Travel and IBD Part 3 - Packing Medication and Documentation

If you have Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis (the two main forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease or IBD) you may find the thought of travelling daunting. A change of climate, water, or food can upset anyone’s bowels. Yet many people with IBD travel widely, both in the UK and abroad. They may go for a short break or a long holiday lasting several weeks or months. With careful planning ahead it should be possible for you to travel to most places. This series of articles sets out to answer some of the questions that you may have when thinking about going on holiday or on a business trip. 



Medical Documents

It may help to take certain medical documents away with you. For example, you will probably find it useful to have a letter from your GP or Consultant outlining your condition, medical history and medication. This could be a copy of your last clinic review which should state the details of your IBD and current treatment. 

Customs officers may ask to see this and it can also be very helpful to show a doctor abroad, should you need to see one. It may be worth having this information translated into the language of your destination country. It can also help to learn key words and phrases about your condition and medication in the local language. You may be able to get a ‘Can’t Wait’ card in the local language. You can call our Information Line (0845 130 2233) for details about this.

As a precaution, have the details of your own doctor and IBD team with you, including the phone number and email address. You could try and find out the name and contact details of the doctors in the places you hope to visit. You could also contact our Information Line for details of worldwide IBD organisations who may be able to help with information about medical care for visitors in those particular countries.

It may be helpful to take a list of your medications, including the generic names of drugs (for example, mesalazine for Asacol and Pentasa) and, if possible, the foreign brand name. It could also be useful to take a copy of your prescription for information.

If you are on steroids, consider carrying a steroid card or wearing a ‘MedicAlert’ bracelet. If there is an emergency, this alerts the person attending you of your condition and medication. You can obtain a card from any pharmacy or a bracelet from the MedicAlert Foundation on 0800 581420 or their website: www.medicalert.org.uk. You can also wear a MedicAlert bracelet for other medications.


Medication

How should I pack medicines?

If possible, try to take enough medication for your whole trip, as well as extra in case of delays, to ensure you do not run out. If your medication has to be kept refrigerated, you could store it in a small cool bag, obtainable from chemists, or in a Frio cooling wallet that works without refrigeration.

When going away for some time, you may need to get new supplies of your medication while you are away. If you can, try to plan for this. As well as taking a full list of your medications you could also check with the relevant pharmaceutical company whether your medications are likely to be easily available in the countries you plan to visit. If your medication cannot be obtained where you are going, then you could ask your doctor for a private prescription, and purchase extra supplies in the UK from a pharmacy.

You may also want to take a good supply of any over-the-counter medicines you are using, such as anti-diarrhoeals (eg Imodium, Lomotil), anti-spasmodics, (eg Buscopan, Colofac) rehydration sachets (eg Dioralyte, Electrolate, Rehidrat) and pain killers (eg paracetamol). 

Can I take medicines abroad?

If you are travelling abroad, the government advises you to keep your drugs in their original packaging to show at customs. You may also need to show them your letter from your GP or consultant. Storing your medication in your hand luggage when flying will help if your baggage is lost. Hand luggage restrictions mean that if you have more than 100ml of medicine in your hand luggage you will need to show a letter from your doctor stating your medical need. You could check with your airline before you fly whether you can carry your medications in your hand luggage, especially if you need to take syringes in either your hand luggage or checked-in bags.

Some countries have restrictions on bringing drugs in for personal use. You can check with the embassy of the country you will be visiting whether this applies to your medications. Details of embassies can be found on the Foreign Office website: www.fco.gov.uk. 

Some prescription medicines contain drugs subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs legislation. None of the medication generally prescribed for IBD contains controlled drugs. However, some people with IBD may be taking drugs for other conditions that contain controlled substances, such as codeine and morphine. If so, contact the Home Office Drugs Branch on 020 7035 6330 or see their website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/drugs/licensing to find out if you need a licence to take the medicine abroad. Personal licences are required for those travelling for over three months.


If you are travelling across different time zones you may wonder about the timing of your medication. Your specialist may be able to advise you. Some people split the difference between the time they would have taken it in the UK and the time at their destination. You could then gradually adjust the timing of your medication to the country you will be in, and do the same on he return journey.


What if I'm on dietary treatment?

If you are on a liquid diet, you may find it useful to obtain a powdered product instead of the liquid if possible. This is easier to carry and will take up less space in your luggage. However, you will have to get a change of prescription from the liquid to powdered form. When making up the product at your destination, make sure the water is of a sufficiently high quality, or use bottled water.

In Part 4 - Travelling with a stoma or after surgery