcotic, I would NOT attempt to bring this drug with you to Europe.

Unless your dentist is some kind of a butcher or there are major comps post-procedure you shouldn't need that level of analgesia for that long.

Thanks to all of you for the info. I have not had any pain, not even immediately after the procedure so I do not anticipate needing these meds. I think I'll just leave the pills at home and if I have any problems while traveling, I'll see a dentist or go to a pharmacy and get some pain meds.
Thanks for your help!

Kaneohe, I think you've got it right. If you have a level of pain that requires the prescription pain killers, you should see an endodontist in Europe because something would be going wrong with your root canal.

BTW, I left on a 2-week ski trip 2 days after a root canal! I was just so glad I could get a last-minute appointment.

Always remember that they don't stop people with Louis Vuitton luggage.

I always get waved right through Customs even though I have enough Klonopin in my bag to kill Keith Richards.

Chin up, sweetie darling

Don't be silly about this; the customs folks have a lot more to do than to nitpick your medicines. If they are looking for drugs, it is the chap with four kilos of coke in his carry on, not a few pills.

It is true that some drugs that are available in the States are not readily available in some European countries. That means you cannot get them over the counter, or doctors there are reluctant to prescribe them. It does not mean that you cannot bring what your doctor deems necessary for your health or comfort with you. The customs chappy is not a physician, and he is not about to make a fuss over your medicines unless you are carrying a pound of oxycodone.

Relax.

I personally would take the pills with me. You never know what can happen on a long flight and with the pressure changes and I'd have them with me just in case. My husband had eye surgery over 8 weeks before we left on a trip and he got terrible pain from the pressure change and thought we'd have to have them land the plane, but I had taken is meds (unbeknown to him) and he felt much better after I gave him a pill. I take pain meds with me all the time and the customs people and TSA people have never said a thing to me

First of all, once a root canal is completed, there should be absolutely no need for pain meds, as removing the root destroys all pain nerves. If there is any pain following a root canal, typically the tooth is cracked (either was before or was during the root canal procedure, quite common), and ultimately requires extraction. Note that dentists appeal to your desire to "save" a tooth that may, ultimately, not be able to be saved, and require extraction.

Secondly, if anything stronger than Motrin is required to relieve pain, following a root canal, addition treatment would be recommended ahead of any travel, probably extracting the tooth.

In my experience, over 40 years of international travel, never once have pills ever been checked or questioned. If there were any question, all prescription pills have "codes" that can easily be looked up if there were any question.

Even so, it is just not a good idea to take off on a trip with any sort of dental pain or nursing same which, likely, will only get worse, and then what will you do?

And, know that hydrocodone acetaminophen is particularly problematic as it typically causes severe constipation after several days (in addition to that which many experience with jet lag) which would only add to your discomfort.

Since you are leaving so soon, however, know what you'll do if you need dental care in Europe.