If you're taking prescription medicines, ask your doctor whether you'll be able to get them while you're away. If you can't, and the doctor can?t prescribe enough for your whole trip, you'll have to pay for the medicines yourself at a pharmacy.

You'll also need to find out if there are any restrictions on taking your medicines in and out of the UK or the country you are visiting and some medicines available over the counter in the UK may be controlled in other countries, and vice versa. Ask the relevant embassy or high commission, contact the Home Office Drugs Branch on 020 7035 0472 or check the Home Office website.

You might need a letter from your doctor or a personal health record card giving details about the medicine. Always carry medicines in a correctly labelled container. If you're given any medicines while you're away, try to find out if it's legal to bring them back into the UK. If you're in any doubt, declare them at Customs when you come back.