KathyJasper

My husband and I are flying USAir to Rome in two weeks. Since I work for a doctor, I get samples for the prescription drugs that I take. Will I have a problem if my prescription drugs and vitamins are in those plastic daily pill containers and not bottles with my name?

Budman

If you get stopped by customs arriving in Rome to check what drugs you have in your baggage, it will only be because you are targeted as a terrorist or drug dealer.

If neither applies to you, you will have no problems.

Seriously, I have flown into European countries for years and have never even been "winked" at coming thru customs.

LoveItaly

Kathy, I would never take prescription drugs into another country without there being in a proper prescription container (type of drug, doctors name, your name etc.)
Years ago I had to travel to Italy with a prescription drug, my doctor who was a world traveler warned me to ALWAYS MAKE SURE (not screaming just emphisizing) that my medication was in a proper container. Even over the counter pills should be.
I always travel with Advil. I bought a very small bottle of Advil. When I travel I fill this small container with up to date Advil.
Last year, just flying with California I had to take everything out of my carryon and purse. This small bottle of Advil was opened. No problem of course.
To this date, traveling internationally over the counter or prescription medicine has never been checked - but -
if it is you sure want to have it in the proper container.

rhkkmk

it is always best to have them in a clearly labelled bottle, but having said that who hasn't carried some pills in a plastic lunch baggie?? i think quantity is an issue....if your trip is for 10 days and you are carrying 500 pills for a 4 a day dosage, then one might think you are suspect????

in general i do not think there is a problem, but why open yourself up to a problem....no heat in those jails!!!!

AAFrequentFlyer

I agree with <b>Budman</b> 99.9%, BUT what IF?

The question was not about what the OP's chances are of being questioned, but about how the OP should make sure there are no questions if customs decides to stop them.

If these are prescription drugs and they are not in the original dtug store bottle, the next best thing is to have a valid prescription with you.

Everybody has to remember that just because something is legal in this country, it does not mean it's legal somewhere else. If for some odd reason, the OP would be stopped and Italian customs would find the drugs, and if they were not legal in the country you are visiting or maybe they are legal, but tightly controlled, it could be a very looong day at the back rooms of the airport.

Again, chances are slim, but if you are taking these drugs legaly and have a prescription, put it together with your documents in case you needed. It makes life a lot easier, IF the unthinkable happens.

Have a great trip!

rozium

Good evening, Kathy for many years have just made up the pill boxes for the time I would be gone with an extra
week carrying all within my carry-in. I also have a very good clear typed list of each prescription along withthe amounts taken daily.
Have 12 pills,some in morning boxes and the others in evening boxes. have never had any trouble. For any others
carry small prescription bottles. eg.
naproxen, etc.... Richard of LaGrange Park, Il..

Patrick

Saying you've never been stopped and questioned about your pills so it isn't a problem is as the same as saying, &quot;I've bought car insurance for the past 50 trips and never needed it, so I'm not getting any insurance in the future.&quot;

I was also told that you should have copies of prescriptions with you -- and isn't that a good idea anyway in case you lost your medications one way or another? Most pharmacies will provide you with a tiny bottle labeled with your prescription and you can put just 14 or whatever of a particular pill in them -- or they will even do that for you.
In the case of those samples, well, I'd assume that you should keep them in their clearly labeled little blisterpacks or however they come. I've never heard of samples that just come loose with no labeling.

bob_brown

I haven't been winked at either.

Of course being 71 might have something to do with it. And I don't recall many women customs officials in Europe.

Seriously, I have made several border crossings and entries into Europe since 1998 and I have never had my luggage inspected anywhere except the US.

I can tell that something drew attention in the US because my clothes were rumpled. My medicines were in my carry-on bag and never has that been questioned.

If the samples are clearly labelled, I doubt that there would ever be a problem. I wonder how many Italian customs officials would know the English terms anyhow. Even acetaminophin goes by a different chemical name in Europe.

Giovanna

I agree with Bob. Samples are in clearly marked containers and should be okay. We always take my husband's medications in the containers from the pharmacy, but his cholesteral meds are samples and in a sample container. So far no problem.

We have never carried prescriptions for everything he takes, but that might not be a bad idea and since you work in a doctor's office should be easy to obtain. The doctor might also explain in a note that the meds you are carrying are samples given to you by him/her.

I also take our vitamins in proper containers when we travel overseas or out of state.

pdx

Maybe take your pill container and original rx bottle and fill it once you get there. I took my original rx because when it came down to it, I didn't want to be stuck in Europe without my prescription. They really don't take up that much room, do they?

artlover

We've never had any problems and we travel with lots of pills. We do take copies of the Rx with us, but have never been asked for them, but it wouldn't hurt to have that.

KathyJasper

Thanks for all of your helpful comments. I think I will just keep my meds in the plastic containers as I had planned and take written prescriptions just in case.

janeg

My drugs always come with extra labels and all those warnings stapled to the pharmacy bag. I put my morning drugs in a pill container &amp; night ones in another. Then I have a set of the labels in an envelope with other papers, copy of passport, air schedule, etc. I am not going to carry around explanations for my otc's.
Has anyone on this board EVER been hassled about their prozac or lipitor or hrt or anything? Maybe a baggie of oxycontin might raise an eyebrow?