Legality of taking Diazepam to UK

[Dj mOonShiNe]

SWIM is planing a trip to London for work and was wondering if anyone knew the legality of taking his part time lover Valarie (Diaz) wit him.. he has a scipt due to anxiety/(treatment for drinking problem{well he own's his own still}
should he bother talking to his doc. and if he previously has had them proscribed, whats the likelyhood of him finding a doc in London who'll write for him. (SWIM is most deffo not asking for a referal, just a genrel feeling type thing)
even though SWIM doesn't take them 4 fun no more, its great to smooch Val th morning after a hard nite..

[Micklemouse]

Speak to SWiYer doc & ask him/her to write a covering letter with contact details & details of what & how much is prescribed, & what for, make sure the medication is in the container/box & blister pack it came in which I imagine if it came from a pharmacy will have SWiYour name at least on it, & there should be few if any problems at Customs.

As for the likelihood of finding a doc to write for him in London, I'd say slim - to get a doctor in Briton one first has to register & see a practise nurse for a physical, which alone can take a couple of weeks to come through, before actually seeing a G.P.. There are out-of-hours doctors who may be able to write a script in an emergency at the weekend (again documentation & packaging would aid this) but with British doctors generally being wary of benzo's I wouldn't count on it. Better to maybe get your mongoose to ask his/her doc to prescribe enough to see them through the trip if possible.

[Jatelka]

From the rules (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/announcement.php?f=35&a=1):

• Use descriptive Topic Subject. This will help others find what they want to read. Topics with bad Topic subjects may be deleted! - there's nothing more annoying than looking at all those stupid "A stupid question" subject lines. I mean, I'm damn lazy, but how hard is it to type "A stupid question about (insert something here)"? As a rule of thumb, most thread titles should include the full name of the drug discussed.

A rule many tend to forget will cause a mass of warnings soon... (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23289)

Edited to include "Diazepam" in title. Also moved to the "Benzodiazepines" sub-forum

[Psych0naut]

Micklemouse, SWIM has been to both private clinics, and to NHS hospitals, and he didn't have to make a appointment, or even wait at the private clinics.
Ofcourse private clinics are pretty expensive, but you don't have to wait long, if you have to even wait at all for an appointment.
SWIM doesn't live in the U.K. and only had a couple of experiences with the docs over there, so it might have only been rare occasions.

[Micklemouse]

Psych0naut - I am of course talking about the NHS, but do tell us more about the walk-in private clinics, I'm intrigued. Did SWiP use them for similar reasons to the one being asked about in this thread? Most that I am aware of will be referral, unless of course the patient is willing & able to pay through the nose & jump the queue, although medical & travel insurance may cover this.

Of course Accident & Emergency is open to all. However I don't think a non-tax payer running out of his script when he could have got it filled before travelling is a valid use of A&E, or will be seen as such by the staff - if the person trying to get a script gets past triage a lengthy wait in a shit environment will almost certainly ensue, only to be told there is little if anything that can be done, a referral may be made to a local GP for an assessment or emergency script, or not, depending on the doctor seen, unless of course serious life-threatening, fit inducing withdrawals are taking place, which given the half-life of valium is unlikely. What is more likely is the person will be told to go away, and to make an appointment with the out-of-hours GP - more waiting with the same slim chance of a positive result.

As stated, British medics are wary of benzo's & the prescription of them without documentation, medical records or proof otherwise of need, & it is hard enough for British tax-payers to get this help, let alone tourists, albeit working ones (no offense meant Dj M!). Part of the reason for this is the aforementioned private clinics, which have provided the perfect excuse to underfund the NHS under the guise of free-market & choice, but that rant has no place here...

If the patient has a regular, legitimate script there is no reason for them not to get it filled before travelling, making all this rather moot & unnecessary.

[Dj mOonShiNe]

SWIMs appologies bout the thred title... thanks to all for the responces. looks like my mongoose needs to book an apointment to c th doc for a repeat..

[Psych0naut]

The reason SWIM went to both the private clinics and the NHS hospitals was because he had a infection on his right foot, which was getting very bad.
At the private clinics SWIM just walked in, was inmediately reffered to the G.P's office by the receptionist, not because his infection needed urgent treatment, because it wasn't too bad at the time yet, but he was reffered inmediately because there wasn't a waiting line, nowhere in the whole clinic were there people waiting, and the clinic was reasonable large.
What amazed SWIM was that after the examination, he had to pay the bill in cash or with his credit card, instead of getting a bill sent home.
At the hospital SWIM had to wait for 15 minutes or so after visiting, 15 minutes later he was examined and admitted to the ward straight away.
SWIM didn't make an appointment, but just walked in, so that has been a difference as well, it may take a lot longer if you just call for an appointment.

[Micklemouse]

And there lies the rub... SWiP attended for what would be seen as a valid medical emergency, immediately treatable, & probably triaged as a high priority. Other factors such as geographical location, time of day, luck of the draw will come into play in judging waiting times - big city A&E's are hell holes with long waiting times (generally). Running out of a script is not a medical emergency, it is a lack of foresight. A private clinic may not give two hoots, as all they are interested in is making a bit of money, & will not be under as much pressure as an NHS unit. They are however not that common, & they will still have to abide by prescribing guidelines & law though.

Accident & Emergency departments are for just that - Accidents & Emergencies. Anyone showing up who has not had an accident, or is not suffering with a medical emergency will get short shrift from the staff. Running out of a script is not a medical emergency, & will be treat as a low priority if at all.

If someone is going to be in the country for a while it may be worth registering with a GP, again with documentation, covering letter & packaging.

For Australian Citizens

From smarttraveller.gov.au

http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/working_os.html

STAY HEALTHY

VACCINATIONS

It is a good idea to have a health and dental check-up before you leave. Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations and disease outbreaks overseas.
MEDICATIONS

Before leaving home you should check that any medications you intend to take with you are legal in the countries you will be visiting. You can do this by contacting the relevant embassy or high commission (http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/protocol).
It is also advisable to take a letter from your doctor detailing the contents of tablets or other medicine you'll be carrying with you. Keep the letter and a copy of the doctor's prescription with the medication.
If you wear glasses take a copy of your glasses or contact lens prescription in case they need to be replaced. Your optometrist will be able to provide you with a letter detailing your prescription.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, consider wearing a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace, available from Australian chemists. The Medic Alert Foundation keeps a database of patient details and medical histories that can be accessed by phone worldwide. Be sure to also check that your travel insurance covers your pre-existing condition.
MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF PROOF OF HIV TESTING

Many countries require long-term foreign residents and students to submit proof that they are free of the HIV virus. Consult the embassy, high commission or consulate of the country in which you will be living about whether an HIV/AIDS test is required and if test results from Australia are accepted.
If Australian results are not acceptable, check on the type of test you will need to undergo and if it is permissible to supply your own disposable needle.
RECIPROCAL HEALTH CARE AGREEMENTS

Australia has health care agreements with some countries, including Finland, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
These agreements enable Australians to access urgent or emergency medical treatment overseas. However, general medical services are only provided when the need for treatment arises during the visit and it would be unreasonable to delay treatment until the individual's intended return date.
It is important to remember that:
you will only be covered by these health care agreements once you are in the specific country. Health problems which occur during travel to and from an agreement country are not covered
health care agreements are no substitute for travel insurance. They will not cover you if a doctor recommends medical evacuation back to Australia. Further information about international health agreements can be found at Medicare Australia (http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/yourhealth/going_overseas/index.htm).







For US citizens

From University Of Michigan Medical School

http://www.med.umich.edu/medschool/global/travel.htm#Health

Medical Care and Safety
Check with your medical insurance company to see if your policy covers you when you are outside of the U.S. If it does, ask your agent what special restrictions apply. Please include insurance information when you register with the UM International Travel Registration Web Site. A UM login is required to access this site.

U.S. medical insurance is not always recognized outside the U.S., and hospitals often require payment in cash for all services. In addition, because UM medical insurance typically covers medical care at the nearest facility, you may want to purchase evacuation insurance. While some travelers have found it useful to purchase supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, note that you still may be required to pay for treatment first and seek reimbursement later. Review policy provisions carefully before making a purchase.

Please consult the UM International Travel Information Web Site (http://www.umich.edu/itoc/) for additional information about medical issues for overseas travel.

Discuss your travel plans with your physician or a travel health clinic at least one month in advance of departure to make sure all appropriate immunizations can be received.

If you are going to be outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time, before you leave consider identifying a medical provider in the area to which you will be traveling.

Note: English-speaking doctors abroad may be located with the assistance of U.S. embassies and consulates. See U.S. State Department, Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad (http://travel.state.gov/medical.html), and U.S. State Department, Key Officers of Foreign Service Posts (http://usembassy.state.gov/) (includes contact information for all overseas U.S. embassies and consulates).

Rail and Bus Passes Discount rail and bus passes for use abroad often are sold only in the U.S. and may be purchased from travel agencies. See the International Center's Web site (http://www.umich.edu/%7Eicenter/overseas/) for more information.

It is very important that you know how your medical insurance needs are covered—and how your medical insurance works—before you travel.

Be sure to take all insurance cards and claim forms with you. Write down the phone numbers of your insurance carriers and your primary care physician before you leave in case you have questions or an emergency while you are away. The Important Information (http://www.umich.edu/%7Ebenefits/events/travel/info.htm) page lists University telephone numbers that you may need and provides a place for you to enter your personal information. Print the page and take it with you when you travel. (Note: 800, 866, and other toll-free numbers do not work outside of the U.S. and Canada.) Following the insurance carrier's guidelines could save you time and frustration later if you need to file a claim.

Please consult the UM International Travel Information Web Site (http://www.umich.edu/itoc/) for additional information about insurance coverage for overseas travel.

If you know that you may need to have medical care when you travel (i.e., for chronic health conditions such as arthritis or a routine condition such as pregnancy), prepare ahead. Check with your medical insurance carrier in advance to see how out-of-town or out-of-the-country health care should be handled-and if out-of-the-country insurance is offered.

If you have an allergy to certain medications and/or a chronic health problem such as diabetes, this is a good time to purchase (and wear) a medical I.D. bracelet or necklace.

Information on finding a physician abroad can be obtained from the local U.S. embassy or consulate as well as travel agents. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT) (http://www.iamat.org/) can assist people who want a list of qualified English-speaking doctors prior to departure. Telephone: 716-754-4883.

If you are going to be away for a long time and will need enough medication to cover your stay, plan ahead. Do not wait until the last minute to refill your prescription.

Be sure to ask your pharmacist about any possible drug interactions with over-the-counter drugs that you usually do not use, such as motion sickness medications or anti-allergic reaction drugs.


Dealing with Prescription Medications Outside the U.S. You may not be able to obtain your medication overseas. Have a supply of any prescription medications you know you will need while you are away.

If you are able to fill a prescription overseas, you will need to pay for your medication and seek reimbursement from your usual prescription provider.

Carry a duplicate copy of the prescription you are taking. Ensure that both the drug's generic and trade names are given. A doctor's note describing why you are taking this medication is also recommended. Leave all medications in their original, labeled container so that they are not mistaken for illegal drugs.

Some countries have declared a zero-tolerance policy on drugs. This means that even prescription medications or legitimate health conditions may come under intense scrutiny. In some countries, drugs that are legal and readily available in the U.S. may be considered illegal or require a prescription. A doctor's certificate may not suffice as authorization to transport all prescription drugs to all foreign countries. Travelers have been innocently arrested for drug violations when carrying items that are not considered narcotics in the United States. To ensure that you do not violate the drug laws of the countries that you visit, if you are unsure of the status of the medication you are taking, consult the embassy or consulate of those countries for precise information before you leave the United States.