Traveling with Medications to 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
| Medication | Category | Status | Quantity Limit | Permit Required |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Codeine Co-codamol, Tylenol 3, Solpadeine | opioid-analgesic | RESTRICTED | 90-day supply | NO |
Tramadol Ultram, Tramacet, Zydol | opioid-analgesic | RESTRICTED | 3 months supply with prescription | NO |
Adderall (Amphetamine) Adderall, Adderall XR, Dexedrine | stimulant | PROHIBITED | Zero tolerance for unlicensed amphetamine formulations | NO |
Ritalin (Methylphenidate) Ritalin, Concerta, Medikinet | stimulant | RESTRICTED | 3 months supply with valid prescription | NO |
Modafinil Provigil, Alertec, Modavigil | wakefulness-agent | RESTRICTED | 3 months supply with prescription | NO |
Testosterone Sustanon, Nebido, AndroGel | hormone-anabolic | RESTRICTED | 3 months supply with prescription | NO |
Medical Cannabis Epidiolex, Sativex, Bedrocan | cannabis | RESTRICTED | Up to 3 months supply | YES |
CBD (Cannabidiol) Charlotte's Web, Epidiolex, Various brands | cannabis-derivative | RESTRICTED | Personal use; must contain less than 1mg THC per container | NO |
Diazepam Valium, Diastat, Diazemuls | benzodiazepine | RESTRICTED | 3 months supply without licence; larger amounts need Home Office personal licence | NO |
Melatonin Circadin, Natrol Melatonin, Various OTC brands | sleep-hormone | RESTRICTED | Personal use quantity with prescription | NO |
Pseudoephedrine Sudafed, Actifed, Clarinase | decongestant | ALLOWED | Personal use in original packaging | NO |
Amoxicillin Amoxil, Trimox, Augmentin (with clavulanic acid) | antibiotic | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Azithromycin Zithromax, Zmax, Z-Pak | antibiotic | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Metformin Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza | diabetes-medication | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Insulin (injectable) Humalog, NovoLog, Lantus | diabetes-medication | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Atorvastatin Lipitor | lipid-lowering | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Lisinopril Prinivil, Zestril | antihypertensive | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Amlodipine Norvasc | antihypertensive | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Levothyroxine Synthroid, Eltroxin, Euthyrox | thyroid-hormone | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Omeprazole Prilosec, Losec | proton-pump-inhibitor | ALLOWED | Personal-use | NO |
Prednisone (Prednisolone) Deltasone, Sterapred | corticosteroid | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Salbutamol / Albuterol (inhaler) Ventolin, Proventil, ProAir | bronchodilator | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Warfarin Coumadin, Jantoven | anticoagulant | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Ibuprofen Advil, Motrin, Nurofen | nsaid | ALLOWED | Personal-use (max 16 tablets / pack at supermarket; up to 32 at pharmacy) | NO |
Paracetamol / Acetaminophen Tylenol, Panadol, Calpol | analgesic | ALLOWED | Personal-use (max 32 tablets / pack) | NO |
Morphine MS Contin, Sevredol | opioid-analgesic | RESTRICTED | 90-day supply | NO |
Oxycodone OxyContin, Percocet, Roxicodone | opioid-analgesic | RESTRICTED | 90-day supply | NO |
Alprazolam Xanax, Niravam | benzodiazepine | RESTRICTED | 90-day supply | NO |
Lorazepam Ativan | benzodiazepine | RESTRICTED | 90-day supply | NO |
Sertraline Zoloft, Lustral | antidepressant | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Fluoxetine Prozac, Sarafem | antidepressant | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Metoprolol Lopressor, Toprol-XL, Betaloc | beta-blocker | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Esomeprazole Nexium | proton-pump-inhibitor | RESTRICTED | Personal-use 90-day supply | NO |
Detailed Rules
Codeine
WHO: Narcotic (Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961)
Codeine is a controlled substance; carry in original container with prescription.
- —Original prescription
- —Pharmacy label
Tramadol
WHO: Not internationally scheduled but controlled in many countries
Tramadol is a Schedule 3 controlled drug in the UK. Travelers may bring up to 3 months supply with a valid prescription. The prescription should be carried openly and presented if asked.
- —Valid prescription
- —Doctor's letter for larger quantities
Adderall (Amphetamine)
WHO: Psychotropic substance (Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, Schedule II)
Adderall (mixed amphetamine salts) is not licensed or available in the UK. It is a Class B controlled drug. UK authorities do not recognize US Adderall prescriptions for import purposes. Travelers should arrange alternative licensed ADHD treatment (e.g., methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine) before visiting.
Ritalin (Methylphenidate)
WHO: Psychotropic substance (Schedule II)
Methylphenidate is a Schedule 2 controlled drug in the UK. Travelers may bring up to 3 months supply with prescription. A Home Office personal licence is not required for quantities under 3 months.
- —Valid UK or recognized foreign prescription
- —Doctor's letter
Modafinil
WHO: Psychotropic substance (Schedule IV)
Modafinil is a Schedule 4 controlled drug (Part 1) in the UK. Licensed for narcolepsy. Travelers may bring up to 3 months supply with a valid prescription. Keep in original packaging.
- —Valid prescription
Testosterone
WHO: Not scheduled under international conventions but controlled as anabolic steroid in many countries
Testosterone is a Class C controlled drug in the UK. It is Schedule 4 Part 2, meaning travelers can import up to 3 months supply for personal medical use with a prescription without a Home Office licence.
- —Valid prescription
Medical Cannabis
WHO: Schedule I (Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961)
Medical cannabis has been legal on prescription since November 2018. Import for personal medical use requires a Home Office licence.
- —Home Office licence
- —UK specialist prescription
- —Original packaging
Permit Required
Home Office personal licence
CBD (Cannabidiol)
WHO: Removed from Schedule I in 2020 WHO recommendation; national laws vary widely
CBD products are legal in the UK if they contain less than 1mg THC per container and are not marketed as medicines without MHRA approval.
Diazepam
WHO: Psychotropic substance (Schedule IV)
Diazepam is a Schedule 4 Part 1 controlled drug in the UK. Travelers may bring up to 3 months supply with a valid prescription without a Home Office licence.
- —Valid prescription
- —Doctor's letter for quantities over 3 months
Melatonin
WHO: Not internationally scheduled
Melatonin is a prescription-only medicine in the UK (Circadin 2mg is the licensed product). Over-the-counter melatonin from the US or other countries technically requires a prescription to import.
- —UK prescription (melatonin is prescription-only in UK)
Pseudoephedrine
WHO: Precursor chemical (listed in Table I of the UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic, 1988)
Pseudoephedrine-containing products like Sudafed are pharmacy-only (P medicine) in the UK. They are not controlled substances. Travelers can bring personal quantities in original packaging without restrictions.
- —Original packaging
Amoxicillin
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (penicillin antibiotic)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Azithromycin
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (macrolide antibiotic)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Metformin
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (oral antidiabetic)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Insulin (injectable)
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (hormone)
Insulin (injectable) is a prescription-only medication. Carry in original container.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Atorvastatin
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (statin)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Lisinopril
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (ACE inhibitor)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Amlodipine
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (calcium channel blocker)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Levothyroxine
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (thyroid hormone)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Omeprazole
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (PPI)
OTC in UK.
Prednisone (Prednisolone)
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (corticosteroid)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Salbutamol / Albuterol (inhaler)
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (β2-agonist)
Salbutamol / Albuterol (inhaler) is a prescription-only medication. Carry in original container.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Warfarin
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (anticoagulant)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Ibuprofen
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (NSAID)
OTC in UK with pack-size limits.
Paracetamol / Acetaminophen
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (analgesic)
OTC with pack-size limit.
Morphine
WHO: Narcotic (UN Single Convention 1961)
Morphine is a controlled substance; carry in original container with prescription.
- —Original prescription
- —Pharmacy label
Oxycodone
WHO: Narcotic (UN Single Convention 1961)
Oxycodone is a controlled substance; carry in original container with prescription.
- —Original prescription
- —Pharmacy label
Alprazolam
WHO: Psychotropic (UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971, Schedule IV)
Alprazolam is a controlled substance; carry in original container with prescription.
- —Original prescription
- —Pharmacy label
Lorazepam
WHO: Psychotropic (UN Convention 1971 Schedule IV)
Lorazepam is a controlled substance; carry in original container with prescription.
- —Original prescription
- —Pharmacy label
Sertraline
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (SSRI)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Fluoxetine
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (SSRI)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Metoprolol
WHO: WHO Essential Medicines List (beta-blocker)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging
Esomeprazole
WHO: PPI (related to omeprazole)
Standard prescription-only medication; carry in original container with prescription label.
- —Original prescription / pharmacy label
- —Original retail packaging