Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

Someone told me that it might be illegal to take co-codamol into Turkey and I wondered if that's the case? I have co-codamol and diclofenac for pain and would struggle without them - hope someone can advise? Thanks

Oh, never heard that one before, Susi - my husband has to take both of those as well, and we've never had a problem before, but I'd certainly be interested to learn if that is indeed the case, so he can be prepared for when we go in June!

From what I can gather if they're in the original packaging you shouldn't have a problem, by packaging I mean with the chemist label on the box.

I also heard that codine is illegal in Turkey and you can't get it at the chemist.
My friend has to take painkillers daily that have codine in it and she hasn't had a problem taking them with her. She takes them in there original packing.

Theresa

Ok - thanks folks - original packaging it is. Just to be on the safe side I'll take my repeat prescription form with me too!

I've been taking Dihyrdocodiene into Turkey for years, never had a problem.

Think if you put it in your hold luggage rather than hand luggage it shouldn't be a problem. My friend put her diabetes medication in her hand luggage one year and when returning home at Dalaman they searched her hand luggage and made her sign a form for the medication

A few years ago I remember someone had problems taking their medication into a country, I think it was Egypt or Dubai. I take quite a lot of prescription drugs including dihydrocodeine, codydramol tramadol etc. and
I also take drugs to treat cancer so I cannot risk having these confiscated. So to be on the safe side I phoned the Turkish Embassy to make sure everything was OK. I was told as long as your medication is in its original packaging and you take the printout from your doctor with you it's fine. If you don't have the printout take a letter from your doctor listing your medication with you.

We've only been checked once and that was on the way out. When they saw the list I had and the ones that my OH had as well, they waved us on pretty quick as they knew it would take ages to check everything, and they didn't want the hassle

I know that some countries have a list of drugs that they won't allow into the country so they confiscate them from you and then you have to have medication prescribed there. Luckily Turkey isn't one of them.

Eatock08 wrote:Think if you put it in your hold luggage rather than hand luggage it shouldn't be a problem. My friend put her diabetes medication in her hand luggage one year and when returning home at Dalaman they searched her hand luggage and made her sign a form for the medication

Provided you have enough medication in your hand luggage (allowing for delays as well) its OK to put your medication in your hold luggage on the return journey as if it gets lost you just get more from your GP. On the way out I wouldn't put anything in the hold as it's too risky. Losing clothes etc is bad enough as it's an inconvenience but if your luggage was lost containing your medication, it could cause a problem as not all of our medicines are available in Turkey. I found this out four years ago when I forgot one of mine at home, luckily it wasn't one of the crucial ones but I wasn't able to get it in Icmeler.

If none of your medicines are crucial then it's OK but otherwise I wouldn't risk it.

Unfortunately my meds are crucial and I don't want to take a chance on not being able to get them in resort. I never put medication in the hold luggage after a colleague told me how he and his wife were held up for four hours on holiday when the sniffer dogs stopped at their disabled son's suitcase!!

i myself was prescribed Tramadol for a frozen shoulder and took them with me on holiday,whilst on holiday my daughter broke her arm and when going to the hospital in Marmaris took them with me along with paracetamol as i did not feel the need for them to prescribe any further pain relief as that would be adequate.They did not look to pleased as they told me Tramadol was an illegal drug in Turkey!

Susi1962 wrote:Someone told me that it might be illegal to take co-codamol into Turkey and I wondered if that's the case? I have co-codamol and diclofenac for pain and would struggle without them - hope someone can advise? Thanks

Hubby takes co-codamol with him from England every year and has never been stopped. As it is prescribed for him by the doctor, he always carries his list of medication given to him by the doctor just in case. He always carries all of his medication in a container in his hand luggage, so don't worry, you will be ok.

Starchild - I'm okay with the diclofenac but my GP refuses to put the co=codamol onto repeat - I have to phone each time so there's no written confirmation. But I'll take it in the original containers with the pharmacy label still on. I took it with me last year and never thought a thing about it but someone mentioned it and so now I'm second guessing myself!

Thanks everyone for the prompt replies - I'm going out on Friday and am over-excited already - don't want to add nervousness to the mix <g>

Im going out on Friday with a huge stash of codeine for my back, but I am not worrying

Hi susi1962

Even though your co codamol is not on your repeat script you can ask your GP for a letter to confirm that is is prescribed to you.

Bevd - good idea but I've left it too late this year. Will do for next time. Colette - you're a brave woman