stan Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I do not know if this is possible, or acceptable here in France, but basically, I am prescribed a painkiller by my French doctor. It is a painkiller that I was prescribed in the UK before I came over here a couple of years ago. For some reason, although the active ingredient is the same, the French painkillers do not work the same. I have compared the actions of both drugs as I still had a few tablets of the UK medicine and it is definitely a difference in the medications, rather than a difference in the effect on my body.I have spoken to a pharmacist friend in the UK and have been told that as long as I have a doctors prescription (NHS, Private (EU)) etc, the UK medicine can be dispensed. My question is this.....would a French doctor provide a prescription for a UK product. The drug concerned is a minor, inexpensive one, but only available on prescription in both countries no less! In France, the product is called Lamaline, which is co-dydramol. In the UK, the product is simply called Co-Dyramol, but not available here in that name.Anyone have any experience of obtaining a French prescription for dispensing in the UK? I thought I would ask this forum before I ask my doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bernice Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I think you should ask your French doctor why you are getting different results with the two products. Perhaps the active ingredients are in different dosages - your doctor or a French pharmacist could check this for you.Bernice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krusty Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Interesting in a search it says the French version has 3 active ingredients paracetamol , opium and caffeine.And the UK one is listed with 2 - Paracetamol and dihydrocodeine tartrate .I hope you get it sorted . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cendrillon Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Does the opium make you sleepy and the caffeine wake you up?[;-)] dihydrocodeine I think is far stronger than paracetamol at least that's been my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Are you sure the dosage is the same, same size tablets do not always equate to the same dose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powerdesal Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 If I recall correctly, there is no way that co-drydamol can be termed a 'minor' drug, its ( I believe ) a serious painkiller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 [quote user="Bernice"]I think you should ask your French doctor why you are getting different results with the two products. Perhaps the active ingredients are in different dosages - your doctor or a French pharmacist could check this for you.Bernice[/quote]No, same dosages, same composition...not as effective. The Lamaline comes in a soft capsule but co-dydramol is a tablet. Lamaline is not available in tablet form here and lamaline is the only product here in France that is the "same" as co-dydramol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Thank you for all the responses, I only know that my doctor prescibed me Lamaline when he received my NHS prescription record (which my UK GP gave me before I left for here). My French doctor told me that Lamaline is the French equivalent of Co-dydramol and there is nothing else here similar.Asking the question again....does anyone know if a French doctor will write a prescription that will result in a UK pharmacy dispensing a UK branded drug? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 [quote user="stan"]Asking the question again....does anyone know if a French doctor will write a prescription that will result in a UK pharmacy dispensing a UK branded drug?[/quote]Bernice has answered your question I believe and on the basis that only your own doctor will write you a prescription of any sort asking such an open ended question is somewhat futile [blink]FWIW according to Wikipedia there are 4 different strengths of Co-dydramol and the stronger ones are known as n France as Remedeine and Remedeine forte so perhaps my point about dosage may not be too far off the mark.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-dydramol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 [quote user="krusty"]Interesting in a search it says the French version has 3 active ingredients paracetamol , opium and caffeine.And the UK one is listed with 2 - Paracetamol and dihydrocodeine tartrate .I hope you get it sorted .[/quote]Like Krusty, I question whether the products are actually the same.See here for Lamaline active components: http://www.doctissimo.fr/medicament-LAMALINE.htmSee here for Co-dydramol active components: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000567.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Having read all the posts, I too now question whether the two products are the same despite what the doctor said. I will just go and ask him and get a definitive answer to my question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 DICODIN LP might be an alternative, as it contains the same active component (Dihydrocodéine), albeit in a much stronger dose (60mg rather than 10mg) but it does not contain paracetamol.Talk to your French GP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliff_merchant Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I have a French prescription for Champix can I use this at a UK pharmacy..Regards,Clifford Merchant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefluwie Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 No Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Repulse Posted November 11, 2011 Share Posted November 11, 2011 My son is a pharmacist in the UK and no it is not possible to dispense a french prescription in the UK. I have just returned from a month long trip with a group of french people. One lady threw her medication in the bin thinking the packet was empty. She had her french prescription but we had to register her as a temp resident and get a prescription from a local doctor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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