FlyerTalk Forums - What exactly constitutes a medication?

FlyerTalk Forums (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/index.php)

- Practical Travel Safety and Security Issues (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues-686/)

- - What exactly constitutes a medication? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/practical-travel-safety-security-issues/590606-what-exactly-constitutes-medication.html)

What exactly constitutes a medication?

From the TSA website:

Quote:

However, prescription medicine with a name that matches the passenger’s ticket; up to 8 oz. of liquid or gel low blood sugar treatment and up to 4 oz. of non-prescription liquid medications are permitted.

Now what exactly is a medication? I, for example, have a 2 fluid ounce bottle of instant hand sanitizer - a travel necessity. Said bottle has a "Drug Facts" panel on its reverse. Does any affixed "Drug Facts" panel on a container mean that the original contents of said container is a medication? I would dare say yes, but this would then imply that toothpaste and antiprespirants are medications. This goes against the wisdom posted on the TSA website...

Quote:

All liquids and gels – including shampoo, toothpaste, perfume, hair gel, suntan lotion and all other items with similar consistency ARE PROHIBITED from carry-on baggage and the security checkpoint. Please pack these ietms in your checked baggage.

So what exactly is a medication? Can any TSA insiders inform us of what SOP is right now in regard to the 4 ounce allowance? Do any FTers have anecdotal evidence in regards to this issue?

Thanks! ^

To determine if a specific item is a drug, look on the original packaging for the NDC number. An NDC number will be present on all FDA approved drugs -- both prescription and OTC -- with some rare exceptions (compounded pharmaceuticals being the major one).

http://www.fda.gov/cder/ndc/

If it is from a foriegn country, the more generic FDA definition is as follows:

Quote:

From http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/fdcact/fdcact1.htm

(g) (1) The term "drug" means

(A) articles recognized in the official United States Pharmacopeia, official Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or any supplement to any of them; and
(B) articles intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals; and
(C) articles (other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals; and
(D) articles intended for use as a component of any articles specified in clause (A), (B), or (C). A food or dietary supplement for which a claim, subject to sections 403(r)(1)(B) and 403(r)(3) or sections 403(r)(1)(B) and 403(r)(5)(D), is made in accordance with the requirements of section 403(r) is not a drug solely because the label or the labeling contains such a claim. A food, dietary ingredient, or dietary supplement for which a truthful and not misleading statement is made in accordance with section 403(r)(6) is not a drug under clause (C) solely because the label or the labeling contains such a statement.