Prescription Meds maximums

Very good advice.

The other topic might be how easy it is to get your prescriptions replaced in Europe. Just in case you lose them. What is needed to streamline the process?

Extended international travel is certainly a problem for those on critical or uncommon meds. The standard "90 Day Supply" setting a maximum for most, unless you want to pay out of pocket to possibly get an additional supply. As for traveling with a larger supply, if questioned, and with proof of a longer stay, it is likely they will relent and let it go. Certainly review rules and regulations and suggestions, but their main issue is smuggling, many of the rules are guidelines to show otherwise rather than "laws". Some countries (Asian ones come to mind) are very strict, requiring preauthorization to bring in even a normal supply of some common meds for a short trip.

Getting meds there is an option, but kind of a mine field for the beginner. First you have to research if the drug you take is even approved for sale where you will be, if it is sold under a different name, or available as a generic. Then you will need to find a doctor, make an appointment, and have information for him. A letter from your doctor stating his diagnosis based on test results, what he prescribed, and the dose would go a long way, some common meds, maybe just a copy of the prescription and you explaining why you take it, may be enough. In extreme cases, they may want some tests before granting a prescription. It may be risky though to just assume you will get a prescription if needed. I would probably take the chance with the 2 meds I take, for example the Statin, it is common, and worse case, if I have to go without, it will not severely affect my health. Other meds that is not the case, a sudden stop of the medication, or your condition can cause real problems.

There is also the issue of different standards of care between countries. This came up during Covid and the use of Paxlovid. It was handed out like candy in the US, in most of the EU it was reserved for only the most severe cases. You may have difficulty convincing a doctor of your need for semaglutides for example, and pretty much forget about getting opiates/opioids, as well as some anxiety/depression meds. The end decision is up to the doctor there, and their judgement. Of course everything will be paid out-of-pocket, with you fighting for reimbursement.

For longer term residents/ex-pats, there is another layer, then it may be possible to set up regular refills, even import or get available specific meds not normally available, but not for the casual traveler.

Getting meds there is an option, but kind of a mine field for the beginner.

Paul I agree with your statements about tourists. It may not even be possible. I can not buy two of my meds in Hungary. So we have prescription courier services here. One of mine comes from Germany and one from Austria and it takes a full week to get them. People should do as you suggest and consider carrying all that they need and documenting the heck out it. Most of the written laws that I have seen permit you to carry more with evidence and documentation. But everyone needs to check for themselves and find their comfort level.

Then there is the occasion where you lose your meds at the border or while traveling. That’s a different headache. When I moved here my situation was equivalent and it’s not terrible, but it does take some time. I needed to see three separate specialists. With each I showed my latest US office report and my actual prescriptions and we talked a bit. The prescriptions and the doctor notes are somehting I always carry, so no real issue with that. With each I received new prescriptions with very little additional requirement. In todays dollars that would cost a tourist about $250 to $500 including the cost of most meds. But remember 2 of them took a week to get. This is why when I travel, I take extra care to do everything by the book and carry the extra pieces of paper.

In 2017 I had the experience of having to get a prescription med in Europe thanks to my inattentiveness in counting the number of pills needed for this particular med to last the duration of the trip. When I got to Berlin, I discovered to my unpleasant surprise that I had brought along 50% of the 84 tablets needed for the entire trip of 6 weeks. After the momentary shock of this discovery, I decided the first thing to do would be to talk to the proprietor of the Pension the following at breakfast to see what she would advise.

She basically said no problem at all. I didn't have a copy of the prescription with me, didn't believe it was necessary but by chance the original container to show the pharmacist a half block from the Pension. That was easy as the she recognised med right away as one needing a German doc's prescription. She told to go the public Klinik around the corner from the pharmacist to see a German doctor and secure a prescription. This was a Saturday morning prior to 10 AM .

The nurse/receptionist in the doctor's office wasn't interested in seeing my passport at all. which really surprised me. I asked 2-3 times about that, (she finally did look at the Passport) , all she wanted to know was what was I legally, a tourist or a resident of Germany.

After a pleasant talk with the doc about me and the med in question, he wrote the prescription...in German, obviously, for me to show the pharmacist. The pharmacy was out of stock with my med, so I came back on Monday morning to pick up the med she had ordered on Saturday morning. Before leaving the doc's office, I signed a paper written in German, of course, and paid 100 Euro in cash. It was made clear to me right at the outset that payment could be only cash ....no problem, had that on me anyway.

Now, since 2023 on longer trips of 9 consecutive weeks, I have to be sure I bring at least 126 of that specific med, if not extra 10 in reserve. All in all, this 2017 incident in Berlin turned out to be an enlightening learning experience...basically no problem at all as the Pension proprietor had told me. She was right.

In France I had to have a doc's attention twice but both times I had a French speaker with me who more that adequately did all the talking and necessary explaining for me. One occurrence was in Paris, the other in Toulon.

Fred, that's interesting. I'm glad that it all worked out for you and it's good to know that that's a possibility. My meds are one of the things that I am so anal about. I typically check them in my bag five or six times before I leave.

But overall, it seems like most countries overseas, or at least in Europe, are interested in making sure that tourists don't die or have to go to the hospital because of a lack of medication. I would imagine that it can be done with a little bit of legwork.

If you show up in Hungary, and I presume most any EU country, and you have your pill bottles and prescriptions and a copy of the report the doctor gives you at the end of each visit that details your condition and meds, then getting replacements or more is pretty easy here. The only other thing you will need is your passport.

The doctor’s visit might cost you 65€ and you will almost always walk out in just a few minutes. Now if you don’t have what I suggested then you might end up having to have some tests run to demonstrate you really need the drugs. Now maybe 200€ or more.

The only other possible issue would be if the drugs are not available in Hungary. Two of mine are not. I get one in Austria and one in Germany. Takes about a week to have them delivered. So unless you are certain you can get replacements in what ever country you are going to, I suggest you take every precaution to be certain you get across the border without having anything confiscated. That means everything I suggested in the first paragraph.

@ Mardee....Getting a refill on that particular prescription med in Berlin was pretty easy. Since I was spending more than a week in Berlin anyway staying at the Pension, my immediate thought was to go to the 24 hr pharmacy in Berlin Hbf. The proprietor told me, totally unnecessary since pharmacies were located all within walking distance from Pension, as well as the Klinik, which I discovered to my relief later.

I was a walk-in when entering the Klinik, saw others ahead of me. I made no appointment to see the doc., waited there ca. 20 mins or so, before being called.

Linguistically, this may interest you. The staff in Klinik plus the pharmacist all spoke English, obviously, after all, it's Berlin.. Medically, I made sure I knew the needed med jargon auf deutsch to talk with the doc. regarding my history with that med in question.

In a way, I lucked out, ie Sat morning instead of the afternoon, which meant presumably the Klinik would have been closed . Also, this happened in Germany, ie not France, and in Berlin, where I am quite familiar with the neighborhood of the Pension.