Pseudoephedrine

I understand your issue as I like to carry Sudafed for decongestion if I get a bad cold, and I feel like I am registering as a drug addict every time I buy it. Fortunately I haven't needed any for a few years.

I d not know what the laws are in the U.K., but is it possible there will be nothing left blooming in August when you are there? Maybe you will not need as much as you anticipate.

Rosemary - I get the rigmarole required, but unless you're taking more than the daily dosage, you should be able to buy two and a half weeks worth of sudafed in advance. Have you purchased at Costco? Do you have a travel partner who can purchase a box for you before you leave?

It's not a prescription drug. Buy a box every time you go to your grocery store or pharmacy, or go to several different stores and buy some at each store.

I have never been denied whatever amount I want to buy, of course I'm never buying more than 2 or 3 packages at a time.

Mark---in Washington there is a limit on what you can buy. It is kept behind the counter and you have to ask the pharmacist. He or she pulls down a notebook where they register your purchase and this all get reported to the state so they can monitor and make sure you are not buying too much. The pharmisist is responsible for ensuring that you have not exceeded your limit, so going to different stores to evade the limit might not work.

you can get meds like sudafed over the counter

https://www.sudafed.co.uk/where-to-buy

http://www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/medicines-treatments/allergy-hayfever

Thanks for the replies everyone! When I buy at Costco they have always limited me to one box of 15 pills, just like every other pharmacy. Since they scan my drivers license every time I buy, going to different stores is not an option. I looked at the link provided by ramblin' on and did indeed see medications with pseudoephedrine available at Boots. I don't know why I didn't think myself to look at the pharmacy website instead of doing a general google search. Thanks again for the advice! I'm hoping that Lola is right and there won't be tons of stuff blooming that will set me off but I still want to be prepared.

Why not have a family member or friend purchase some for your? The pharmacy is not reporting purchases to any entity so no big deal for a friend/family member who really doesn't need it to purchase it. That's what I would do.

You can buy Sudafed quite freely in the UK. Your best bet is Boots as they are the major high street 'chemist' http://www.boots.com/sudafed-decongestant-tablets-12-10033028

I've only ever bought one pack at a time but I have no reason to believe that there's a purchase limit however you'll have no problem buying more at a later dater if there is.

Pseudoephedrine products can only be sold under supervison of a pharmacist in the UK (although a prescription is not required). You may be asked questions as to the reason you are buying it and only 720 mg of the active ingredient can be sold in one transaction (1 typical packet). However, no check is made on multiple purchases across different shops.

When I can't buy it in the US cause I'm Canadian and don't have a Florida Drivers license so I get my Mom to buy them for me or a friend like Lisa Suggested...... I can't breathe without it.

Hope that helps

Thanks JC and Marco! It is nice to hear from someone in the UK. I'm glad to know I will have easy access to the medication if I have the need for it. I'll plan on taking whatever I have on hand and pick more up there if I need to.

Before you leave, you might want to experiment with the newer substitute, that can't be used to manufacture Meth. Its sale is unrestricted, but I have found it to be slightly less effective a decongestant. It's shelved beside Sudafed, usually. In my state, the limit is much larger than 15 pills. Have you tried a large chain pharmacy to see if they handle it differently, maybe by scanning your driver's license?

I might add that because I'm a man over 65, I can't take unlimited Sudafed without certain side effects, listed on the box.

Or...just tell them you will be traveling and need to buy extra this time. Since they keep of a record it will be obvious that you are not buying in excess.