Codeine and coming to America

d4e5f6 · Jul 7, 2006

Thank you very much for the info, it was very helpful :)

ukrn2ca · Jul 11, 2006

To all UK nurses coming to the USA, you must be aware that whilst we can buy codeine over the counter as a legal medicine, it is not available as an over the counter preparation in the USA and it has to be under all cirumstances prescribed by a doctor and declared on your medicine declaration form.
Remember you will be drug tested upon arrival in the USA within 48hrs if with an agency. If you have taken anything with codeine in it you will test positive for drugs (Codiene and morphine), and if you cannot prove that this drug was prescribed by a doctor then you could be in trouble. So follow these simple steps.
1) Make sure codeine is prescibed by a doctor this includes co-codamol, co-dydramol, tramadol, co proximal.
2) If you do take it, then declare it on any forms which ask you if you take any medication
3) Or dont take it at least 8 weeks prior to travel to the US to work.
They will ask to see proof of prescription, so you must bring that with you.

Thanks for the advice

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 11, 2006

A less than humorous story.

As a child (while overseas), I was found to be allergic to tylenol. The local doctor (while in Great Britain) provided Mama with a pain med for use for me as needed.

When we came back through customs (as a military family), not one bit of attention was paid to my children's pain med bottle. But my sister had several personal care products confiscated as being not permitted.

A few weeks later, at a pediatrician's office for an illness, the US ped MD asked about my history and allergies. Mama told her, whereupon she asked about the pain med. Mama brought it in. We were told that we inadvertantly brought in an illegal substance and had it confiscated and disposed of. I still do not know exactly what it was.

But when dosed with it, I slept quite well and felt much better. Of course, I didn't have to pass drug tests, then.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2006

Gosh I wondr what it was? I have never met anyone allergic to tylenol

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2006

Gosh I wondr what it was? I have never met anyone allergic to tylenol

Initially it was just a rash and hives. But before I became a nurse, and knew better, an ER MD prescribed Darvocet-N. To make matters worse, it was a weekend and my regular pharmacy was closed (my PharmD would have known not to fill the script) so I filled it elsewhere. My throat was raw and we crushed the tabs before taking. So when it coated some of those raw area, and absorbed, I went into full blown anaphylaxis.

Jaynie · Aug 1, 2006

Thanks for info, I get a migrane every month (headache pressure behind eyes, numbness down face and arms) anyway found that co-dyramol or other codeine based meds have always done the trick with diclofenic, if i get it in time i only need the one dose.

Wouldn't dare travel without them so saw GP yesterday as have trip planned to the US for 4 weeks and he's prescribed some migrane meds for the trip, would hate to get an illegal drug record before i've even applied for my I-140 petition!

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Aug 1, 2006

You wont get drug tested prior to emigrating and if you have prescription drugs you cannot get into trouble, as they are prescribed by the doctor

kiwideb · Nov 3, 2006

is it true that you would need to be without for a full 8 weeks? that it would show up if you'd had it within that time? just curious :)

MrsCleverclogs · Nov 9, 2006

No I think it is only 2 weeks but dont quote me