Posted by yxibow on July 25, 2008, at 0:14:40
In reply to Taking tianeptine abroad - a question, posted by Quintal on July 19, 2008, at 11:55:59
> I'm going to Egypt in a few weeks time and I'm wondering what to do about tianeptine. I don't want to stop taking it and have my depression come back in the middle of my holiday. I also don't want to have it seized by customs and have my depression come back in the middle of the holiday.
>
> I thought of smuggling a strip between two sheets of lamictal so it wouldn't show up on the X-ray machine, but I'm worried that if they decided to open it for some reason it would look even more suspicious than a packet of Stablon. I've got a genuine packet of Stablon, so they might not notice that it doesn't have a pharmacy sticker on. I suppose I could tell the truth - that I buy it as a health supplement. Maybe best to avoid specifics unless they ask for them.
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> I really have no experience of travelling through airport customs. My aunt and uncle went to Jersey two weeks ago and they opened my uncle's suitcase and asked him to explain what each of his medications were for. That might have been because two knives had somehow found their way into his suitcase, and had to be confiscated. I don't know whether they routinely search every bag that contains a drug. I hope I don't have to explain what all of my meds are for in front of a long queue.
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> Another problem is my codeine addiction. This might be even more problematic than the tianeptine. I buy my supply legally OTC from the chemist, but I don't know if I'd need a prescription to take it out of the country. I'm planning to say I've had dental work done and I'm in a lot of pain (this is true, and I have a mouthful of fresh amalgum fillings to show them). I also plan to lie and say I'm a chronic migraine sufferer. It would be fairly hellish to be seperated from both codeine and tianpetine at the same time. I may well throttle my companion if provoked.
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> I'm like a walking pharmacy at the best of times. My uncle jokes my medicine cabinet is better stocked than the chemist (this is almost true - it's a very small shop). I'm an easy target for bolshy customs officers and bound to get stopped. Does anyone have any advice/experience?
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> QYes -- I can resonate with the walking pharmacy thing too. But -- and not to offend any Muslims on this board or who may be in countries that are predominantly so, be very careful about controlled substances (tianeptine is controlled in some countries such as Bahrain because it is believed to have abuse potential and in fact some people have taken large quantities) in countries that are very tight on a lot of subjects -- I won't go further to offend, but the same would apply to certain Asian countries as well.
You don't want to end up in life imprisonment or worse... not to scare you (I guess I already have).
I would thoroughly inquire with an embassy or consulate where you are about the use of personal medications rather than trying to "smuggle", because that's exactly how it will be perceived to some unknown customs official.
-- best wishes
Jay
poster:yxibow
thread:840764
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080718/msgs/841917.html