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Q. for TSA Rep AND others - Bringing pills through US customs?

Q. for TSA Rep AND others - Bringing pills through US customs?

Old Aug 25, 2014, 4:43 pm
  #1  
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Q. for TSA Rep AND others - Bringing pills through US customs?

So how shall I put this. I have a few questions hopefully someone "authorized" can answer me, but inputs from mortals (non-TSA) is also appreciated. Please no preaching about my "situation", I'm just explaining it so you have a little background. I just need some facts straight, that's all.

Basically I'm gonna entertain a special girl in the States and I want to make a good impression. I got some pills presribed to me by a doctor after an online consultation (perfectly legitimate, I checked) from an UK based pharmacy, so it's nothing illegal. .

So I got Cialis and this pill called Priligy (prevents premature ejaculation), the latter is not approved by the U.S. FDA yet (still pending) but I have a legitimate recipe for both. [1] Can I still bring the latter into the States for personal use, of course?

I also got this generic pill called Snovitra. I would rather not bring it with me because I don't have presecription for that, I just got it legally from an online store, but I thought I'd bring 4 of those as "back-up" because I'll be staying for two weeks and Cialis is way too pricey to cover that time period, even if I may not even use them, it's just to be on the safe side.

[2] So is the TSA concerned about personal use quantaties of generic pills without prescription, will they even bother to look if I put them in a vitamine bottle? I know that could get me in trouble, but it's just for personal use like I said, plus if there's very little risk of getting caught, no harm in it the way I see it.

Any TSA employees here who can clarify how it works at the customs when it comes to pills of "personal use quantities"?

Last edited by squeakr; Aug 25, 2014 at 7:28 pm Reason: clarifying the questions
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Old Aug 25, 2014, 7:27 pm
  #2  
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Just a note

I've OK'd this post, and I am asking that responses be limited to answering the question as the OP requests. Value or moral judgements or snark will not be tolerated. Thanks.

squeakr

co Mod TS/S
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Old Aug 25, 2014, 8:26 pm
  #3  
 
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Originally Posted by goingplaces1
So how shall I put this. I have a few questions hopefully someone "authorized" can answer me, but inputs from mortals (non-TSA) is also appreciated. Please no preaching about my "situation", I'm just explaining it so you have a little background. I just need some facts straight, that's all.

Basically I'm gonna entertain a special girl in the States and I want to make a good impression. I got some pills presribed to me by a doctor after an online consultation (perfectly legitimate, I checked) from an UK based pharmacy, so it's nothing illegal. .

So I got Cialis and this pill called Priligy (prevents premature ejaculation), the latter is not approved by the U.S. FDA yet (still pending) but I have a legitimate recipe for both. [1] Can I still bring the latter into the States for personal use, of course?

I also got this generic pill called Snovitra. I would rather not bring it with me because I don't have presecription for that, I just got it legally from an online store, but I thought I'd bring 4 of those as "back-up" because I'll be staying for two weeks and Cialis is way too pricey to cover that time period, even if I may not even use them, it's just to be on the safe side.

[2] So is the TSA concerned about personal use quantaties of generic pills without prescription, will they even bother to look if I put them in a vitamine bottle? I know that could get me in trouble, but it's just for personal use like I said, plus if there's very little risk of getting caught, no harm in it the way I see it.

Any TSA employees here who can clarify how it works at the customs when it comes to pills of "personal use quantities"?
I have never had a TSA mention, question, or even look at any of the meds or supplements I travel with. Yes, I keep them in their original containers, particularly the meds, just in case I'm questioned. Customs? Never claimed any and haven't had an agent question me about what I've declared or search my bags.
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Old Aug 25, 2014, 9:01 pm
  #4  
 
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1. Don't confuse TSA and Immigration/Customs. They have zero to do with one another.

2. TSA won't care about the pills.

3. Customs won't care about the pills either unless you're bring a giant bag of them.

4. If you're paranoid, just have the pills in the prescription bottle that's in your name.

I routinely carry a blister pack of generic Viagra with me, and Customs has never said a word in the 2-3 times I've been secondaried over the last few years.
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Old Aug 25, 2014, 9:15 pm
  #5  
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TSA is not concerned with medications (except those that are liquids/gels/aerosols, which you need to present separately at the checkpoints but can bring through, even if over 100mL). If TSA screeners have reason to believe you might be carrying illegal substances, they could refer you to law enforcement officers. But most people traveling with reasonable amounts of medications, whether prescription or not, have no issues with TSA security.


CBP (Customs) is a different matter entirely. Customs officers are federal law enforcement officers and they are interested in any substances you might be bringing into the country. You need to DECLARE any medications (along with any other items) that you obtained while outside the USA and are bringing into the country, aside from your "personal effects." You might not be permitted to enter the country carrying medications that are not FDA-approved for use in the United States.

("personal effects" refers to items like used clothing, your laptop, reading materials, etc....basically items you have owned for a while and/or are the typical items for a traveler to be carrying, in reasonable quantities for your own personal use)

If the CBP officer asks what the medications are used to treat, and you explain, you might be allowed to proceed into the country with them, or you might not. CBP is primarily concerned with importation of dangerous, addictive substances such as narcotics, etc. But you still need to declare your medications that you acquired overseas and are bringing into the USA. If you want to find out in advance whether your medications might be permitted, you can contact the CBP Field Office at the port of entry you will be using.

Don't risk the seizures, fines, and flags on your record. Don't try to slip by without being caught. Just do the right thing and DECLARE.

Last edited by ESpen36; Aug 25, 2014 at 9:21 pm
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Old Aug 26, 2014, 6:15 pm
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Ok, thanks for clarifying.

But how does the CBP know what medication that I've declared is FDA-approved? Do they actually go through the entire list of every passanger? Are the ceritfied pharmacists too?
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Old Aug 26, 2014, 11:43 pm
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Originally Posted by ESpen36
CBP (Customs) is a different matter entirely. Customs officers are federal law enforcement officers and they are interested in any substances you might be bringing into the country. You need to DECLARE any medications (along with any other items) that you obtained while outside the USA and are bringing into the country, aside from your "personal effects." You might not be permitted to enter the country carrying medications that are not FDA-approved for use in the United States.

("personal effects" refers to items like used clothing, your laptop, reading materials, etc....basically items you have owned for a while and/or are the typical items for a traveler to be carrying, in reasonable quantities for your own personal use)
Oops! Do I really have to declare all medications I bring in (as a visitor)? Where would I do that? The customs form has space to declare items that will be left in the US (for me typically a few small gifts for people I ma visiting), but not for anything else.

I do believe all my meds are FDA approved (although it is possible that one is not approved for the use that it has been prescribed for - have been there before).

BTW, none are narcotics or otherwise high value drugs :-)

Thanks,
DanishFlyer
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Old Aug 27, 2014, 7:00 am
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Originally Posted by DanishFlyer
Oops! Do I really have to declare all medications I bring in (as a visitor)? Where would I do that? The customs form has space to declare items that will be left in the US (for me typically a few small gifts for people I ma visiting), but not for anything else.

I do believe all my meds are FDA approved (although it is possible that one is not approved for the use that it has been prescribed for - have been there before).

BTW, none are narcotics or otherwise high value drugs :-)

Thanks,
DanishFlyer
Looking at the declaration form I too don't see a specific place for declaring medications. Personally I only take and travel with pretty mundane medications like blood pressure and cholesterol prescriptions so I've never declared them. Generally I follow the following off the CBP website:

Medication

Rule of thumb: When you go abroad, take the medicines you will need, no more, no less. Narcotics and certain other drugs with a high potential for abuse - Rohypnol, GHB and Fen-Phen, to name a few - may not be brought into the United States, and there are severe penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicines that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants or stimulants), do the following:
Declare all drugs, medicinals, and similar products to the appropriate CBP official;
Carry such substances in their original containers;
Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) would normally carry for his/her personal use; and
Carry a prescription or written statement from your physician that the substances are being used under a doctor's supervision and that they are necessary for your physical well being while traveling.

U.S. residents entering the United States at international land borders who are carrying a validly obtained controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD), are subject to certain additional requirements. If a U.S. resident wants to bring in a controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD) but does not have a prescription for the substance issued by a U.S.-licensed practitioner (e.g., physician, dentist, etc.) who is registered with, and authorized by, the Drug Enforcement Administration to prescribe the medication, the individual may not import more than 50 dosage units of the medication into the United States. If the U.S. resident has a prescription for the controlled substance issued by a DEA registrant, more than 50 dosage units may be imported by that person, provided all other legal requirements are met.

Please note that only medications that can be legally prescribed in the United States may be imported for personal use. Be aware that possession of certain substances may also violate state laws. As a general rule, the FDA does not allow the importation of prescription drugs that were purchased outside the United States. Please see their Web site for information about the enforcement policy for personal use quantities.

Warning: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration prohibits the importation, by mail or in person, of fraudulent prescription and nonprescription drugs and medical devices. These include unorthodox "cures" for such medical conditions as cancer, AIDS, arthritis or multiple sclerosis. Although such drugs or devices may be legal elsewhere, if the FDA has not approved them for use in the United States, they may not legally enter the country and will be confiscated, even if they were obtained under a foreign physician's prescription.

Additional information about traveling with and importing medication can be found at the FDA's Drugs page.

The FDA is responsible for pharmaceutical admissibility determinations. If you have any questions as to whether a specific pharmaceutical may be imported into the United States, please contact the FDA, Division of Import Operations and Policy, at (301) 796-0356.

If you have any questions regarding the importation of a controlled substance into the United States, please contact the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control, International Drug Unit, at (202) 305-8800.
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Old Aug 27, 2014, 8:23 am
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Originally Posted by goingplaces1
Ok, thanks for clarifying.

But how does the CBP know what medication that I've declared is FDA-approved? Do they actually go through the entire list of every passanger? Are the ceritfied pharmacists too?
If there is a question, you can either surrender the medication, or I suppose it's possible that you are detained while your particular medications are researched with an FDA official/department which may not be particularly expedient.

Practically speaking, if you just have a few pills in a couple of medication bottles, or in one of those daily dispensers, you likely will not have any issues. I suspect they focus more on those who are bringing in larger quantities of pills.
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Old Aug 29, 2014, 5:56 am
  #10  
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You guys think they'll hassle me over 4 generic pills I have no prescription for but that have the same effect as those that are prescribed to me. If I tell them I bought them online because they were cheaper than Cialis but they have the same effect....?
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Old Aug 29, 2014, 6:36 am
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edit.........

Last edited by goingplaces1; Aug 29, 2014 at 7:04 am
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Old Aug 29, 2014, 7:03 am
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Priligy is apperantly an "off-label" drug, so does that make it legal for me to bring into the States for personal use having a doctors prescription, despite that it's not approved by the FDA for sale domestically? What's the attitude towards "off label" drugs?
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