Japan Narita Customs - Importing prescription medication on prohibited list
Nov 12, 2012, 4:21 pm
#61
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1
With other medicines
Here's a question: I have four other medicines that I'll be bringing with me in at least a six-month supply (I'm studying abroad for a year.) If I were somehow to package them with those other medicines, what are the chances that they'll notice? I.e. putting them in the bottom of another container or in a container meant for another set of pills?
I highly doubt I'd ever do something like that; I don't want to ruin my trip to Japan, but I don't want to come back to America with a transcript full of Cs, either.
I highly doubt I'd ever do something like that; I don't want to ruin my trip to Japan, but I don't want to come back to America with a transcript full of Cs, either.
Nov 14, 2012, 12:45 am
#62
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: HGP/SPG: Apprentice Kettle; UA/AA/DL: Journeyman Kettle
Posts: 866
5 pages of speculation ...
The "appropriate" answer has already been given, in my opinion.
Consult the Japanese Embassy/Consulate on the matter and follow their guidance. And/or consult a lawyer who is throughly familiar with Japanese law on smuggling and illegal drugs. And/or ask your physician in your home country if there is another medicine that will achieve the desired effect that is also legal to bring into Japan.
If the OP [or someone else] is caught smuggling and receives particularly harsh punishment it won't make a difference what the chances are of, or that someone else received, a lesser punishment.
As others have said, it is about risk tolerance on the would be smugglers part.
Consult the Japanese Embassy/Consulate on the matter and follow their guidance. And/or consult a lawyer who is throughly familiar with Japanese law on smuggling and illegal drugs. And/or ask your physician in your home country if there is another medicine that will achieve the desired effect that is also legal to bring into Japan.
If the OP [or someone else] is caught smuggling and receives particularly harsh punishment it won't make a difference what the chances are of, or that someone else received, a lesser punishment.
As others have said, it is about risk tolerance on the would be smugglers part.
Last edited by MIT_SBM; Nov 14, 2012 at 12:54 am
Oct 15, 2015, 1:24 am
#63
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: Skypass, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Asiana, Krisflyer, Etihad Guest, Velocity Rewards
Posts: 320
Am travelling to Japan on Sunday and am currently on Cymbalta (duloxetine). I doesn't appear to be on a list of banned psychotropic drugs for Japan, but I am still worried.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
Oct 15, 2015, 8:38 am
#64
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Midwest USA
Programs: BA SIL, WN A, UA SIL, Marriott TIT (LT), Hilton DIA
Posts: 1,969
I would recommend carrying it in the original prescription container.
Oct 15, 2015, 1:40 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 294
You won't enter Japan and won't interact with customs. I'd worry about carrying medicines on their banned list, but I'm paranoid.
Oct 18, 2015, 6:42 pm
#67
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Dulles, VA
Programs: UA Life Gold, Marriott Life Titanium
Posts: 2,757
There's always a chance that you will miss a connection, or the flight cancels or something. In that case, you may need to go through Japanese I&C to get to a hotel.
The best advice is to carry prescription meds in a prescription bottle. If it's not on the banned list, you have no issues.
The best advice is to carry prescription meds in a prescription bottle. If it's not on the banned list, you have no issues.
Aug 30, 2019, 10:31 am
#68
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1
2019 Update
I realise this is an old thread but I came across it when I searched for this kind of information, and others might, too. So here’s an update on the amphetamine situation:
- Vyvanse & Dexedrine have been illegal in Japan since 2018. Bring them at your own risk - any claims made about travelling with them legally prior to 2018 are inapplicable now. (It took the gov awhile but since they’re 2 of the ingredients in Adderall, they’re banned.)
- Ritalin & Concerta are still legal to treat narcolepsy. CONCERTA IS THE ONLY LEGAL DRUG USED TO TREAT ADHD IN JAPAN. It’s still permissible to bring Ritalin & Concerta into the country. The medical community there is only using Concerta for patients ages 6-18yo to treat ADHD though, so it might be impossible for you to get a prescription from a Japanese doctor. You’ll still need a Yakkan Shoumei to bring in large amounts of either.
- I’ve spoken to a Japanese researcher at the Stanford Center for Narcolepsy about amphetamines. He said I’d have to go through one of Japan’s Ministers of Health personally in order to bring Adderall in. *sigh*
- If you have narcolepsy, Japan also prescribes a drug called Cylert (pemoline) to treat it. Unfortunately it’s illegal in the USA! (I’ve never tried it & even if I could magically get a prescription in Japan, there’s a risk that it wouldn’t work.)
- I’ve brought my very necessary very illegal narcolepsy drugs through customs in my carry on bag with no issue before, and they searched EVERYTHING I had. But that was pre-2012 so they hadn’t started using drug sniffing dogs yet. Despite the success stories I’ve read I wouldn’t do it now.
- Military bases are considered US soil, and have drugs prescribed in the US available. So maybe you could find someone there willing to help you out - I’ve never looked into doing that but it’s a thought.
- There’s a criminal smuggling case for recreational amphetamines from 2008, from which the Japanese court said, “‘It is unlikely that an amateur can remain composed during inspections’ while knowingly smuggling illegal stimulants.”
I am by no means an expert, and this information has been gleaned from my own research. If something I’ve said is inaccurate please correct me!
- Vyvanse & Dexedrine have been illegal in Japan since 2018. Bring them at your own risk - any claims made about travelling with them legally prior to 2018 are inapplicable now. (It took the gov awhile but since they’re 2 of the ingredients in Adderall, they’re banned.)
- Ritalin & Concerta are still legal to treat narcolepsy. CONCERTA IS THE ONLY LEGAL DRUG USED TO TREAT ADHD IN JAPAN. It’s still permissible to bring Ritalin & Concerta into the country. The medical community there is only using Concerta for patients ages 6-18yo to treat ADHD though, so it might be impossible for you to get a prescription from a Japanese doctor. You’ll still need a Yakkan Shoumei to bring in large amounts of either.
- I’ve spoken to a Japanese researcher at the Stanford Center for Narcolepsy about amphetamines. He said I’d have to go through one of Japan’s Ministers of Health personally in order to bring Adderall in. *sigh*
- If you have narcolepsy, Japan also prescribes a drug called Cylert (pemoline) to treat it. Unfortunately it’s illegal in the USA! (I’ve never tried it & even if I could magically get a prescription in Japan, there’s a risk that it wouldn’t work.)
- I’ve brought my very necessary very illegal narcolepsy drugs through customs in my carry on bag with no issue before, and they searched EVERYTHING I had. But that was pre-2012 so they hadn’t started using drug sniffing dogs yet. Despite the success stories I’ve read I wouldn’t do it now.
- Military bases are considered US soil, and have drugs prescribed in the US available. So maybe you could find someone there willing to help you out - I’ve never looked into doing that but it’s a thought.
- There’s a criminal smuggling case for recreational amphetamines from 2008, from which the Japanese court said, “‘It is unlikely that an amateur can remain composed during inspections’ while knowingly smuggling illegal stimulants.”
I am by no means an expert, and this information has been gleaned from my own research. If something I’ve said is inaccurate please correct me!
Dec 19, 2019, 10:06 pm
#69
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
Transiting through NRT with Adderall - 2019
Good day folks,
I am connecting through NRT from Singapore heading to IAD and have a 2.5 hour layover at the airport. I will have prescription adderall with me that I need (only 10 remaining at the time of transit). Would I have to throw them before I get on the plane at SIN? Or I would be ok taking them home. I understand that I will be clearing security, but not customs. But these meds will be in my hand luggage, so they will have a high chance of being tested, probed. What should I do in this case? Any advice for 2019 transit would be appreciated.
I am connecting through NRT from Singapore heading to IAD and have a 2.5 hour layover at the airport. I will have prescription adderall with me that I need (only 10 remaining at the time of transit). Would I have to throw them before I get on the plane at SIN? Or I would be ok taking them home. I understand that I will be clearing security, but not customs. But these meds will be in my hand luggage, so they will have a high chance of being tested, probed. What should I do in this case? Any advice for 2019 transit would be appreciated.
Dec 23, 2019, 6:53 am
#70
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,783
Good day folks,
I am connecting through NRT from Singapore heading to IAD and have a 2.5 hour layover at the airport. I will have prescription adderall with me that I need (only 10 remaining at the time of transit). Would I have to throw them before I get on the plane at SIN? Or I would be ok taking them home. I understand that I will be clearing security, but not customs. But these meds will be in my hand luggage, so they will have a high chance of being tested, probed. What should I do in this case? Any advice for 2019 transit would be appreciated.
I am connecting through NRT from Singapore heading to IAD and have a 2.5 hour layover at the airport. I will have prescription adderall with me that I need (only 10 remaining at the time of transit). Would I have to throw them before I get on the plane at SIN? Or I would be ok taking them home. I understand that I will be clearing security, but not customs. But these meds will be in my hand luggage, so they will have a high chance of being tested, probed. What should I do in this case? Any advice for 2019 transit would be appreciated.
Jul 25, 2023, 7:58 am
#72
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: WAS
Programs: enjoyed being warm spit for a few years on CO/UA but now nothing :(
Posts: 2,503
kouseikyoku.mhlw.go.jp/kantoshinetsu/iji/yakkanhp-kaishu-2016-3.html
yes, the link has "2016" in it but the page indicates it was last updated in February 2023.
