Running out is different from losing your medication. The supply at home is still intact and a refill probably exists in your normal pharmacy - the question is whether either is reachable in time.
- How many doses do you have left? Even one or two changes what's possible.
- How long until you are home? If it is two days, the right answer may simply be careful rationing where it is safe to do so, or a tactical missed dose.
- Can someone post the medication to you? For most non-controlled medications, a family member can send a package by next-day delivery. Spanish customs are generally fine with personal-use quantities of normal prescription medication clearly labelled in the original packaging.
- Is the medication something you can get topped up in Spain? Many common medications are available as a Spanish receta privada with very little fuss.
One thing not to do: stop taking the medication abruptly without thinking it through. Some medications are safer to miss than others.
Some medications cannot be safely missed even for a day or two. If you are running low on any of the following, do not wait for the supply at home to catch up - get a prescription locally now.
- Insulin or other diabetes injectables
- Anti-rejection medication after a transplant
- Seizure medication, particularly if you have had recent seizures
- Heart-failure or angina medications
- Severe psychiatric medication (lithium, clozapine, some antipsychotics) where stopping abruptly is dangerous
- Long-term opioid pain medication - stopping abruptly causes severe withdrawal
- Steroids if you have been on them for more than three weeks - these cannot be stopped abruptly
For any of these, the right next step is Urgencias or a Centro de Salud the same day. Online consultations can help with some - particularly oral steroids - but not insulin, anti-rejection drugs, or controlled medications.
Spanish pharmacists are more empowered than UK ones in a small number of situations. Walking into a farmacia with the original packaging or a clear photograph of your current UK prescription is sometimes enough - particularly for medications that are over the counter in Spain but prescription-only in the UK.
This depends on the medication and on the pharmacist's judgement. Some pharmacies will help. Others will direct you to a doctor. Either way, it costs ten minutes to ask and the pharmacist usually knows the local options.
Pharmacies cannot supply controlled drugs, antibiotics, anti-coagulants, weight-loss medications, or anything else on the Spanish prescription-only list without a valid receta.
Public route: Centro de Salud
With an EHIC, a UK GHIC, or a Spanish tarjeta sanitaria, any Centro de Salud will see you for a re-supply prescription. Realistic wait times vary by region.
Private in-person GP
A private GP appointment costs EUR 50 to 120 with same-day availability. The right route if you take several medications and want one consultation to cover all of them in person.
Online private consultation
For a single in-scope medication where you have your prescription history available, an online consultation is often the fastest route. Our doctor reviews your details and your history, often confirms a clinical detail by phone or email, and if appropriate, issues a Spanish receta privada the same day.
What to have ready: the full name of the medication, the dose, how often you take it, the condition it is for, the name of your UK GP, and a photograph of the box or a recent prescription if you have it. The NHS app on your phone usually has all of this in one place.
The Holiday Doctor scope is deliberately narrow.
- Controlled drugs - strong opioid painkillers, ADHD medications, benzodiazepines, sleeping tablets, and others
- Weight-loss medication
- Anti-coagulants and medications requiring regular blood monitoring
- Insulin starts and complex diabetes regimens
- Complex psychiatric medication regimens, particularly antipsychotics
- New conditions outside our published scope
- Anything that needs an in-person examination to assess safely
For any of these, the right route is a Centro de Salud, Urgencias, or a private GP in person. The consultation form will tell you immediately, at no charge, if your situation is outside scope.
- Travel with one to two weeks more medication than you think you need. Trips are extended for all kinds of reasons.
- Set a reminder a week before any trip to check your supply against the trip length, and request a repeat early if needed.
- For longer trips, ask your GP for a longer prescription in advance, particularly for medications you cannot easily get abroad.
- Photograph your prescriptions and the boxes before you travel. It saves time at any pharmacy, anywhere.
- Keep a written list of medications in your phone notes. Include dose, frequency, condition, and prescribing doctor.
- Most travel insurance covers the cost of replacing medication abroad if the need was unforeseen. Keep all receipts.
Important. The Holiday Doctor does not re-supply controlled drugs, anti-coagulants, weight-loss medication, complex psychiatric regimens, or any of the situations listed above. For any time-critical medication, go to Urgencias or call 112.