Cira

I have taken my prescription pills in a M-S dispenser. In reading the TSA advice, they ask you to take the meds in their respective bottles. I haven't flown since 2008, and back then, it was never an issue. How many of you have had issues with TSA because your meds are not in their original bottles please? (I always take the LIST of meds with me from the pharmacy, but somehow it doesn't sound like that would do. Any feedback and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

NewbE

I have never carried pills in their original container and have never had a problem, ditto my SO. We've both flown a few times a year for the past many years, internationally and inside the US.

(Of course, no one can promise that you won't have a problem.)

Cira

I agree. Thank you so much for your feedback. It is appreciated.

PaulRabe

Like NewB, I carry my meds in bottles different from what they came in. Basically, in order to ensure I only carry the amount of pills that I will need for a trip, I put all of my meds in one small pill bottle. I also place this bottle it in my carry-on bag, lest my main luggage gets misdirected. I've been doing this for years, and this pill bottle has never been searched*.

It will be more problematic if you're transporting medical marijuana, oxycotin{R}, or amphetamines -- particularly if you're carrying far more than one person would normally need. If it's stuff that couldn't be sold on the side, it probably won't be an issue.

* I've had my can opener examined (they thought it might be a wire cutter), been randomly patted down while in line, and had the area over my groin & buttocks area checked (for reasons I can't imagine why) -- but never a problem with my meds.

Cira

Thank you. I will be taking meds for a week, and two of them are horse pills. There are about 9 total. I heard back from TSA (which I see is on Twitter) and their rule is:

"We recommend, but do not require prescription meds be in their original containers w/ a label to facilitate screening."

I guess I cannot take a chance that I am the one they choose to screen who does NOT have the meds in individual medicine bottles....amazing...

nlg

I flew last month and had my pills in a M-S holder and had no problems. Flew Nashville to New Hampshire.

gail

There have been multiple threads about this - and the consensus is that you can put them in anything you want. There was a guy who wanted info on how to transport 90 days supply for 2 people of compounded "supplements" after staying only 6 hours. But that would have involved Customs inspection and sounded bogus to many of us anyway. But you are not doing that.

Use logic. You could take an aspirin bottle and put oxycontin in it and no one would know or care. Unless professional sealed, the identifying label says nothing about the content.

Cira

I called the pharmacy to inquire and the pharmacist says that she prefers to take them in their original bottles. Like PaulRabe said above, and the pharmacist confirmed, they are looking to see that if you are taking a controlled substance and you have brought more than someone would normally take...so, I guess I am going to make the smart choice (and huge sacrifice - LOL) and take everything in its bottle. I will place it in my purse, put it in the basket (for all to see - how embarrassing. As someone on one of the forums said, why increase your chance that you MIGHT be hassled because you happened to be screened and the pills have no labeled bottle.

Actually, what this teaches me is that we live in a society horribly dependent on prescription pills, I am sad for that and hope that taking better of my health, I can stop taking some meds in the future.

Thanks again for all your help!

suze

<How many of you have had issues with TSA because your meds are not in their original bottles please?>

Not me.

And yes they would be looking for opiates or controlled substances (if they checked at all) they don't care about your blood pressure meds or statins.

Dukey1

My Husbear and I both carry meds in the M-S "boxes." We have never, EVER had anyone from TSA even take a second look and yes, we have had the contents of carry-ons "detained" and searched more than once.

In each case the meds were clearly evident and never questioned.

And let's get real here. So you show up with some "original" med container with your name and instructions on the label. How is that TSA person going to know what the capsules/pills inside that container actually are?

I suggest you ask the pharmacist that question and wait for the long pause.

Cira

One other t hing, do I place the meds in bottles in my carry-on, purse or in a baggy and separately, or does it matter? These inspections are inconsistent, and I guess for me, I want to do it "just right". Sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks.

Cira

Dukey, they have a PDR on site. I am assuming they have the authority to verify it, IF it went that far. I called TSA cares and they re-iterated the "we recommend, but don't require" that the meds be in original bottles. I have two that I was told are controlle

ekscrunchy

I doubt if the TSA cares one whit about your medicines. I travel often and always have multiple bottles of vitamins, prescription pills, etc etc. Mostly in unmarked bottles. Not once has anyone ever given them a second glance.

suze

It doesn't matter where you carry them. But do keep them with you (don't put them in your checked luggage).

Cira

ekscrunchy, I totally agree with you, those pills are not going to be a focus for them (unless of course I appear stoned out of my mind or incoherent or something like that which would make them want to take a second look)...no issue with that, I don't even drink alcohol. However, I am trying to follow "rules" and perhaps I am going overboard, but I am MOST worried about not leaving for my destination and being without my pills--which are necessary for chronic illnesses.

janisj

>>In reading the TSA advice, they ask you to take the meds in their respective bottles.>Medications in pill or other solid form must undergo security screening. It is recommended that medication be clearly labeled to facilitate the screening process.

Nelson

My wife was a pharmacist for 40 years. She says the letter of the law might be that the drugs should be in the original bottle.

But we have never done that. She labels plastic bags since they are lighter and easier to pack. ("You watch out for the ounces and the pounds will take care of themselves")

She'll sometimes mix pills in the bag, with the label saying "round blue = xxxx", oval white = yyyy". The labels are for my benefit, just in case.

The same with vitamins.

We have never been stopped or questioned on this issue.

Dukey1

Dukey, they have a PDR on site.

Yeah, but do they have anybody who can READ or even FIND it?

And are you going to tell me they are opening the PDR and trying to match the pills in the pictures to the ones you are carrying? How about all those generics which aren't pictured?

DO get over this and please, you can only carry on ONE of your television sets.

HappyTrvlr

Relax, Cira, you do not have to use original containers. We always dump our pills in baggies for international and domestic trips. No problems. Ever. All over the world multiple trips. You have a doctor(Dukey1) and the spouse of a pharmacist(Nelson) telling you this on this post.

gail

No one uses a PDR for pill identification. There are phone apps and websites on which you enter color, shape, markings, etc. But pill identifiers in print or electronic can not possibly identify all the various generics out there.

Not one person above has found a citation that it is required. Recommended, suggested - not required.

And if the TSA has questions about a pile of pills, they are not going to find some dusty and outdated PDR. They are calling local law enforcement. It is not the job of TSA to determine if you are a Lipitor smuggler.