Is it legal to import melatonin into the UK from abroad? How much can be imported?

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• Thanks! I'm glad it works for you.

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  by Carmella on September 26th, 2008

• You can buy Melatonin in USA online and legally import it into the UK. PricesPower.com has great prices. Buy 1 Get 1 Free for 6.57 GBP. Low Shipping cost. Follow this link. http://www.pricespower.com/power.htm

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  by sidluvswomen on September 11th, 2010

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• Thanks for the link! You seem to be able to buy it online...but not over the counter. It appears to be prescription only from what I've heard.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2007

• The Medicines Control Agency declared in 1995 that melatonin should be restricted to prescription, as it is a hormone. Canada has taken a similar stance. However, across the border in the US, melatonin is sold freely as an antioxidant or food supplement. At present, it is not unlawful for UK residents to bring melatonin into the country if purchased legally elsewhere, but it may only be distributed here on prescription on a named patient basis only. (http://www.dotpharmacy.com/upmela.html)

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  by Brian I on September 17th, 2007

• Yay for lax US drug laws!

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2007

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• LMAO! <skulks into corner>

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2007

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• Does that mean you've now had to write a third answer to read this comment? *evil grin*

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2007

• What's with the evil grin? No, I can read them if there's just more than one answer because I have to 'read all answers' first. Don't ask me why, it's doing my head in.

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  by anonymous on September 17th, 2007

• haha, I just got the evil grin. Don't mind me, I'm not completely with it today...

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  by anonymous on September 17th, 2007

• LOL! Sounds like you could use some melatonin yourself. ;-)

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2007

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• Huh?

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• Melatonon...

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• Who says they even have a patent?

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• In this country if you sell something by prescription, it must be a pattented drug. Which usually means that they take something natural like a supplement and intorduce a foreign substance into the mix that they are able to say makes it work better and then pattent it and sell it.
  
  If it is a supplement, you cant pattent something that occurs naturally only the name brand that packages it.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• Melatonin I believe??? Is a supplement. Not a pharmaceutical.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• In the UK, I'm pretty sure a drug doesn't need to have a patent on it in order to be prescription... I can't see how such a system would work, there would be no choice or cheaper, generic drugs to use when you fill a prescription. For example I can get Roche Roaccutane, or the generic Isotretinoin. In England that's not really a problem for the person getting the script, because every prescription costs the same (unless you are exempt from charges) but I imagine it saves the government a lot of money.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• Here generics have nothing to do with the original "pattent" as in the ownership of the formula...(if im using the correct word? I dont think I am... but that is what I have stuck in my head right now so...)
  
  But anyway... a generic equilivent is a cheaper made version of the originally owned formula that can be sold cheaper because it is an equilivent derrivitave of the orignal with the same, or similar effects and strength.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• Usually the big long word... Implies the clinical formula with its exact active chemical ingredient. A "Brand" drug is simply one that is owned marketed and belongs to a coorporation that has like I said, put something esle into it that makes it uniquely theirs and therefore you are paying for a brand only, not the medication itself. Just like tide and store brand... Same thing.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• For example, lets say Here we have Prozac at $5.00 per pill... and then there is Fluoxetine HCl that is $1.50 per pill because a coorporation doesn't own the active ingredient itself only the brand name of prozac.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• I know the differences between generic and brand name drugs, thanks. That's not the point, the point is -- I'm fairly certain that in the UK prescription drugs do not have to be patented, and therefore there's nothing to indicate that melatonin has a patent on it.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• Well if the laws are different then they can sell anything as a prescription at prescription prices I suppose? As far as importing it goes... I imagine it would be illegal on your end but not on ours as in your can take it out but you cant take it into the Uk in any kind of Quantity that would imply resale?

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• Go through Canada... Their laws are different too.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• No, it doesn't mean anything can be made into a prescription drug. There's a regulating body, NICE. I'm unsure as to how going through Canada would help, it doesn't change the UK laws, yes?  
   
  I'm not sure I've got the inclination to continue this conversation, I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, but you seem to know less than me about how the UK system works. I was (at the time) looking for a solid answer. As it was, I bought a bottle of melatonin into the UK from the US and was never stopped. Thanks anyway.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• okay never mind... Sorry.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• I wasn't aware of the urgency and I was just chatting really and trying to come to a conclusion for you.
  
  I never claimed to be an expert on UK anything I do however know about things from this end, I though it might help. Sorry I wasted your time.

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  by Go know thyself is THE RED QUEEN on September 17th, 2008

• No, you didn't waste my time at all. I'm sorry my comment came off as harsh, I didn't mean it to.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• There is no requirement that prescription drugs be patented. Patents are there to protect the developer of the drug from infringement by others. Prescription requirements are there to protect the public from taking drugs that may be dangerous without doctor's supervision. The two protections have nothing to do with each other.

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  by HasntBeen on September 17th, 2008

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• This doesn't answer the question and in fact, your advice is pretty dangerous.

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  by Carmella on September 17th, 2008

• It was not meant to be dangerous, i do not know what part you are refering too, maybe the internet address where i bought those drugs, no worries it closed down many years ago.
  
  I was simply trying to warn people how they can without thinking run into traps and may well be buying banned goods, anyway i do not think the uk would have banned melatonin for nothing.

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  by reformed on September 17th, 2008