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Travel Outside the U.S.: At Your Destination

If You Need To Buy Medicine While Outside The United States

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If you need to buy medicine outside the United States:

  • Ask at your hotel whether you need a prescription to purchase drugs at a pharmacy. In many requirements, prescriptions are not required.
  • If a prescriptin is required, you can ask whether a prescription from your doctor in the United States is adequate. Even if a U.S. prescription is not acceptable under the country's laws, there may be a pharmacy that will fill it for you - especially if you are only asking for a limited quantity.
    • If a prescription from the U.S. is acceptable, and you do not have a copy with you, ask the pharmacy to contact your doctor and ask the doctor to email or fax a copy. This can be done at little or no cost if the pharmacy has access to the internet or you can get to your doctor from your smart phone or mobile device. 
    • If a local pharmacy will not accept a prescription from your doctor in the U.S., or if you need a new prescription, alternatives for obtaining a local prescription include the following:
      • Ask the hotel concierge or clerk what to do
      • Contact the nearest United States Consulate or Embassy. Many have lists of local doctors who speak English. If not, the person you speak with at the Consulate or Embassy may make a personal recommendation. (It doesn't hurt to ask).
      • Look up an English-speaking doctor on the Web site of the International Association For Medical Assistance to Travellers: www.iamat.org offsite link.  Membership is free.
      • in all of the above cases, you will likely have to pay a fee for the visit to the doctor.
NOTE: Before taking a new medicine, If the medicine is new to you, follow the same safety procedures you would follow in the U.S. Namely:
  • Learn about the pros and cons before agreeing to take a new medicine. To learn more, click here.
  • Make sure you understand the information on the label. Ask the pharmacist for help, especially if the instructions are in language you don't understand. 
  • Understand instructions about:
    • The amount of the drug to take
    • When to take it 
    • What the drug should be taken with, if anything 
    • What to avoid eating or drinking
    • Possible side effects to watch for. 
    • When to call the doctor if a side effect occurs.

To Learn More

More Information

Drugs 101: An Overview

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