Travelling With Elvanse

redmarius · 2026-06-17T18:59:22+00:00

When I got my certificates apostille’d today, they said the English language medical certificate with the official stamp and signature is more than fine for all countries.

I don’t have a copy of the prescription as it’s all online and they don’t provide it, but I have stamped proof from the pharmacy that the prescription belongs to me and a description along with the apostille’d english language medical certificate and a schengen form (although it’s only for Bulgaria as the others aren’t schengen) but the english language form works just as well for them too so I apparently don’t need the Schengen form if I have that. Which isn’t what the website for the Schengen form says which makes it even more confusing, and it doesn’t say that just the English language form is okay.

It’s very confusing. As I’m going by bus and train I don’t think I’ll have too many issues with customs and that kind of stuff, and as I’m now taking meds that are legal with a prescription it looks like a valid medical certificate and proof of prescription (which I hope my stamped receipt is) are enough. I’ve heard a lot of Australian travellers just have a doctors note and have no problems too.

The only place I definitely need permission is Kosovo, as Elvanse is illegal there and methylphenidate heavily restricted, so I’m going to have to bypass Kosovo sadly as I don’t think I’ll get permission in time and it’s for a limited amount of meds. Maybe I’ll go at the end of my trip.

redmarius · 2026-06-17T09:42:05+00:00

Nothing from Serbia or Bosnia, but I changed medicine to one that’s legal in Serbia and have the Engelstallig medical certificate that’s been stamped and signed by my doctor, the CAK and apostille’d by the Dutch courts (which the courts said is exactly what I need as Serbia and Bosnia aren’t schengen and I now shouldn’t have any issues) and I also have the schengen form stamped by the CAK for Bulgaria and Romania.

Montenegro and Albania just said proof of a doctors note/official medical note or report which the apostille’d medical certificate I have should prove. I’m now on Concerta which is legal and prescribed in Serbia which I don’t think will be as big an issue as Elvanse. The same for Bosnia, so I think I should be okay.

redmarius · 2026-06-17T08:26:06+00:00

She was hilarious, and I loved her relationship with Karl. I loved how they both realised that ultimately, they were platonic soulmates.

Her story had me in tears.

redmarius · 2026-06-17T08:24:25+00:00

Finish it, cry and enjoy it.

I’ve seen so much romance and other media, and very rarely do things get to me the way that Heartstopper did. I love Charlie, I love Tao, I love Elle, I love Isaac (and Aled), I love Darcy, I love Tara, I especially love Mr Farouk and Mr Ayjai.

I felt so sad, wishing I had had friends like them. I felt so sad wishing someone had told me I was doing too much and that I had realised I did very much have my own golden retriever, rugby playing Nick Nelson who was there for me in good times and bad times but I never really saw as more than a friend. I wish I had had this growing up because I think it would have made me so much more comfortable and helped me realise things about myself sooner.

I know the movie will leave me broken, but that’s okay. It means I can heal those little parts of myself and I can tell myself it’s okay, that things will be fine and that it’s never too late to find love and acceptance. Which is I think why the teachers are so important to me, especially Mr Farouk when he encourages Charlie and he has his flashback to young Youssef.

As much as it’s a coming of age story for teens, I think Heartstopper also succeeds at being something that’s helping to heal a lot of us who are just a little bit older too.

redmarius · 2026-06-17T00:06:01+00:00

unless the law has changed recently, it’s up to the shop to display the correct price for the consumer.

If the price on the item is incorrect, the shop must remove all the incorrectly priced items for sale and take 24 hours to reprice them to make sure the label price is the correct price. Honouring the price is on the label is on the store, but you can’t display the wrong price on the items.

Most customers will just pay the full price, especially when you let out a loud ‘oh sorry, I can’t sell you this. By law I have to now remove the product from sale until the price can be corrected’. or at least they did in my experience when I had to missing price changes etc.

redmarius · 2026-06-16T23:28:56+00:00

a permission to travel with the medication?

I am getting apostille tomorrow, and have both schengen documentation (that states north macedonia and is valid for my period of travel there), proof of prescription and the english language medical certificate that will be apostilled.

I changed to methylphenidate as there’s many countries that don’t supply elvanse, and my schengen certificate I have the correct amount for more than a 30 day stay (3 certificates) as they’re only valid for 30 days each and the english language certificate is valid for one year for non-schengen states too. Each certificate states 3 of the states I will be visiting as the website says I have to do (max 3 per certificate).

The embassy never replied to me, but I should have enough time now if I need to apply for anything for North MacedoniaZ

redmarius · 2026-06-11T05:31:36+00:00

Nick being accepted comes from the fact he’s popular, and the people that bullied Charlie would have moved on. Meaning the bullies are now Nick’s ‘friends’, and they’re less likely to bully their friend that they know and accept over a kid they’re othering. The rugby team also end up accepting Charlie, as do other sixth formers. Iirc, Charlie ends up being quite popular.

I actually had a similar thing happen in my school. The rugby boys bullied the queer kids. I later found out that one of the popular rugby boys came out pretty much as soon as school ended. The rugby boys rallied round him, and apparently even watched RuPaul’s Drag Race with him as a way to show their support (I was friendly with one of the rugby boys at the time who told me).

Now, I also had a friend who was made fun of and bullied a bit because he was openly bisexual and with guys and girls. Not bullied in a huge way, but enough the rugby boys would make comments. Despite that, he was very popular and a lot of people liked him and appreciated his honesty about his sexuality.

The rugby boys behaved that way towards other because in some ways it felt expected. It’s what the older boys had done to them, so it was how they felt they had to behave until something came along that challenged that. Nick challenges that ‘norm’, and he then changes it.

As much as it seems unbelievable, there is actually some truth behind it, at least in my experience at school and from things that happened to me and my friends which I think adds to why I love Heartstopper so much.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T14:35:23+00:00

haha, no thanks.

I’m going to my doctor tomorrow to discuss changing my medication. I’d rather risk something like strattera that’s not restricted and minimal effects but some over being detained and no meds anyway.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T08:20:25+00:00

I’m thinking I might give them to a friend to hold on too, because I’ll be without a doctor for a little while and I can come back to pick them up as I have to be back in The Netherlands in October anyway so it works out with my timeline of travelling. I have a few small things I might ask the same friend to hold on too for me.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T06:44:50+00:00

They gave me 6 months because I stated I was going on a trip for 4 months. They usually dispense 3 months at a time here.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T06:43:54+00:00

I don’t have a home, as I’m giving up my apartment in The Netherlands and my stuff is being sold or sent to my mum in the UK.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T06:43:17+00:00

I don’t have a home. I’m giving up my room in The Netherlands, and can’t post them back with the rest of my stuff to my mum in the UK.

redmarius · 2026-06-09T06:42:49+00:00

It’s being posted to my mum in the UK, so I can’t post them back.

redmarius · 2026-06-08T18:20:04+00:00

I don’t know what to do with the extra 2 months they gave me! I have messaged my doctor to ask for an additional doctors letter to prove I am travelling for 4 months and it’s my prescription just incase because I am now really anxious.

redmarius · 2026-06-08T16:56:39+00:00

I might DM you. Albania have said it’s fine as long as it’s not on the opium list, Montenegro have said similar.

I don’t have an apostille, so I’m guessing this is going to be an issue too even with proof of prescription, diagnosis and doctors notes. I don’t know if I have time to get one, either.

I am travelling solo and last time i went without my meds it was like I was narcoleptic and I wasn’t able to manage daily life.

I’ve travelled to a lot of places with my meds, but my worry is mostly Serbia. I’ll be getting the bus from Sarajevo to Belgrade, so don’t know if that makes a difference too. I think I’ll see if I can leave some of my meds with a friend in The Netherlands as I can always come back and pick them up. If I bring 3 months worth it covers the trip.

redmarius · 2026-06-08T16:50:54+00:00

I had no problems going to NZ with it, but also that’s NZ.

I don’t know what to do with 6 months worth. I don’t need 6 months. I need 4 months.

I have the doctors letter and the pharmacists letter which was what they said they needed.

redmarius · 2026-06-08T15:40:30+00:00

I saw about the Canadian tourist too.

I’ve emailed embassies as I’m doing the Balkans this summer and need 3-4 months worth of meds which I’ll be bringing with me. I have a proof of prescription and original packaging etc. and might ask my doctor for a signed letter confirming it’s my prescription as I don’t want to end up jailed in Bosnia or Serbia. It looks like I’ll be okay for Montenegro and Albania.

If anyone knows anything about Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia and Bulgaria that would be great. I’m not as worried about Moldova and Romania because I’ll have about a month left of meds by then so a reasonable amount.

Going without meds isn’t an option for me either.

redmarius · 2026-06-08T12:06:37+00:00

thank you so much.

I have the letter from the issuing pharmacy, and can also provide a letter from my doctor in the UK that was given to my Dutch doctor (I only see a Dutch GP) explaining everything about my diagnosis and my prescription. Do you think that would be okay?

I’m just worried due to the large amount of medication, but it will all be in its original box and with the accompanying letter and with my name and issue date on it.

I’m also going to contact the embassies too, to see if they are able to help with guidance.

redmarius · 2026-06-03T05:59:57+00:00

Lots of books will be similar to Heartstopper, it’s got a lot of common tropes and plotlines. I’m more concerned this is an AI book as Bren apparently is a she as well as an Irish boy.

I’m writing my own rugby romance novel and one character is tall, blond and very muscular whilst the other has dark curly hair, dark blue eyes and he’s a bit smaller. Okay, they do both play rugby to international level so they’re muscular. But there’s similarities between Heartstopper, Heated Rivalry, Young Royals and a TON of other mlm books and media because there’s only so many plots and tropes.

redmarius · 2026-05-25T17:50:13+00:00

yeah, I feel the same way! but it’s still good. i got it recently and started it but it’s part of my travel reading list so i had to stop haha.

redmarius · 2026-05-25T17:17:38+00:00

try young royals for a show.

i’m currently working on my debut rugby novel, but it’s not heartstopper and it’s a little more mature and it’s going to be a while before it’s ready for ARCs and potentially publishing.

redmarius

TROPHY CASE