#1

Does anyone know if my American cousin can bring rapamycin through customs to the UK? I can get a prescription and buy it in the US if I get it sent to my cousin’s address in the US. But she would then have to bring it over to the UK on her next visit. Anyone know? Thanks

#2

I don’t know about the UK specifically, but the worst that could happen is that they’d confiscate it, just as they could as it enters the US via post from India.
I live outside the US and get friends and family to bring prescriptions all the time + I carry things back and forth and while travelling around the world. Despite all the warnings one hears, I’ve never had customs question meds.
Take it out of the packaging, put it in a ziplock with other meds or cosmetics, and claim it’s for personal use.

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#3

Not sure I completely understand your question, but maybe you answer is here:

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#4

Exactly - seems like people are having success with this general approach. I’m not sure I’d go for 700 tablets in one shot, but people are doing it:

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#5

I’m amazed by this. Can you still buy rapamycin in any chemist in Turkey?

#6

Generally unless you have a controlled drug you can import for personal use. I had an issue with an import of a largish quantity of melatonin which arose because it was a largeish quantity (it was, however, for personal use). This is only one import issue of many.

Sometimes they argue that 3 months quantity is personal use.

What I would say is that notwithstanding the activity of governments and legislatures it remains quite easy to buy molecules OTC in the UK and USA with which one can commit suicide. I will not say what they are, but for someone with the knowledge it is not hard.

#7

Rapamycin is sold for transplant patients… so you’re probably not going to find it in smaller drug stores in small cities. In Istanbul, from what I’ve heard, you have to call around (ideally in advance of arriving there) to find a chemist that has stock. There are not that many transplant patients in Turkey, I suspect, so its not like buying azithromycin or some other readily available drug. But it is sold there and people are buying it there for longevity.

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#8

I just bought 300 1 mg Pfizer Rapamune tablets at this Pharmacy in Istanbul: Sultanahmet Eczane. They Said there were only three packets of each 100 pills available in the city at the moment - first I paid one with card, then two in cash, they called someone to get it, and I waited a day. Price: 7.575 turkish lira for 100 pills of 1 mg. Talked to Mehmet. Spoke good english. Nice people.

#9

My guess is that the rapamycin (if found with your name on it not your cousins name) would be confiscated by Customs, and your cousin would be questioned and (possibly) be sent back home or prosecuted.

I don’t think any of the above would occur if the prescription was in your cousins name and she said it was for his or her own personal use while in the UK.

Edit: for clarity, my comment is directly related to her question about her cousin bringing rapamycin into the uk on her person in someone elses name.

#10

AIUI under UK law Rapamycin is not a controlled drug. Hence the limitation in the UK is on selling Rapamycin without the purchaser having a prescription.

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#11

I’m certain they can still confiscate it, if you try and carry it in, especially if the prescription isn’t in your own name. The first google result for the scenario OP asked about that I found said:

Bringing medicine to the UK

If you’re a UK resident who has been prescribed medicine while you were abroad, you need to contact the Drug and Firearms Licensing Unit (DFLU).

If you’re not a UK resident, you will need to carry a letter of proof that the medicine was prescribed for you.

The letter must include:

  • your name
  • the dates you are travelling to or from the UK
  • a list of your medicine, including how much you have, doses and the strength
  • the signature of the person who prescribed your drugs

You can only bring up to 3 months supply of your medicine with you.

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you if your medicine contains a controlled drug. You can also check the drugs listed on the packaging of your medicine and search for them on the controlled drugs list. The list does not give names of medicines, only drugs that are used in medicines.

From Take medicine in or out of the UK - GOV.UK

#12

From that page

You must carry medicine containing a controlled drug with you in your hand luggage when entering or leaving the UK. It may be taken away from you at the border if you cannot prove it was prescribed for you.

“medicine containing a controlled drug”

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