Traveling with Prescribed Medications
May 28, 2016, 5:55 pm
#17
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DAY
Posts: 71
Traveling with Prescribed Medications
I will be flying for the first time since I started taking some prescription meds. I have four pill bottles. Do I need to do anything special in packing them in my carry-on besides using the original bottles? I had thought about putting the bottles in a separate ziplock bag like the 3-1-1 stuff and marking it as medication, but if that is not necessary, I won't.
May 28, 2016, 6:51 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: AA EXP, DL Silver, Global Entry
Posts: 1,863
I will be flying for the first time since I started taking some prescription meds. I have four pill bottles. Do I need to do anything special in packing them in my carry-on besides using the original bottles? I had thought about putting the bottles in a separate ziplock bag like the 3-1-1 stuff and marking it as medication, but if that is not necessary, I won't.
May 28, 2016, 7:29 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DAY
Posts: 71
Thanks. I will pack them the way I originally planned. Won't do anything special outside of original bottles.
May 28, 2016, 8:24 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 2,403
For US domestic flights, you can pretty much do anything.
Definitely no need to take them out of your bag.
I've never, ever been asked about medication anywhere in the world, nor have I ever had a patient experience any problems.
For travel outside the United States:
It's hard to get a straight answer, but the FDA says that a 90-day supply of medication in its original packaging is fine. The label on the bottle or box of pills constitutes a prescription: your name, the prescriber's name, the drug, the quantity, etc.
There have been horror stories of passengers who put their pills in daily "pill boxes," thereby making them hard to identify. Just use the original bottle.
The same applies for most other countries.
You only have to exercise caution with certain non-US destinations, particularly the UAE and Australia. These countries require you to declare all medications, and even require the prescriber to write a letter documenting that you have a legitimate reason for taking them.
I recommend that those going overseas avoid traveling with pseudoephedrine and products that contain it. It is over the counter in many places, but it is heavily controlled. If you can live without it; don't take it with you.
Definitely no need to take them out of your bag.
I've never, ever been asked about medication anywhere in the world, nor have I ever had a patient experience any problems.
For travel outside the United States:
It's hard to get a straight answer, but the FDA says that a 90-day supply of medication in its original packaging is fine. The label on the bottle or box of pills constitutes a prescription: your name, the prescriber's name, the drug, the quantity, etc.
There have been horror stories of passengers who put their pills in daily "pill boxes," thereby making them hard to identify. Just use the original bottle.
The same applies for most other countries.
You only have to exercise caution with certain non-US destinations, particularly the UAE and Australia. These countries require you to declare all medications, and even require the prescriber to write a letter documenting that you have a legitimate reason for taking them.
I recommend that those going overseas avoid traveling with pseudoephedrine and products that contain it. It is over the counter in many places, but it is heavily controlled. If you can live without it; don't take it with you.
May 28, 2016, 9:48 pm
#21
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
For domestic travel, pills are simply a non-issue.
Overseas, you do need to pay attention to local laws which may control drugs which are not controlled in the US or limit quantities for those that are.
Do bear in mind that drugs which are easily obtained in the US may be close to priceless in parts of the world. Treat them like other valuables.
Overseas, you do need to pay attention to local laws which may control drugs which are not controlled in the US or limit quantities for those that are.
Do bear in mind that drugs which are easily obtained in the US may be close to priceless in parts of the world. Treat them like other valuables.
May 28, 2016, 11:08 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,410
Second this. The only headache I've ever run into is with the volume of stuff. At times my diet gets reduced to stuff that has to be mail-ordered. Customs has never glanced at it, TSA waved one of their magic strips over a prepared bottle (but didn't give me grief over liquids as I had the medical looking box right there.) The airlines, though, have put up a fuss over an extra suitcase of medical stuff. For the next flight I have a letter from the doc, I'll see what happens.
May 29, 2016, 5:28 am
#24
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 14
I don't think you will be having any problems carrying your prescription pills. Anyway, that is your meds so I doubt if they question you for bring them on plane. I always bring mine and they never question me. In a day, I need to take 7 pills so imagine how many I usually carry whenever I go on like 1-2 weeks abroad.
Jun 3, 2016, 8:19 am
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,675
My nitro pills, in their original, clearly-labelled prescription bottles, were confiscated. The outer bottle didn't alarm during a swab, but the TSO said the substance nitro is banned in all forms, any quantity.
Jun 3, 2016, 11:06 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: DAY
Posts: 71
I just returned home yesterday without any problems with my pills. Although they are for a heart issue, no nitro was involved (I don't need it).
Jun 3, 2016, 3:15 pm
#30
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: GE
Posts: 247
Nitroglycerin tablets and spray (used to treat episodes of angina in people who have coronary artery disease) are permitted and have never been prohibited.