Carrying Prescriptions
 

Does anyone know if I will have any trouble taking prescription medicines in my carryon luggage to Italy? Also vitamins. Do they have to be in original containers? Thanks
Audrey

Hi liver, that question was just asked in the last few days, but I understand your asking it.

My standard reply to this question is: My doctor who travled extensively around the world told me to ALWAYS have prescription medicines in their original containers (which of course had the RX label on the outside). He also told to me to have any of the over the counter meds in their original containers.

I know you are going to get replies here from others that will tell you that they put all the meds into a plastic bag, or some other kind of container. And people will say they have never had a problem. I always think to myself "I have purchased Homeowners Insurance forever, even though I have never turned in a claim but that does not mean that I don't need the insurance". I don't know if that scenerio makes sense to you or not, but the point is it only takes one time to have a problem.

I fortuantly have not been on any prescription meds for ages. But I do always travel with Advil. I purchased a small bottle of Advil some time back. I refill it with up to date Advil when I travel. If I did have to go on a prescription medicine I would travel with that in the original container the meds came in. And of course put all meds in my carryon.

I am one of those "that sometimes get checked at security", meaning they go through my carryon. But I have never not passed "inspection". Have a beautiful time in Italy

As LoveItaly mentions, there have been many threads on this subject. Do a search in the box on top of this board - input "prescription medicine" - the threads will appear in the left column. You will get all kinds of information as mentioned. Some take individual bottles, others put everything into one bottle/plastic bag - I'm in the latter category and have never been questioned about this. In the end, it will have to be your decision based on how many different prescriptions you have, number of pills you need, size of bottles, room in your carryon bag. Happy travels.

I keep my 2 prescriptions meds in their original container. Those I would not want to lose or have taken from me. Vitamins and O-T-C I dump into a ziplock or smaller bottle. I they were confiscated they could easily be replaced or done without.

The original poster seemed to ask whether Italy will give him/her trouble for bringing in meds without original bottles/labels. The answer is "no." The same goes for customs on return to the U.S.
If you do remove meds from their original packaging, be sure to have a pharmacy printout with all details (generic name, trade name, dosage, etc) so that in an emergency doctors will know what problems they are dealing with, or if pills accidentally go down the drain you can try to replace them at a local pharmacy. Make a list for OTCs as well as prescriptions.

i second loveitaly's advice. i have travelled all over the world with a chest full of meds (including needles) with no problems. however, i always keep the bottles/boxes/perscription papers along with the meds.

a dodgy looking ziplock bag of tablets/pills + an overzealous agent can = hassles and delays