Dr. Manthan Sheth
Health Times, Darpan, Gujarat Mitra, 14/01/2026
Last week, a piece of news kept echoing in my mind. An ordinary Indian citizen suffering from severe back pain traveled abroad carrying *Tramadol*, a medicine prescribed by his doctor in India. At the airport, he was stopped. Questioned. Investigated. And within minutes, he went from being a “patient” to an “accused.” Today, that person is in jail.
He had no intention of smuggling.
He was not selling drugs.
He was merely carrying medicine to relieve his pain.
But in that country, *Tramadol is classified as a narcotic drug*.
This raises a critically important question:
Do we really know that a medicine which is a “treatment” for us can become a *crime* in another country?
Countries change, laws change. Medicines do not.
In India, we treat medicines very casually. A doctor prescribes them, we buy them from a medical store, keep them at home, and even carry them while traveling. The problem begins when we assume that *India’s legal perspective applies across the world*. In reality, India’s drug control laws are one thing; those of the UAE, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Indonesia—every country—are different.
A medicine that is a *Schedule H* or a *prescription drug* in India may be considered a *narcotic* or *psychotropic substance* elsewhere. The law does not look at the medicine—it looks at the *risk.
There are many such medicines, but *Tramadol* is an excellent example. Millions of patients in India use it. However, in the UAE, Egypt, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia, it is an *opioid narcotic. Mere possession can lead to imprisonment. In the recent case, the person had only 10–15 tablets. There was no commercial intent. Yet for the law, **the mere presence of the drug was enough*.
The argument “My doctor prescribed it, I have a prescription” does not work abroad. Many people believe, “If I have a prescription, there won’t be any problem.” But in many countries, even with a prescription, the medicine may still be illegal. Why? Because those countries view such medicines in terms of *drug abuse, illegal trade risks, smuggling, public safety threats, and intoxication. The law does not see you as a patient—it sees you as a **possessor of a controlled substance*.
Which medicines most commonly trap Indian travelers?
*Yes—this is a red alert. Check these medicines carefully before traveling abroad.*
Indian travelers most often face trouble due to certain medicines that are commonly used in India but are considered narcotic, controlled, or illegal in many countries.
* *Tramadol*: A common painkiller in India, but classified as a narcotic drug in many countries. Mere possession can lead to jail.
* *Codeine-based cough syrups*: Widely consumed in India, but registered as opioid drugs in many countries and strictly controlled as addictive substances.
* *Alprazolam*: Used for anxiety and sleep; considered a psychotropic drug in many countries, and bringing it without government permission can be a crime.
* *Diazepam*: Prescribed for sleep and muscle relaxation; classified as a controlled drug in many places, requiring special permission.
* *Zolpidem: Very commonly used in India for insomnia, but in some countries it is outright *banned*.
* Pregabalin: Used for nerve pain and diabetic neuropathy; restricted in many countries and illegal without specific limits and permissions
* In addition, some ADHD medications that are legal in India with a doctor’s prescription are completely *illegal in several countries.
And sadly, many of these medicines are commonly found in our homes. These are just a few examples—not a complete list.
✈️ What happens at the airport?
Your baggage is scanned. If a medicine is found and its name appears on the narcotics list, you are taken aside. Questioning follows. Then investigation. Detention. And after that, a legal case begins.
You may explain:
“I was in pain.”
“Please speak to my doctor—it’s his prescription.”
But the law has only one question:
Is this medicine legal in our country?”
If the answer is “No,” everything else becomes irrelevant.
🩺 Why am I writing this as a doctor?
Every day in my clinic, I meet many patients. I listen to their worries, dilemmas, stories, and struggles. Many say:
“Doctor, we’re going to Dubai to visit our daughter,” or
“We’re going to the US to stay with our son for a few months.”
And along with that, they ask me to prescribe sleeping pills, nerve medicines, painkillers—to carry with them. But not once does anyone ask:
Is this medicine legal there?”
This ignorance is the biggest danger. In just five minutes, you can protect yourself.
—
✅ Five steps to follow before traveling abroad:
1️⃣ *Google it.*
For example:
“Is Tramadol legal in UAE?”
Do this for every medicine and every country.
2️⃣ *Check the embassy website.*
Look for the *Prohibited medicines list.
3️⃣ *If in doubt, change the medicine.*
Ask your doctor for a safer alternative.
4️⃣ *Carry a doctor’s letter/prescription*
in English, mentioning the *generic name*.
5️⃣ *Keep medicines in original packaging.*
Loose tablets or strips look the most suspicious.
Medicine saves the body—but in the wrong country, the same medicine can take away your freedom. Foreign travel is not just about tickets and visas; it is also about understanding the law.
If you or any family member is traveling abroad, please make them read this article. A small piece of information can save a lifetime of trouble.
Because *the medicine is yours, but the law is theirs.*
