N0vicetheExplora

Hi,

I am a student traveling to Spain from South Africa in a about month's time and I will be living there for 4 months. However, since I am on prescribed chronic medication and would really like to avoid incurring the high costs of purchasing medication in Europe, would it be permissible for me to bring 4 months worth of my pills with me on the flight ?

Thanks!

nytraveler

Well, typically medications are very cheap in europe - not expensive (at least for us in the US).

And there is no reason you should not be able to bring your medications with you as long as 1) you have the prescription with you and 2) it's not a medication that can be abused or sold on the street. (Assume this is pills not a liquid - which would have to go in your checked bag.)

hetismij2

Liquid medication is generally exempt from the carry-on restrictions provided it is clearly labelled, and is a reasonable amount for your period of stay.
Provided it is not an opiate based medicine, which I belive can have restrictions on it, you shouldn't have a problem. Bring a letter from your doctor and your prescription along with the generic name of the medicine with you in case you need to top up.

janisj

>> (Assume this is pills not a liquid - which would have to go in your checked bag.)<<

As hetismij2 says, liquid medicines can (and SHOULD) be in your carry on. It is never a good idea to put prescription meds in checked bags.

. . . Heck, even non-prescription 'medical supplies' like contact lens solution can be in one's carry on - no problem w/ prescription medications.

DebitNM

ALL prescription meds, as well as those that one needs on a regular basis, should NEVER be put in check baggage - always in carry on. That goes for liquid and non-liquid too.

Christina

The OP said it was pills. And costs in the US are irrelevant to the comparison. Not to mention, he's a student, maybe he's even gotten them cheaper than usual, who knows. But drug prices are regulated in South Africa, they aren't regulated in the US.

Yes, you can bring 4 months of pills in your carryon, just have documentation. You are allowed to bring in medication for personal use. If you have a prescription, I presume it shows the dosage and the drug. I have several chronic conditions and routinely have prescriptions for 3 months, that isn't unusual. The label on the bottle shows it is for 3 months. And if you are a student, you should have a visa, I presume, showing you need to be there that long.

Dukey1

I have yet to be asked for "documentation" of any medication I have brought into Europe and it has, at times, been a LOT of pills.

And, just WHEN is somebody's carry-on likely to be even looked at during the arrivals period UNLESS there is some possible irregularity with a declaration, etc.?

Just too remote to even worry about IMO.

N0vicetheExplora

Thanks everyone for the great advise! I'll make sure to keep all my medication, and the necessary documentation, inside my carry-on luggage. The medication is non-liquid (pills) and for high-blood pressure. So I don't think it includes any opiates or addictive substances, although someone please correct me if I am wrong ?

suze

Correct, blood pressure medication is not a narcotic.

janisj

Dukey . . . But you are a different demographic (ahem ) so no one is likely to think you are a drug mule

I HAVE seen people grilled about excessive meds/drugs. That is why it's a good idea to have documentation if one is carrying a 'lot'

PatrickLondon

If it helps comparisons, a quick google turns up a price in France for the generic anti-hypertension drug that I have, of €5.29 for 28, or €14.80 for 84: but that's before the pharmacy's mark-up. A prescription would be required, of course.