How Do You Get US Medicine in Europe?

I expect you will find that any pharmacy in Europe will carry the same or a similar medication. Just remember to carry a prescription with you. Consult your doctor or pharmacist - they should be able to check and find a comparable European medication for you. It may be sold under a different name but the actual medication will be the same. And bear in mind that many drug companies in North America are in fact home-based in Europe. Never ever put medication in checked baggage - always carry it with you and if it is a liquid over the allowance, make sure you carry a prescription or Doctor's letter should you run into problems. You say you have traveled to Europe many times - have you had problems with theft before? If not, the chances are that you will be just as safe this time. Good idea to have two vials in separate places, the chances of both being taken at the same time are very remote. By the way, I have traveled all over the world and have never had any problems with theft. I just take normal precautions - over the shoulder small purse, big enough for a change purse and some form of ID (driving licence) and a money belt if I have a need for more than a few Euro.

Just in case, carry a prescription with you and have your doctor write the generic name for the eyedrops. In the event you do lose your eyedrops, go to a local pharmacy. The pharmacist may fill the prescription for you, but if he or she feels that they can't, they'll likely give you the name of a local doctor or clinic that will help you. If you're staying in a hotel, ask the hotel concierge for help. They usually have a local pharmacy or doctor that they work with.

A US prescription cannot be filled by a European pharmacist. You would need to see a physician in the country where you need to get the drops. Take a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and detailing the prescriptions (brand name, generic and, if possible, chemical name). The same information may also be on the 'safety' handout the pharmacy gives you each time they fill your prescription- take it too if you can. I agree that you should have an extra vial of the drops. But I don't think theft is likely. More likely would be a spill or other accident. Do NOT put the drops in your 3-1-1 bag. They should be in their own Ziploc baggie and you should have it out for inspection when you go through security. Also- NEVER put medications in a checked bag.

First of all, if you are cautious - as it seems you are, it is very unlikely that you will get your eyedrops stolen. Secondly: nowhere in Europe will you get "American pharmaceuticals" if you by this mean exactly the same bottle with the same label. But you can probably get a similar or completely identical product. But as you have been told, it is important to know the generic name of the product before you leave, for more peace in mind, you could take a photo or photocopy the label and e-mail to yourself to show to a doctor or the pharmacy so that you are sure to get a similar product.

In France there are many drugs that the pharmacist can dispense without a doctor's prescription as they have a larger scope of practice there and can prescrib some drugs themselves. The pharmacist is often used as first line of care and I"ve found them to be very helpful. If they can't help you I'm sure they can refer you to a doctor. If you are interested in finding an English speaking doctor who has trained in North America or the UK, you can join the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT). Membership is free and you can join on line. Its specific purpose is to find these types of doctors. They list them by location and there is maximum per visit fee that these doctors will charge. The only other thing about France is that all of the medications are prepacked in specific sizes. This means that you may get a lot more medication than you immediately need, but it's the way things work in France.

Your U.S. prescription is not valid in Europe. You can always try a pharmacy first, but odds are you would need to see a doctor who would prescribe the medication for you. In Stockholm, you would definitely need to see a doctor. The pharmacy (Apoteket) can give advice, but there are very few meds available without a prescription in Sweden. Your hotel should be able to help you find a doctor should you need one. You'll have no problem finding an English speaking doctor or pharmacist. You should bring a copy with your prescription info though so you could provide it to a doctor. Make sure it is written with the generic name.

Wanted to add one thing regarding Toni's post ... You are allowed to carry liquid meds in your 3-1-1 bag if they are within the 3 oz limit. You must carry them separately if they are over the limit. Instructions are on the TSA website. Liquid Meds and Security

Take a prescription with you, it will help the pharmacist or doctor if you need to see one. As posted previously, many countries have pharmacists allowed to prescribe some medications.

Lynda, since that's such a specialized medication and may not be available as a generic, it's worth preparing if you are really worried. I would contact the company that makes the medication to learn if it's marketed in the countries you'll be visiting, in what dosage strengths, and under what trade name. Your pharmacist or doctor can help you ID the company and appropriate phone number, if you need help. If it's not available at the dosage strength you need, your doctor should be able to provide you with advice of what to do. I had to have a critical medication replaced in Italy one time; they had the drug, but only in 5 mg tablets, while I needed 3.5 mg... so I ended up carving up pills. While I'm in transit, I now keep a week supply in a pill box in my purse, another weeks worth in another container in my purse, and the rest in my carryon. FYI, you might be able to find this info via the web on the EMA website, but it won't be easy searching if you don't understand the industry and regulations. It would be easiest to get the MD's or pharmacist's help.

An anti-rejection immunosuppressant medication is not one that a European pharmacist can dispense without a doctor's prescription, as these belong to specialized drug classes that require diligent monitoring of side-effects. Depending on the drug, even an ordinary primary care physician may not be willing (or even legally credentialled) to write prescriptions for the specific medications. So, you may need to see an ophthamologist and even a subspecialist at that. I don't know the specifics of drug availabilities in that class throughout Europe, but I can almost guarantee you that any organ-transplant medication available in the US will also be on the market in most, if not all of Europe. In addition to the strategies noted, here's what I would do. Contact the US embassies in all of the countries you plan to visit. Explain the specifics of your circumstances and ask if they can provide contact information for English-speaking ophthamologists in the local area (shouldn't be hard, at least in Scandinavia). Have your physician at home prepare a letter outlining your specific information, the most important being your prescriptions. If the worst scenario happens, then you have all the information you need to be seen quickly. Finally... although being prepared is smart, don't stress too much about the threat of theft. Yes, it does happen, but the vast majority of travelers never experience it. You didn't mention what time of year you will travel, but if in the colder months, you can minimize theft issues even further by keeping your valuables in an internal coat pocket.

Contact the US embassies in all of the countries you plan to visit. Explain the specifics of your circumstances and ask if they can provide contact information for English-speaking ophthamologists in the local area The website for the Paris consulate has this info for download: http://photos.state.gov/libraries/france/5/acs/paris-doctors.pdf Something else to consider... some travel insurance companies like MEDEX have an emergency prescription replacement service. Haven't had occasion to use it so I don't know how useful it is.