Compounding Pharmacies
 

I am on a compounding pain cream since December. It helps me in my pain although not completely but it lessens the prickly sensation just like my skin is being rubbed with sand paper.

I am going home to my country for 6 months. My big problem is the compounding pharmacy I am getting my cream from does not deliver outside the USA. I sent an email to e-compounding pharmacy inquiring if they know in their network that delivers outside the country or if they can refer me to any of their affiliated companies in other countries who can help me but no answer and neither they return my numerous calls. I plan to get my refill immediately before i leave and will put in the refrigerator as soon as i arrive my country to extend the shelf life but it will not be enough to last me for 6 months.

Does anybody have relevant information that can help me? Will appreciate any feedback.

Mary

Hi Mary,

I don't know how much they make up for you at a time, or what the current rules are, but you might check with your airline & TSB site so there aren't any rude surprises at the airport.

Doc

I can think of two options:

1) have a friend here refill your compounded cream and mail it to you overseas. Surely you can arrange this with a friend and the pharmacy.

2) you may be able to get it where you are going, as some countries have more liberal laws containing the ingredients.
If you can contact someone where you are going to see if there are chemists who will make this for you there, then all you need is a detailed recipe to take with you. I don't think all insurances will cover drugs in foreign countries, but some do.

And contact your airline about whether you can carry this on, or if it has to be packed in luggage. There are many new rules about ointments, gels, etc. If it has a valid RX label on it... that may suffice. A letter from your doctor may help getting on the plane, and getting it made at your destination.

I'd check the laws/regulations of the country first. Your pharmacist may/may not be able to help with this. If the country isn't more liberal about it, #1 could be smuggling.

Doc

Most countries allow prescriptions to be brought in, with a valid RX label on them. Drugs vary from country to country, but when ordered by a doctor with a legal RX label on them, they are usually let in, for personal use.

My neighbor came from Germany (is really English but lived there for a short time) and all their OTC remedies that are RX here or not on the market at all were not allowed. But RX labeled medications usually are allowed for personal use for the duration of the trip.

You can look up customs on the net etc. Things bought overseas and brought back here OTC may not be allowed back into the States. But the question here is how to get HER RX over there.

I use to take students on class trips for many years. I always contacted the airline first to see what the rules were on taking certain medications along. Be sure all your medications are in labeled containers. I always requested doctors notes for certain medications also.

Depending how many ounces are in your cream you may not be able to put it in your carry on. In that case see if the pharmacy can break it into two containers. One small enough to carry on and last you a few days if your luggage gets lost.

I was thinking the same as Mrs D. you could arrange for a friend to mail it to you.
However, as someone else stated you really need to check with the country your going to. Don't want to be deemed as smuggling!

I wonder if your pharmacy could speak with a pharmacy in your country and give them the ingredients. They may be willing if you offered to pay for the phone call.

Enjoy your trip. I hope you get it figure out.

Brought in, yes. Mailed by a third party (friend) is something different, especially if the package contains controlled substances (like the ketamine in some of the creams that have been discussed here from time to time).

Doc

Thank you for all your inputs/comments. It gives me so much information. My pharmacy here is not very helpful. I went to the TSA website and it says that one can take prescribed medicines provided it has proper prescriptions and not to be taken out from the original labels, except for gel and creams. They are very strict on gels and creams on carry ons

I was thinking of putting it in my checked in luggage the creams which i can order from here and insert the prescription inside. But its not a guarantee that the immigration will take it in without problems especially the mention of Ketamine. my cream has Ketamine.

I will think about sending it through a friend. I guess that is a viable option.

While I am really looking forward to seeing my family but with all my medications and supplements (I have to bring A LOT OF SUPPLEMENTS as some are not available in my country). I am very concerned that when they see my check in luggage, it might appear that I am some kind of a "user". It stresses me.

Thank you again.

Mary

Mary,

Sorry to :deadhorsebeat: That's the option that concerns me most (more than bringing the documented prescription with you).

Me too. It would depend in part on the training & rules of the foreign customs people, especially if it got your name on a "watch" list, and you later received a package that contained a controlled substance through the mail.

There may be some better information/wisdom here:
getting prescriptions abroad

getting prescriptions for controlled substance while abroad

Can your family abroad help you garner information?

Doc