Prescription Drugs and Security

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Oct 11, 2002 | 7:57 pm

monty95

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Prescription Drugs and Security

Does anyone know what the rules are for prescription drugs and checkin security at the airport? My mom will be traveling with us later this month. Since we'll just be gone a few days, she wants to just take one of those weekly pill holders with her daily meds instead of taking all the prescription bottles. Will they give her a hard time? Would it help to get a letter from her physician or pharmacist stating what drugs she is carrying? Thanks in advance.

Oct 11, 2002 | 8:14 pm

Eastbay1K

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Domestic travel? I wouldn't be too concerned. Int'l travel, I would make sure all pills are in original bottles.

Oct 11, 2002 | 8:46 pm

prncess674

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Don't bother travelling with all the bulky bottles. I have travelled internationally with my father who takes a laundry list of medications. I would have needed a small carryon to carry all the original bottles. He has 90 day supplies mailed to him, these are some big bottles.

Type up a list of all medications, including dosage with each doctor's name and number to include with your carry on luggage. The list will come in handy if you need to have something refilled unexpectedly on the road. The list is also a god send if you get sick in foreign country or state to just hand over to the attending physician.

Oct 11, 2002 | 8:55 pm

monty95

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Thanks all. I knew there had to be "experts" on this. When my mom asked I said, good question....I'll see what they have to say on Flyertalk. Thanks again.

Oct 11, 2002 | 11:21 pm

EPS

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http://www.tsa.gov/trav_consumers/ti...abilities.shtm

Quote:

Make sure medications are properly labeled (professionally printed label identifying the medication or a manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label).

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They don't understand how to cope with anything other than diabetes. Any bets on when TSA kills their first angina sufferer?

Oct 11, 2002 | 11:30 pm

Rudi

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I never have the original packages with me, just enough pills (Hypertension, and some 'emergency-medicine' just in case of another kidney-stone attack after 12 years) for the days that I travel.

Security (and only once US-costums) sometimes questioned, but my explanations always satisfied them (and anyway, the drugs-name is on every single pill).

Oct 12, 2002 | 5:49 am

oldpenny16

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As far as international is concerned (please include Canada) original bottles are a must. I've had US Customs paw through pills to such a degree that they were too dirty to use as far as I am concerned.

I am less careful domestically, but I make sure that I have essential medications in more than one place in case as bag/purse etc. goes missing.

Also, for heaven's sake, don't put all your supply of medications into a checked bag!

I haven't had any problems with security.