Bringing Meds from US in backpack

[Missing Mike]

I will have a 50 day supply of my meds in my racksack. Will they be safe there if I leave my racksack on my bunk or do I need to be sure and take them with me like my passport everywhere I go? Please advise.

 

[MTtoCamino]

I was concerned not about loosing them to theft , rather I literally had 2 pounds I had to take with me. The Pharmacias in Spain are better than what I have here in the states. All you need is a bottle or simply a prescription label that your Pharmacist can print out for you. Many are over the counter & much less expensive. So if you have so much to carry you can leave much of it home.
Packs are usually never taken or messed with inside alburgues. They can disappear if you use a transport company & they simply leave them outside the Alburgue you have them dropped at.
In any case you should be fine. It usually is the Electronics such as phones & Ipads they get brave going into alburgues for & in my experience the large cities. Someone did slip me a counterfeit 20Euro so check your change.
They burn really nice.

 

[Nanc]

it would be nice if I could bring only a bit of meds and refill as I go
is there any way to be sure the generic of what I need is available?
I'm pretty sure the effects of FDA on our access to meds would mean any where else would be easier but are there meds just not seen in other countries?
any way to know?
thanks
nanc

 

[whariwharangi]

Here is some advice regarding medication that makes sense:
http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/medication

 

[mspath]

Here is some advice regarding medication that makes sense:
http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/health-safety/medication

This post by WW cites the Candian govement's statement.

For the US goverment's statement see this https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/go/health.html

 

[MTtoCamino]

it would be nice if I could bring only a bit of meds and refill as I go
is there any way to be sure the generic of what I need is available?
I'm pretty sure the effects of FDA on our access to meds would mean any where else would be easier but are there meds just not seen in other countries?
any way to know?
thanks
nanc

This I can't answer they simply match with what they had.

 

[t2andreo]

TAKE ALL PRESCRIPTION MEDS ON THE PLANE WITH YOU, PERIOD! See, that was simple.

I am at that stage on life where I literally take a bunch of pills each morning and evening. DO NOT trust checked luggage. Some pills are very valuable "on the street." Even non-narcotic pills can be "boosted."

I always bring all my meds in a 4 liter XS size, sil-nylon drawstring bag, in my carry-on bag. I carry an Altus (Spain) 20 liter daypack that usually rides on my rucksack lower shoulder strap, where it passes under my right arm.

The Altus is great because it comes in a separate tote bag about the size of a hockey puck, with a belt loop. So I thread the carry pouch onto the lower rucksack strap and it is always quick to hand to stop at a tienda on the way to my night's lodgings. It is used as a laundry bag, AND as my travel to and from home carry-on bag.

I hope this helps.

 

[williamlittig]

I am blessed to by alive through medicine. A small suggestion is pack each days dose(pills) in minute medicine ziplocks available in pharmacies. This is another layer of protection (it rains in Spain). Plus I don't have to bring five bottles. Please make sure you bring the labels from your prescriptions, if asked these will help. Some medications will need translations (have them). If you have heart issues learn the medical name for Nitroglycerine my experience was that it will get you a more thorough inspection with its common name.

Ultreya..... Willy/Utah/USA

 

[oursonpolaire]

I flew with my pills, all in their little labelled bottles. As I was staying in private accommodation most of the time, their security was not an issue for me--- I leave that to others for suggestions. I also scanned my prescriptions and saved them as attachments in my draft email file folder, so that in case of refills or losses, I could simply get refills in Spain. I come from a pharmaceutical family and was impressed by Spanish pharmacies and their staff, who run a tight ship. Most medicine is now produced by large international pharmaceutical companies and it is likely that your medicine is produced by them, and will be available in Spain. I also suggest that, if you have a complex medical situation, have your GP draw up a protocol (i.e., identifying condition, treatment, and medications) and have it translated into Castilian by a professional medical translator (this will cost you $100--$200, but if there is an emergency, will be worth every cent). Carrying a list of your prescription medications in your wallet will also assist medical staff should you fall ill-- there are a number of situations where this could be helpful-- e.g., symptoms of diabetes can sometimes be mistaken for drunkenness.

 

[Patch]

Always kept 2 days of meds in my pocket and a copy of my prescriptions in wallet. Availability of medicines is not usually a problem, even in rural Spain.
One thing i learnt this year while off hiking for a couple of months in NZ/Auz/Thailand and China was that NZ only allows you to bring in three months of medicines into the country. That may be true for other countries and may even be less - worth double checking!

 

[MTtoCamino]

No doubt it is a personal decision, how you approach this, just keep in mind Spain is a very modern country that has the same public health issues as the rest of the world.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

If you are from the US and you find yourself in need of buying prescription medicines...do not buy them in Spain!!!!!!

The costs are so freakin low it will make you sick. ;-)