My friend in HK wants me to bring a Costco bottle of aspirin to him in HK. Over there they are not over the counter and are not readily available. I plan to carry it on the plane, will I have any problems in customs with a bottle this size?
Can you buy several smaller bottles or break up the big one. If they find a 100 count bottle they might not bother but a 500 count (does that even exist? How big are those Costco bottles) might make them worried.
I for another can't believe Aspirin (tm) isn't available OTC in H.K. Tell your friend to look for it under the British trade name, Dispirin. Generics may be difficult to come by and the Bayer (or Dispirin) could be rather expensive.
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Of course it is avalable in HKG, the differene is that it is generally sold in tiny packs, perhas 12 or 24 tablets as opposed to the giant ridiculous sized bottles you get in the US.
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You are allowed to bring in medicines that you need for your own use. Yes, the COSTCO aspirin is cheap, but there are store brands in 100 count bottles that are also inexpensive.
It came as a surprise to me that the equivalents of many of the OTC meds that we take for granted here in the US aren't available at the pharmacies in SE Asia. No 81mg aspirin, which I take daily for heart health. As I recall, over there aspirin comes in a standard 500mg tablet, whereas the standard tablet in the US is 325mg. No cold meds like Nyquil or Theraflu or bottles of ibuprofen or cetirizine hydrocloride (Zyrtec) either.
Huh? Zyrtec is available OTC in most countries in SE Asia, as a matter of fact it has been OTC in many of these countries for far longer than it has been in the US! Nyquil or Theraflu? These are just OTC syrups, their equivalents or stronger stuff IS available in quite a few SE Asian countries.
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1. Aspirin, as well as a whole lot of other over-the-counter painkillers are readily available in Hong Kong.
2. In all the times I've gone to Hong Kong, I never, once, had my bags inspected. I routinely carry a small pharmacy with me, which include trip-script pain killers. No problems at all, either in Hong Kong or in China (where my bag has been inspected).
1. Aspirin, as well as a whole lot of other over-the-counter painkillers are readily available in Hong Kong.
2. In all the times I've gone to Hong Kong, I never, once, had my bags inspected. I routinely carry a small pharmacy with me, which include trip-script pain killers. No problems at all, either in Hong Kong or in China (where my bag has been inspected).
My friend in HK wants me to bring a Costco bottle of aspirin to him in HK. Over there they are not over the counter and are not readily available. I plan to carry it on the plane, will I have any problems in customs with a bottle this size?
YES YOU CAN as long as the bottle meets travel specs. They wont care about the aspirin - it's your medication - only the size.
Can you buy several smaller bottles or break up the big one. If they find a 100 count bottle they might not bother but a 500 count (does that even exist? How big are those Costco bottles) might make them worried.
I am amazed Aspirin is not OTC there. How come?
Till
Yes, most Costco OTC and vitamins come in 500 count bottles and are cheaper than most smaller count bottles from other brands
He assures me I will be fine if it's in my carry on. Any further opinions?
Your friend must be in a great deal of pain, maybe the 1,000 count bottle instead. I've routinely taken 200 pill bottles of ibuprofen to Hong Kong and Singapore with no problems along with 100 pill bottles or Tylenol PM and no-doze. You shouldn't have any problems whatsoever. However if you are really worried, just take multiple 200 pill bottles and you put one in each of your bags.
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