Medication?

Question

Can anyone help im off to Portugal with my son .
He is on medication for epilepsy i know he wont
need any medication for the flight but im a little concerned
if it goes in the hold and the bag doesnt get to portugal!
Im really asking if it is a prescription drug
a..... can i buy it is i have to in portugal
b........anyone got any thoughts or had experience on flight
since the restrictions.
I do understand why the restrictions are in place.

Answer 1

The answers so far are good or mostly good.

Ask your doctor for a letter or form on which he states what the medication is, Chemical names as well as brand names.
And ask him for a prescription for the medicines in case you need to get more in Portugal. (They are likely to be different brands but if they know the chemical names they will be able to get you a good substitute.)
Even if it is an over the counter medicine where you live it might be hard to get or prescription where you go.

If the medication is liquids contact the airline, but I think the sites state that you can take enough for the flight and a day afterward aboard. You need to take as much as the maximum amount he is allowed to take in that time, as the situation is likely to be different from what you have ever experienced.
This is, as far as I know, above your one liter/one quart allowance and should be in a separate bag with a medical declaration on what it is and why you bring it.

If you pack your medicines in separate places it is wise to have the letter of the doctor copied and packed with each set.
Keep the medicines in the original boxes, with the brand name on, and if possible with the name of your doctor, apothecary and your sons name in stickers on it. (As they do when you collect a set.)

Answer 2

Firstly, there are no security restrictions on medicines which are not in liquid form - if it is a pill or powder you can take it in your hand luggage without a problem.

If it is a liquid then you can still take it in your hand luggage if you make sure that it is in containers of less than 100ml, and that the containers of all liquids in your handluggage are contained in a single 1litre freezer bag.

In either case you should take your prescription with you - this will avoid any awkward questions about what the medicine is, and it will also allow you to buy more if necessary in Portugal (depending on the drug you may need to go to a doctor to get a local prescription, but the pharmacist in Portugal will be able to advise you on this).

Answer 3

Don't put the medication in the hold. Keep it in your hand luggage and explain the reason that your son suffers with epilepsy and you need to keep the medication with you. I'm not 100% sure about Portugal, but in Spain all medication can be bought at the pharmacia without presription and I think the same applies in Portugal

Answer 4

I suffer with epilepsy, and was also worried when I recently travelled to Greece. I put my medication in my handbag and didn't have any problems going through with it. If you have a repeat prescription form, take it with:-

1. Just in case you do get asked.

2. You can get medication over there if you have a form with the medication that is required on it.

Answer 5

Please ask your doctor this instead of posting it on a clearly "fun" questions and answers website.

If your son has epilepsy, surely the risk taken by asking your doctor vs people on here is lessened. I asked about numb fingers and was told to rush off to the doctor for a stroke. As it happened, my mouse mat had a pad on it that was cutting off my circulation. No medical whizzes on here...

Just a thought.

Answer 6

Surely you must know if the drug is on prescription. TALK to your doctor. Have a nice trip. xxx