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Uk prescription in Spain

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:10am
27 replies871 views9 members subscribed
Phills61

Posts: 27

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 22 Jan 2023

Hi. We are moving to live in Benidorm in a couple of weeks. I am concerned regarding my prescription for restless leg syndrome.  I have been in pramipexoke for years and cannot sleep without them. My UK GP has given me a 3 month prescription, but how do I get them in Benidorm when the 3 months prescription runs out? Can I just go to a chemist and ask for them or do I need a letter from my UK GP to prove what I need? Thanks for your help. Phill.

tebo53

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:54am

tebo53

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:54am

Phills61 wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 8:10am:

Hi. We are moving to live in Benidorm in a couple of weeks. I am concerned regarding my prescription for restless leg syndrome.  I have been in pramipexoke for years and cannot sleep without them. My UK GP has given me a 3 month prescription, but how do I get them in Benidorm when the 3 mont...

...hs prescription runs out? Can I just go to a chemist and ask for them or do I need a letter from my UK GP to prove what I need? Thanks for your help. Phill.

Hi,

If you are moving to Benidorm to live permanently you will have either private healthcare or through the S1 scheme as part of you visa application (unless you are coming on an EU passport)

If your tablets are prescription drugs you will need to get a prescription from a doctor. You cannot get prescription tablets over the counter nowadays. 

Normal over the counter drugs are usually available albeit a different brand name by bringing an empty box.

Steve 

Darro

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:35am

Darro

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:35am

Pramiexole does appear to be available in Spain.

I can't speak for Benidorm but around these parts most drugs are freely available on demand. An empty box or copy of a recent UK prescription can sometimes help oil the wheels but if you do get turned down at one pharmacy chances are the next one will sell it to you.

A letter from a UK GP mean zilch in Spain, substantially less if written in English!

tebo53

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:47am

tebo53

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:47am

Darro wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:35am:

Pramiexole does appear to be available in Spain.

I can't speak for Benidorm but around these parts most drugs are freely available on demand. An empty box or copy of a recent UK prescription can sometimes help oil the wheels but if you do get turned down at one pharmacy chances are the next one will sell it to you.
...

...

A letter from a UK GP mean zilch in Spain, substantially less if written in English!

In Benidorm they have cracked down at Farmacia on drugs that are prescription only. You will definitely need a doctors prescription. 

Steve 

Phills61

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:59am

Phills61

Original Poster

Posts: 27

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 22 Jan 2023

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:59am

tebo53 wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:47am:

In Benidorm they have cracked down at Farmacia on drugs that are prescription only. You will definitely need a doctors prescription. 

Steve 

OK. Thanks everyone.  So would I get an app with a doctor in Benidorm and show them my tablets and a recent prescription from my own doctor to get them? I presume it's then like in UK where you then get a prescription from the Spanish doctor and take it to a chemist to be processed?

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tebo53

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 10:13am

tebo53

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 10:13am

Phills61 wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:59am:

OK. Thanks everyone.  So would I get an app with a doctor in Benidorm and show them my tablets and a recent prescription from my own doctor to get them? I presume it's then like in UK where you then get a prescription from the Spanish doctor and take it to a chemist to be processed?

Prescriptions are different here in Spain. You don't get a paper Prescription to take to the Farmacia. 

You will need to apply for a SIP card from the local clinic and if you get a temporary one then you will get an appointment to see a doctor. 

If the doctor gives you tablets he will put that Prescription electronically onto the SIP card for you to present to the Farmacia. 

Please take a translator to the clinic otherwise they will not entertain you.

Did you not get healthcare cover as part of your visa application? 

Do you have UK or EU passport? 

Steve 

Darro

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:02pm

Darro

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:02pm

Just because Benidorm have clamped down doesn't mean everywhere has.

I would venture that a morning spent trying the pharmacies around the Calpe/Denis area would almost certainly be an easier option than trying to get a SIP card!

There is of course no way to guarantee that a Spanish doctor would prescribe exactly the medication you want, any doctor worthy of the title would want to examine you for him or herself and determine the appropriate medication, nor rely on what another foreign doctor may have prescribed in the past.

tebo53

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:46pm

tebo53

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:46pm

Darro wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:02pm:

Just because Benidorm have clamped down doesn't mean everywhere has.

I would venture that a morning spent trying the pharmacies around the Calpe/Denis area would almost certainly be an easier option than trying to get a SIP card!

There is of course no way to guarantee that a Spanish doctor would prescribe exactly the medication you want, any doctor worthy of the title would want to examine you for him or herself and determine the appropriate medication, nor rely on what another foreign doctor may have prescribed in the past.

Surley if the OP is moving to Benidorm to live permanently then he needs to get in a stable position regarding healthcare. A SIP card is a valuable tool to aiding in general healthcare instead of tracking down medication from town to town.

If the OP has made arrangements to live here permanently then he should have healthcare covered as part of the visa requirements if they are UK or EU citizens. 

Steve 

Phills61

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:55pm

Phills61

Original Poster

Posts: 27

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 22 Jan 2023

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:55pm

tebo53 wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 10:13am:

Prescriptions are different here in Spain. You don't get a paper Prescription to take to the Farmacia. 

You will need to apply for a SIP card from the local clinic and if you get a temporary one then you will get an appointment to see a doctor. 

If the doctor gives you tablets he will put that Prescription electronically onto the SIP card for you to present to the Farmacia. 

Please take a translator to the clinic otherwise they will not entertain you.

Did you not get healthcare cover as part of your visa application? 

Do you have UK or EU passport? 

Steve 

  I have a UK passport. We have got the NLV and our in private health care package as part of the visa application 

tebo53

Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 5:03pm

tebo53

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Posts: 4779

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Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2023 5:03pm

Phills61 wrote on Thu Apr 27, 2023 4:55pm:

  I have a UK passport. We have got the NLV and our in private health care package as part of the visa application 

In that case your private healthcare provider should be informing you about the route to registration with the local private hospital/clinics and then they will advise you on the availability of your medicines and medication. 

Steve 

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