Middle East - Taking prescription medication to Middle East

I wonder if anyone knows the answer to the following question?

I am flying to BAH on a business trip next weekend. I am on several prescription medications, one of which is co-codamol which contains codeine.

I understand this is illegal in the ME. I have a letter from my doctor listing the medications I am on and the tablets are in a clearly marked box with my and the pharmaicsts details on. Will I be permitted to take these into BAH?

I wonder if anyone knows the answer to the following question?

I am flying to BAH on a business trip next weekend. I am on several prescription medications, one of which is co-codamol which contains codeine.

I understand this is illegal in the ME. I have a letter from my doctor listing the medications I am on and the tablets are in a clearly marked box with my and the pharmaicsts details on. Will I be permitted to take these into BAH?

I don't know country by country in the ME, but Codeine based drugs are illegal in Dubai for sure. There was a high-profile case a few years ago of a British woman being sentenced for quite a few months in jail - I think she served about a month of it before release.

Co-codamol is available over the counter in the UK as opposed to prescription only so not sure if this would make a difference. Therefore the amount of Codeine must be of lower proportion.

I was on prescription co-codamol when I went to Dubai, but after doing some research I didn't take them and just took codeine free meds.

Probably best to contact the Embassy and ask to be sure.

Definitely contact the Embassy to be sure.

I can only speak for Abu Dhabi, which may be different- I was told for Abu Dhabi I needed to keep meds in original packaging, carry a letter on letterheaded paper from my doctor itemising each medicine. I also got this letter, along with a photocopy of the prescription, notarised. It's very cheap to do that in germany. When I got to Abu Dhabi, I told the customs guy who'se response was 'that's fine sir' and I was on my way.

So do check with Bahrain embassy, but the moral of the story is to be prepared. Ultimately, if they don't want it in the country, there's nothing you can do.

Thanks everyone.I think I'll err on the side of caution and not take them with me.

This is such a FAQ on tripadvisor (not unreasonably) that there's a sticky on the Dubai forum. Take a look, but the advice broadly matches IAMORGAN's above.

Can't help with BAH, but the UK embassy is pretty active and responsive on FB and there are a number of ex-pat forums worth mining.

hth

Thanks everyone.I think I'll err on the side of caution and not take them with me.

Good idea ^ It's just not worth the hassle.

Unless you are carrying a suitcase of drugs, the chances of you being stopped are extremely low. Do not declare anything, carry a letter from your doctor, and if you are stopped, be extremely courteous.
If it's just one box, put it in your pocket, and not in your suitcase

Co-codamol is available over the counter in the UK as opposed to prescription only so not sure if this would make a difference. Therefore the amount of Codeine must be of lower proportion.

This is not correct. Codeine is present in Co-codamol and since the UAE has a zero tolerance of the drug it does not matter how low the percentage; just the word on the packet is enough to start alarm bells ringing. I lived in the ME for 12 years and would not risk taking it there or anywhere else with similar views.

Oh and I do take the stuff and am not so sure that it is available over the counter in the UK.

Edit: you are correct that there are some low level versions of Co-codamol that are available without prescription, but I still wouldn't take them into the UAE; even Paracetamol Plus, which I believe used to contain a low level of codeine, was illegal in the UAE when I lived there

This is not correct. Codeine is present in Co-codamol and since the UAE has a zero tolerance of the drug it does not matter how low the percentage; just the word on the packet is enough to start alarm bells ringing. I lived in the ME for 12 years and would not risk taking it there or anywhere else with similar views.

Yes but I wasn't making a statement that it was OK, simply posing a question given Co-codamol is available over the counter in the UK :)

Oh and I do take the stuff and am not so sure that it is available over the counter in the UK.

Edit: you are correct that there are some low level versions of Co-codamol that are available without prescription, but I still wouldn't take them into the UAE; even Paracetamol Plus, which I believe used to contain a low level of codeine, was illegal in the UAE when I lived there

It certainly is available over the counter in the UK as have personally bought it. The pharmacist did ask me lots of questions though before she sold it.

Thanks everyone.I think I'll err on the side of caution and not take them with me.

I think you made the right decision.

rb211.

It may be down to stupidity but I have traveled to the UAE with Ritalin many, many times. Never a problem. Once they checked my bags, I showed them my 'medication passport' and that was it. I never even contemplated this problem....

It certainly is available over the counter in the UK as have personally bought it. The pharmacist did ask me lots of questions though before she sold it.

Yes, the 8, 10 and 12.8mg versions are, but the 15 and 30mg versions, which I assume are what the OP is taking, are prescription only in the UK.

It may be down to stupidity but I have traveled to the UAE with Ritalin many, many times. Never a problem. Once they checked my bags, I showed them my 'medication passport' and that was it. I never even contemplated this problem....

I'm sure that most people don't and if I hadn't lived in the region neither would I have.

The craziest case I know of was a colleague (a UK citizen of Indian descent) who was posted to the UAE by his (US) company and had his entire house contents shipped. When the container was opened for inspection, customs found a jar marked "poppy seeds" in his kitchen stuff. The customs officer decided that poppy seeds = poppies = heroin and, despite his insistence that they were used in bread making he was chucked in jail. He was eventually released after about 2 weeks, but only after very high level intervention. The joke was that our local baker in Muscat, which has similar laws to the UAE, sold bread with a label stating "poppy seed bread".

I have never been stopped even in the most stringent of ME and gulf countries..but if you are that worried, how about having your prescription filled over there, they must have the equivalent. You can take the empty box to any pharmacy and they'll fill it no problem....

I have never been stopped even in the most stringent of ME and gulf countries..but if you are that worried, how about having your prescription filled over there, they must have the equivalent. You can take the empty box to any pharmacy and they'll fill it no problem....

I'd be careful taking even an empty box, even traces of an illegal substance (including poppy seeds from the baguettes at Pret a Manger) can get you in trouble.

http://www.absoluterandom.com/man-thrown-in-jail-in-dubai-for-having-0003-grams-of-cannabis-stuck-to-his-shoe/

A friend secreted a pack of bacon fries (a snack variety) in my bag before a trip back to Saudi. Fortunately they don't contain any bacon, or indeed any food content whatsoever.

And I had a cheese grater confiscated by security on leaving DXB once ... :D

People who get thoroughly searched tend to have done something to upset the Customs officers; simply be polite and don't argue (and don't come off the plane drunk)

A friend secreted a pack of bacon fries (a snack variety) in my bag before a trip back to Saudi. Fortunately they don't contain any bacon, or indeed any food content whatsoever.

And I had a cheese grater confiscated by security on leaving DXB once ... :D

Smokey Bacon crisps, which contain no bacon and are labeled as suitable for vegetarians (which Cheese and Onion used not to be) are kept in the "pork room" in Muscat supermarkets and attract the "pork tax" of 100% (or whatever it is). Didn't stop me buying them though.

Over to the Middle East forum we go :)

Prospero
Moderator: BAEC forum

Does anyone know if I can take Valtrex into the UAE? If so, I know I have to have a note and prescription from my doctor.

FWIW, my Lonely Planet guide to Dubai has some very strongly-worded warnings about bringing prescription narcotics with you. I would research this very carefully. You might want to email the UAE embassy ahead of your trip just to be absolutely sure. Don't roll any dice with this.

You are extremely unlikely to be searched unless you are drunk, abusive, carrying lots of alcohol, etc, or are carrying industrial quantities of your medicine.

Thanks for the responses.
I am a young-looking, well-dressed 63yrold woman. I certainly don't send off red flags.
My son lives in Abu Dhabi and this will be my fourth visit, the second travelling alone. I have always left my prescriptions behind because I didn't want to take the risk of being thrown in prison. But this time I need my meds. I have always used the Golden class service on arrival which speeds me right through customs.....but you never know.
I know my meds are not narcotics, they don't contain codeine. They don't appear on any lists of banned or controlled drugs that I have found. But I have not found an official list.
So, I checked the website for the UAE embassy in Canada. It said to email drugcl.csc@moh.gov.ae which I have done. I'll let you know if and what I hear.

So, I checked the website for the UAE embassy in Canada. It said to email drugcl.csc@moh.gov.ae which I have done. I'll let you know if and what I hear.

I suggest you bring with you a printout of whatever they send you.

Two weeks later.....frankly I wasn't expecting a reply so I am not surprised that I haven't heard from them. So, since Valtrex is not on any list i've seen and since i know it's not a narcotic, i am going to get all the documentation I can get from my doctor. A friend who lived in Abu Dhabi for 12 years assures me that my meds are ok. I'm still worried as I am basically a non risk taker but....

I might not even get there as I am now having issues getting my visit visa. They returned my Application. They have recently decreased the visa cost but they changed one of the requirements; they now require my physical passport, not simply a photocopy as before. I am travelling to the U.S. for Christmas and need my passport for travel. So, on to another problem. I have contacted my member of parliament to no avail. My son is looking into how he can get my visa from his end in Abu Dhabi.

Thanks, Stephen Harper and John Baird!! Think about the repercussions to your countrymen of your decisions.

A friend who lived in Abu Dhabi for 12 years assures me that my meds are ok. I'm still worried as I am basically a non risk taker but....

I think there is a very high probability your friend is correct, but I remain concerned about some bizarre drug cases I read about in the UAE. I'm not generally a worrier in these situations, but I'd be borderline paranoid about bringing prescription narcotics into most Middle Eastern countries (and some countries in other parts of the world).