Emergency prescription drug refill when you have no prescription

July 14, 2019 8:05 AM

When I lived in the U.S. I always had photos of my original prescription slips available when I travelled out of the country in case my meds and I got separated. Now living in Mexico I take a different set of drugs that are also prescription the U.S. (and I’m sure many other places), but they are all OTC here. I have no prescriptions. How do people deal with this situation when traveling?
posted by Tell Me No Lies to Travel & Transportation (12 answers total)

Best answer: At least in the USA, doctors can (and frequently do) write prescriptions for over the counter medications. They do so for a number of reasons - makes insurance reimbursement easier, provides dosage information, and for reference of the patient. I have done this for at least one medication that is OTC in the USA but not OTC in another country.
posted by saeculorum at 8:21 AM on July 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

If I'm understanding your question:

You'd have to go to a doctor or urgent care clinic in whatever country you're visiting and get a prescription.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:39 AM on July 14, 2019 [1 favorite]

Best answer: From the FDA’s website:

Q: What should travelers and visitors know about bringing medications into the U.S.?

A: When you come to the United States with medications, you fall under the authority of FDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents operating the nation’s airports. There are varying restrictions, and different agencies may have other requirements or jurisdiction over a product. So check with each agency before you plan to travel with medications into the country.

In general, you should have with you a valid prescription or doctor’s note—written in English—to bring medication to the U.S. The medication should be in its original container with the doctor’s instructions printed on the bottle. If you don’t have the original container, bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and why you need this medication. Travel with no more than you need for your personal use during your stay. A rule of thumb: Bring no more than a 90-day supply of medication.

If you’re staying longer than 90 days, you may have additional medication sent to you by mail or courier. Include documentation showing that the medication is being sent for your own use while visiting the United States. This documentation may include: a copy of your visa and passport, a letter from your doctor, and a copy of your prescription (in English).

I am in a somewhat similar situation but have the benefit of being in a border town + a US doctor from whom I still get my prescriptions (which I fill at a US pharmacy). I think if I was in your situation, I would see if a doctor in Mexico is able to write a prescription in English for the OTC drug (which, as others above have pointed out, is commonplace/not unusual practice in the US - I have had doctors do this for US OTC drugs such as Motrin, etc) along with a letter in English explaining your need for the drug. Make copies of this and always have it with you.
posted by nightrecordings at 10:27 AM on July 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

not sure i understand the issue — if the medications you need are otc, and you need them urgently, why not get some otc and worry about prescriptions later?

i have some medicine which is prescribed in the us but otc in brasil. when i visit my family in brasil i just get the medicine. i’ve occasionally brought some back to the us (e.g. a couple pills left over) and never once has anyone cared. that said, my medicine is very cheap. unless you’re concerned about insurance reimbursement, i don’t think there’s anything to worry about?
posted by =d.b= at 11:00 AM on July 14, 2019 [5 favorites]

I think the OP means they live in Mexico, don't need and therefore don't have prescriptions for their meds, and the question is what do they do if they need a refill while visiting another country where a prescription is required. (The opposite of =d.b='s scenario, basically.)

nighttecordings' answer is what I would try - have your doctor write out a prescription to carry while traveling.
posted by trig at 11:52 AM on July 14, 2019

(and make sure to have travel health insurance in case you do need to see a doctor, especially if visiting the US)
posted by trig at 11:54 AM on July 14, 2019

Pharmacies/drugstores in Mexico have doctors on site who can write prescriptions. Go to a drugstore and ask to see their doctor, explain what you problem is, and they will probably be able to get a prescription for you there and then. It's likely to be less hassle than trying to call your insurance company.
posted by EllaEm at 12:25 PM on July 14, 2019

Er, sorry -- I just realized I misunderstood your question. I thought you were coming from the US, and wanted to get a prescription medicine in Mexico. Now I realize you're asking about the other way around... why not just get as much as you need over the counter before you go?
posted by EllaEm at 12:27 PM on July 14, 2019

Best answer: Possessing prescription drugs without a prescription can be a crime in the USA, (and in many other countries).

The OP should get a Mexican Doctor to write a prescription for the drugs they need, and be ready to show it to any official who asks.
posted by monotreme at 1:02 PM on July 14, 2019 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: why not just get as much as you need over the counter before you go?

That's what I do. And I break it into a main supply and an emergency supply carried separately. But things happen on the road and I try to be prepared. (Ironically the one time this would have been really useful happened in Japan, and they wouldn't accept an American prescription as a valid document)

It sounds like asking my doctor here in Mexico to write a prescription for the OTC meds is the right way to go.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:16 PM on July 14, 2019

It sounds like asking my doctor here in Mexico to write a prescription for the OTC meds is the right way to go.

I agree, but know that you may still have to see someone with prescribing authority in the US if you need a refill on those medications. Having the prescription can help speed up that process, and sometimes pharmacists have some ability to fill foreign prescriptions (apparently it varies by state), but a foreign prescription will not automatically allow you to get any medications filled in a US pharmacy.
posted by lazuli at 4:19 PM on July 14, 2019

As pharmacies may not be allowed to accept prescriptions issued outside the country chances are you’ll have to find a local doctor to prescribe these drugs. The local doctor may or may not be moved by whatever information you can show them and specific drugs may or may not be approved for your specific use in that country.
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:32 PM on July 14, 2019