Before you go

It’s a good idea to speak to your HIV consultant, an HIV specialist nurse or the treatment information organisation, i-base, before travelling on longer trips, especially when there is a significant time zone difference to the UK. If you have specific health issues, such as a CD4 count below 200, you can ask your doctor if you are fit for travel to your preferred destination.

No treatment regime is completely free from side effects. Make sure your side-effects are manageable before travelling, take anti-sickness pills and anti-diarrhoea medication as required. Avoid significant changes to your medication regime before travel, allowing a couple of months to adjust to any new combinations.

You may need to adjust the timing of your meds to take into account the time zone of where you’ll be staying. Some people prefer to continue taking their meds at the usual time they would in the UK e.g. with a 12 hour time difference taking morning meds in the evening and vice-versa.

This doesn’t work so well if the time difference means you’ll be sleeping when you normally take your meds UK time. It may be best to work out a way of staggering the taking of your meds before departure by an hour each time a dose is taken until the timings are suitable for your arrival time zone.

If you are travelling to a country with HIV restrictions, think through how you would deal with being refused entry or having your medication taken away. Find out more about the rules and regulations regarding HIV at your destination.

Many people travel to such destinations anyway, Singapore and Dubai are popular examples. You may decide that the benefits of travel outweigh the risk of discovery. However it is advisable to think through the possible consequences. How stressful would you find arriving in a country with restrictions? What would an enforced treatment break be like?

Posting Medication

Before the lifting of the HIV travel ban to the USA in 2010, some positive travellers posted their medication ahead of them, to a friend in the country or to their hotel. However, international mail can often be delayed or lost altogether, so this is not recommended. If you choose this option, it should be posted well in advance to someone who can verify it has arrived.

Customs officials do inspect posted items. If you do send medication ahead, you should fill out and include a customs declaration stating the parcel contains prescribed medication, for personal use only, without any commercial value. Enclose a letter from your doctor advising the medication is for personal use. The letter does not have to detail your condition. Remember that it is equally illegal to post drugs as to carry them if the medication is restricted by customs.

Packing

It is best to carry medication in your hand luggage in case of checked luggage being delayed or lost. Bring enough medication for your trip, plus a few days’ extra in case you’re delayed or change your travel plans. Count out your doses in full plus the few extra before packing. However, it’s best not to take excessive quantities, as customs and immigration officials may treat this as evidence of an intention to overstay the permitted entry.