Pain Meds for travel accident

[krtw]

Don't freak out. I'm not a drug user and don't even drink. Talking to a world motorcycle traveler and one point he made is that if you wipe out, are hurt and alone - you have to be able to get out. To get on the bike and ride to get help or to the hospital. And if you're badly hurt, you may need pain medication to do this.

My initial reaction was to say - this is a really good idea. SO I tried to get a prescription for some really power pain meds, just a few to carry with me for emergencies. Things are bad in our province at the moment and I can't even get in to see a doctor.

A second piece of advice was - There's such a thing as too much information, and that letting people at borders know that you have these little pills may not be the best way forward.

But smuggling them seems worse.

I got some from a friend. They sit there accusingly saying take me with you. But I'm totally not comfortable.

Advice? What do you do? Anything. We are talking 4 pills here, not a jar of them.

[*Touring Ted*]

I think a well stocked first aid kit is an important piece of anyone's luggage.

The best pain meds are obviously only from a Doctor/Prescription. In my experience, they don't like handing them out unless they think you need them. Because many are addictive or used for the wrong reason.

Although in many parts of the world you can just buy them without question. India/SE Asia etc.

I often borrow/buy the "Good stuff" from friends who have prescripitions or spares.

Or fake some Chronic pain.

Paracetemol and Ibuprofen are a minimum for me.

Naproxen is great for pain and swelling from inflamation. Muscle pain, twists and accidents.

Codene is another good one for pain.

I also carry Anti-biotics.

[markharf]

No one cares about your paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen, or antibiotics, Ted. But codeine will get you jailed or worse in a few countries, whether the bottle has your name on it or your friend's. I don't know whether codeine is still available in Canada without a prescription, but it's an opioid, a class of meds which is frowned upon in most places.

The official travelers' best practice is to carry such drugs in original bottles, labels and all, and also carry a copy of your prescription. Some people carry actual letters from their prescribers justifying whatever they're carrying. I've carried meds all mixed together into generic bottles (to save space, you know), including many which need prescriptions in my own country. I don't worry much about it, and while I've been hassled a time or two nothing serious has ever come of it.

But I would definitely not do this if headed for, say, Dubai, Singapore, or Saudi Arabia. I don't know what people do if they're subject to seizures, have severe chronic pain, or other syndromes which require stuff that's totally illegal in certain countries, but I'd rather not find out firsthand.

First Google result, which I can't vouch for: https://drugabuse.com/blog/the-20-co...-in-the-world/

Have fun out there!

Mark

[mark manley]

It is a packet of aspirin or paracetamol for me which has always been sufficient, hopefully always will be, if I had somethig that required stronger I would see a local doctor and get a prescription.

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by markharf

No one cares about your paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen, or antibiotics, Ted. But codeine will get you jailed or worse in a few countries, whether the bottle has your name on it or your friend's. I don't know whether codeine is still available in Canada without a prescription, but it's an opioid, a class of meds which is frowned upon in most places.

The official travelers' best practice is to carry such drugs in original bottles, labels and all, and also carry a copy of your prescription. Some people carry actual letters from their prescribers justifying whatever they're carrying. I've carried meds all mixed together into generic bottles (to save space, you know), including many which need prescriptions in my own country. I don't worry much about it, and while I've been hassled a time or two nothing serious has ever come of it.

But I would definitely not do this if headed for, say, Dubai, Singapore, or Saudi Arabia. I don't know what people do if they're subject to seizures, have severe chronic pain, or other syndromes which require stuff that's totally illegal in certain countries, but I'd rather not find out firsthand.

First Google result, which I can't vouch for: https://drugabuse.com/blog/the-20-co...-in-the-world/

Have fun out there!

Mark

Good points !!

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[PanEuropean]

Originally Posted by krtw

... But I'm totally not comfortable [taking prescription pain medications with me].

You have good instincts - trust those instincts.

I don't think you risk getting into much trouble if you have a couple of 292 tablets (aspirin & codeine) or a couple of Valium tablets in your travel kit when you enter into any western European country, but I sure as heck would not carry anything like that into an African, Asian, or Middle Eastern country.

There's really not much point to taking any risks, because unless you are wild camping out in the middle of a desert, you can easily go and see a local physician and get a prescription for something stronger if you need it.

Michael

[Snakeboy]

As others have mentioned - in many countries such strong painkillers could in worst case scenario get you thrown i jail. Another aspect is that one should be very careful about riding «under the influence» of such strong painkillers. For many people who for example arent used to take such medications or react much to such medications - its not a good idea and in many cases illegal to take on the task of riding a bike or driving a car.

An example - my friends sister flew out to SE-Asia for a holiday. A flight that is 12 hours in the air (and significantly time at the airport, transport to airport etc etc) And from Europe to SE-Asia she flew and couldnt sleep on the plane and got completely shattered. So she decided to get some medication so that she could sleep on plane back to Europe - as she didnt want to got that shattered again. She bought Hydroxine - which actually an antihistamin medication but it has a bit of a sedative effect too. But this sedative effect is normally very very light.
My friends sister only took one pill of this stuff on the return flight. She did not only fall asleep - she could hardly be awakened! Her travel companion had to almost carry her off the plane at the connecting flight. She drooled and couldnt talk and was more or less totally unconcious! It was like she had been drinking a couple of bottles of local moonshine…a really scary incident for her travel buddy and later when she got back to normal for her too…

And this from a more or less totally «innocent» medication as Hydroxine. I would be very very careful about taking strong painkillers such as opiats as for example Oxycodone or similar medication and then jump on a bike….

Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and maybe some Diclofenac - if you cannot control your pain with such painkillers - one should probably not ride a bike for long stretch…

[Tomkat]

Mark is on the nail. Anything opiate based is a big no-no at many borders, with or without prescription. I don't bring anything stronger than Ibuprofen. For anything worse than that I carry a PLB.

[backofbeyond]

All of this seems to be based on slim chances vs slim chances; the slim chance that you’ll have some kind of issue that only four tablets of eg codeine will help vs the slim chance that border officials will go through your first aid kit tablet by tablet. Others may have experienced things differently but I’ve never had my luggage examined in such forensic detail. Drug dogs sniffing around, yes, many times, luggage turfed out on the floor, yes, that as well, but questions about what this or that is or whether I have guns, knives ( or drones) is as far as it’s gone. Maybe I look honest or something but the contents of my first aid kit ( or the inside of my air filter if you want another approach) have never been examined.

Quite why you’d need anything much stronger than Paracetamol or Ibuprofen unless you have a specific medical issue I’m also struggling with. I have loads of pain issues that flare up from time to time but other than hospitalisation with kidney stones I’ve never used or needed serious opioid pain relief. Codeine isn’t even that good ( for my pain issues anyway).

[Jay_Benson]

Last year I managed to break my collar bone and some ribs (I didn't realise about the ribs for a few days as the pain from the collar bone was masking any pain from the ribs). I was about an hour and a half from home - now I could go to the hospital close to where I was or I could go home. I drove home - gear changing was "interesting". Whether I should have driven is open to question but the adrenaline was sufficient to mask the pain and I got home without incident. Personally I would suggest taking ibuprofen and paracetamol but nothing stronger. To cope with the constant aching as the bones healed I used a TENS machine 2-3 tomes a day and that helped enormously.

To carry an opioid is asking for trouble IMHO.

So I would carry:

• Paracetamol
• Ibuprofen
• TENS machine
• Spot type system in case of really deep trouble

Link to the TENS machine I used here

[Rognv]

Originally Posted by backofbeyond

All of this seems to be based on slim chances vs slim chances; the slim chance that you’ll have some kind of issue that only four tablets of eg codeine will help vs the slim chance that border officials will go through your first aid kit tablet by tablet.

I think it´s not worth to take any riscs at problems at borders because of carying something when the chances you will ever need that item are so slim.
You can´t prepare for every situation you might encounter.
I don´t know much about medicines but aren´t they expiring at some point? If it is so difficult to get a prescription then you would have the same difficulty again and again when you need to buy new onces, and discard the old ones you (hopefully) never used. I have a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher and they are both expired.

[Homers GSA]

As others have said, label and carry a copy of the prescription for medication.

Declare at point of entry.

I travel with a heavy drug and had to dispose of only once.

Have fun.


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[krtw]

Originally Posted by Homers GSA

As others have said, label and carry a copy of the prescription for medication.

Declare at point of entry.

I travel with a heavy drug and had to dispose of only once.

Have fun.


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Did you read my post? I don't believe its confusing. I don't have a prescription and can't get one. But thanks for posting.

[Homers GSA]

No I didn’t read it. I just randomly post hoping to guess the subject.
The conversation has moved on from your initial post, to medicine and travel in general.

And if you want harder pain medication ‘just in case’ a doctor will prescribe it for you. Just find a Dr on your travels.

One legal option is to use ibuprofen and paracetamol together. I have nerve damage and that combo works on mild days.

Here’s a link;

https://www.nps.org.au/news/paraceta...for-acute-pain


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[Revalberg]

Hi.

I use on trips :

Burana 400 - a good pain reliver
Activated charcoal - stomach problems

Both are available without a prescription.