Short answer: you can bring your own medicine to Egypt, with care. Tramadol is banned: France Diplomatie says Egypt treats it as a heroin substitute and that anyone arriving with tramadol tablets "risks a very heavy sentence". CBD products are banned too. For other medicines, the UK Foreign Office warns that some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines "may be controlled substances in Egypt" and that "you may need permission from Egypt's Ministry of Health before you arrive". Without it, you may not be allowed to bring them in, "and you may be prosecuted". We read both governments' pages on 26 October 2026.
What the official sources say
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Tramadol (an opioid painkiller) is formally prohibited; possession on arrival risks a very heavy penalty | France Diplomatie, local legislation |
| CBD products, sold freely in France and elsewhere, are banned in Egypt | France Diplomatie, local legislation |
| Some prescribed and over-the-counter medicines may be controlled; you may need Ministry of Health permission before you arrive | UK Foreign Office, health |
| Without permission or the right documents, the medicine may be refused at entry and you may be prosecuted | UK Foreign Office, health |
| Carry a doctor's letter: your condition, the amount you carry, and that it is for personal use only | UK Foreign Office, health |
| Keep medicines in their original packaging, with a prescription naming them by their international generic name | France Diplomatie, health |
| For medicines containing corticosteroids that you really need, bring a prescription, ideally in English or translated into Arabic | France Diplomatie, local legislation |
| Declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to duty | UK Foreign Office, customs rules |
Is there a list of medicines banned in Egypt?
Not one we could find in an official source. Neither the UK Foreign Office nor France Diplomatie publishes a list, and both send travellers to the Egyptian authorities. The Foreign Office says: "For further information, contact the Egyptian Consulate General in the UK." Lists that circulate on travel forums are not official and are not kept up to date. The only two products named by a government page are tramadol and CBD.
Which medicines to check before you fly
If a medicine is controlled in your own country, assume it may be controlled in Egypt and ask before you travel. In the UK, your pharmacist or GP can tell you whether a medicine is a controlled drug. That typically concerns:
- Strong painkillers, especially opioids. Tramadol is banned outright; ask about codeine and others.
- ADHD medicines that are controlled drugs at home.
- Sleeping tablets and some anxiety medicines.
- Any medicine you inject or carry in large amounts.
Write to the Egyptian consulate in your country with the medicine's generic name, the dose, the quantity and your travel dates, and keep their written answer with your documents. TravelHealthPro's medicines and travel factsheet explains the general method.
How to pack them
- Original boxes, with the pharmacy label showing your name.
- The doctor's letter described by the Foreign Office: condition, amount, personal use.
- The prescription, with generic names (for example "paracetamol", not a brand name), so a pharmacist in Egypt can identify them.
- Only the quantity you need for the trip, plus a few days' margin. France Diplomatie advises taking "only the medicines strictly necessary".
- In your hand luggage, so a lost suitcase does not interrupt treatment.
Buying medicine in Egypt
Pharmacies are everywhere in Egyptian cities. France Diplomatie notes that large pharmacies in Cairo sell basic medicines "at prices much lower than in Europe", but that shortages are not rare: do not count on finding your exact medicine. Never buy medicines sold in the street, because of counterfeits (France Diplomatie). The Foreign Office adds that some hotel doctors have overcharged for treatment and medicines and that pharmacies outside hotels often charge less.
If your medicine runs out or gets lost
It happens: a bag goes missing, a trip gets longer. Three steps work best in Egypt:
- Call your insurer's assistance line. They can find a doctor who will prescribe locally, and often pay for the consultation.
- Go to a large pharmacy with the generic name of the medicine, its strength and a photo of the box. Brand names differ between countries; the generic name does not. Expect that your exact product may not be in stock, given the shortages France Diplomatie mentions.
- See a doctor for anything that needs a prescription. The UK Foreign Office keeps a list of medical providers in Egypt where some staff speak English.
Before you leave, take photos of every box and of your prescription and keep them in your phone and in your email. Ask your doctor whether you can carry a few extra days of treatment, split between two bags.
Illegal drugs: the penalties
Do not confuse medicine rules with drug laws. The Foreign Office says that possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs, "even for small amounts", can lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty, and that khat is illegal. France Diplomatie mentions sentences of up to 25 years, including for soft drugs, and says French nationals are regularly convicted. A CBD vape or gummies bought legally at home fall on the wrong side of that line in Egypt.
Before you leave: a checklist
- Is any of your medicines tramadol, or a CBD product? Leave it at home and talk to your doctor about an alternative.
- Is any of them a controlled drug at home? Contact the Egyptian consulate in writing.
- Doctor's letter, prescription with generic names, original boxes.
- Travel insurance that covers medical care in Egypt: see our insurance guide. And the vaccines: Egypt vaccinations.
- A small first-aid kit.
Have your phone ready
A translation app and a map make a pharmacy visit in Egypt much easier: you can show the generic name in Arabic, or find a large pharmacy nearby. With our Egypt eSIM you have data from landing on Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt or e& Egypt, from €6.50 for a day or €33.00 for a week. Install it at home on Wi-Fi before you leave.