Later this month we are flying to Spain to get on a cruise ship. We both have a number of prescription drugs that we have to carry with us. I have always taken all the bottles when flying overseas, but when traveling in the states I always have the meds in plastic zip locks with the prescription label right on the plastic bag. I have never been stopped or questioned. Now I would like to take my meds in small bags with labels for this trip to Europe. Have any of you ever done this? Did anyone stop you?? My pharmacy says people travel like this to all the tine and they aren't aware of any who have had problems.

I take so many pills I use 7 day pill containers that i prepare in advance and put in a ziplock bag so if they open i don't lose them/We have never once been asked to open our cases at costoms. I take written prescriptions from the Dr, too but never had to use them. I oftenjust ask for certain drugs in Franceand get them without a prescription. Many are considerably cheaper than in US. Mt Dh's eyedrops are 56 dollars here and 17 dollars in France

Nobody cares if your Rx has labels or not. You can put them in the baggies and not give it another thought.

I carry my everyday meds, prescription and OTC, in 7 day pill containers. I have heavy duty antibiotics for some special circumstances and some serious pain pills in case I get a kidney stone. These stay in their original bottles with the labels on the outside. I haven't been asked about any of them.

I put my meds into tiny ziplocs I get at CVS (sold next to the 7 day containers) Sometimes we travel 3-4 weeks and day and evening 7 day containers can get bulky. I have one quart size ziploc holding the pills in the little ziplocs I take in the morning and one for evening. It takes up less space.

no, of course not, I don't have the room to take large pill bottles just because I'm away from a week. Agents aren't that dumb that they believe anything just because it is a pill bottle, anyway (I hope).

Why do you even think this would be a problem, where did you get the idea you would have to do that? As I said, it obviously doesn't prove anything anyway, so what would be the point.

it won't be a problem anywhere

I use the 7-day containers. I understand where you got the idea because there are a lot of people who say you need to use the original containers with the Rx number, etc. It is a very commonly-held belief.

I have never had any problem when traveling abroad and I doubt you will either.

Don't know about the American government, but the Canadian government travel advice is to always keep medication in the original container. I've ignored that particular recommendation for years. I either have the pharmacy make up blister packs for me (if I plan ahead accordingly) or as other travellers do load up 7-day containers. I also keep serious pain medication or sleeping meds in their original containers. Never been asked about any of my meds by any security or customs people in 20+ years of significant travel. Oh! and I always take 1 more week of meds with me than required.

Having the original container is not as important as having a prescription for each medication in case you need to obtain a refill while traveling.

The blister packs mentioned above can be great if your pharmacy will do this. You may need to pay a slight fee but it is really convenient.

Thanks everyone. I have always been told that they need to be in the original containers and have taken them that way in the past, but just didn't want to hassle with it if not necessary. Our Dr. did give us original prescriptions for everything e need to take and I think I will take the actual bottle for my DH pain meds but will put the rest in 7 day cases and then in zip locs. By the way, I did get stopped one time coming back to the USA from Canada and they quizzed me on every pill and the one they really quizzed me on was an over the counter sinus med. This was a shock to me as I grew up only 30 miles from the border (as did my DH) and we both went back and forth a lot while growing up, but on this trip (not at our home borders) it was something else. It was at a very small border crossing and a friend who has been a customs officer in my hometown for many years said that he thinks this person was bored with his small border job and was looking for fame. Thankfully, he did not find it with us. It was a terrible experience. A few years later my sister's husband, who is a Medical Dr., had a very similar and unpleasant experience at the same border crossing.

Cali - some sinus meds are nonprescription but stored in locked areas and must be requested and sometimes even signed for by the buyer. This is becasue a common ingredient (pseudoephedrine) is used in making meth.

seamus, this was before that was the case with sinus meds in drugstores and this particular sinus med was in the blister pack with the name of the drug clearly marked on the back and no prescription was needed for this med.

I always thought the "original container" recommendation applied mainly to the US customs to perhaps protect the revenue stream of a certain industry who does not like the flow of lower cost products from price controlled countries.

When one needs to have a prescription filled in Europe for medicines where the dosage is critical, having a "original container" allows the pharmacists in Europe to ensure correct medicine is provided. They did not seem to care whether I was allowed to receive this medicine. They only wanted to know if they are giving the correct medicine at correct dosage - patient orientation. Of course, the same thing can be done with a written prescription.

Greg, I think you are right and I think having the written prescriptions with us will be fine.