matt-e

Hi all,

My partner and I moved to Dubai at the start of the month. She has a medical condition for which she was prescibed Tramadol for in the UK. It is a pain killer that contains codeine which is a restricted drug here in the UAE. She has run out of what she bought with her and requires some more. She has a letter from her UK doctors stating that she requires this drug for her condition.

Now she started a new job last week and her residents visa is in processing but all she requires is a repeat prescription. I assume she have to see a UAE doctor to get this? Can this be done at one of the government hospitals as ideally we don't want to have to fork out a huge amount for a private consultation when she already knows what she needs. She does have healthcare included in her new job but I don't think it will be in place until she gets the residents visa through.

Can anybody help on this matter?

Cheers

Blue Cat

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...t=banned+drugs

anything with Codeine is banned in the UAE, I advice that she sees a Doctor to get an alternative, or speak to a Pharmacist for their advice on the situation.

matt-e

Banned unless prescribed I understand it. Someone has advised that she goes to the Iranian Hospital and explain the suituation there.

Fairydust

Pretty sure I read somewhere recently that banned medication can only be prescribed at a hospital so iranian hosp is probably your best bet

matt-e

Went to the Iranian hospital last night. Saw a GP who then said only 2 specialists in the entire hospital were allowed to prescribe Tramadol so she made an appointment for her to see the neurologist. He was very against prescribing it saying how highly controlled it is here but then agreed to prescribe 1 months supply. He said she needs to look into an alternative so she saw a GP this morning who suggested paracetamol. Paracetamol doesn't even come close to reducing the effects of what feels like a someone doing a chinese burn on your intestines. So once she starts to run out of the new supply I think it will be a trip back to the neurologist to see if he can recommend an alternative.

I think your right Fairydust, anything that is even slightly controlled must be prescribed by a specialist in a hospital. GPs don't have the authority.