Question on meds
 

Okay, this may seem silly to ask, but I'm trying to figure out what to do with all my meds.

I take ALOT of pills both prescription and vitamin to manage a hormonal condition. I actually use a pill organizer, I have so many, and I'm only 32.

My preference for travelling to France and Slovakia is to eliminate what I can (I think I can get it down to 10-15 pills)and just throw the rest of my pills into an organizer. But I'm not sure what the requirements are for proving my stuff is legit and not speed or something. My prescription bottles are round and wouldn't copy very well and the vitamins, well, if I were to copy the labels how would they know the pills really matched the label? And some of the vitamins I have to have, I can't miss them or I'll get sick.

So, what should I do? Pack a bag filled with bottles(and it would be a separate bag which would suck having to lug that thing around on top of everything else), or two sleek, flat pill organizers with the best copies I can make of the prescriptions? Or would a letter from my doctor(s) be sufficient?

And I am healthy enough to travel, I'm not an invalid. I exercise etc..., but I have this stupid wonky physiology that makes my suitcase look like I'm a junkie.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

D

I believe that any friendly and professional pharmacist will help you with extra labels that you could put into ziplock bags, if you wish... or any of countless other solutions.

And I don't think that any officials in France, Slovakia or your own home country (you don't indicate explicitly - - is it the US?) will care in the slightest about all kinds of pill organizers, filled with all kinds of &quot;blues&quot;, &quot;pinks&quot;, &quot;yellows&quot;, &quot;reds&quot; and whatever else. They could never... and <i>would</i> never dump out and inspect the contents of every aspirin bottle they encounter. In fact, unlike US TSA personnel, they don't generally have x-ray, or any other easy means of looking inside your belongings (including opening them). They look chiefly at your face, I think.

Best wishes,

Rex

Last time I made this suggestion, lots of people got upset. But let's try it again.

Yes, all the books rabbit on about original packaging. But most of us put our pills wherever is most convenient for us. And have any of us ever had a second's difficulty at a border? Hands up anyone who's ever even had their pills so much as looked at.

Your chances of even being asked a question are minimal. In civilised countries, where the onus of proof lies with the prosecution (which is the case in Italy, Slovakia ands everywhere between them and the US), your chances of anything more than a quick question are, in practice, zero.

BUT, travelling across time zones, your chances of getting confused with your pills are quite high. Or else of leaving some in the wrong place. Or, if the medicines are bulky, having your main supply in a case that's gone missing. When you're on lots of pills, the most sensible thing to do is to have a week's supply with you at all times, and put backup stock into your checked bags. And that almost always means using non-original packs.

Carry copies of your prescriptions - not least to help get replacements if necessary, but also to demonstrate you're legit in the unlikely event... But, in the developed world - assuming you're carrying ONLY drugs that aren't classed as illegal anywhere on your travels - this &quot;original package&quot; stuff is, in my experience, just old-womanish.

I've crossed all kinds of borders (including those close to drug corridors) with pills. Hardly ever in original packs. I've been interrogated at borders over everything from my sense of humour to my choice of travelling companion to why Everton so consistently fails to deliver.

Never - not once - about why my allopurinol is in a film case.

Hi D.

My Lady Wife puts all of our pills in Ziploc bags and labels each bag.

We have never had a problem.

Before we go, I get refills of those Rxs that we have to have.

I also get an Rx for antibiotic filled -just in case.

((I))

I think you have received excellent advice about the mechanics of your situation, i.e., identification and physical management of the medications.

Now, let's talk about something which is potentially, IMO, far more important, and that is your own statement: &quot;I think I can get it down to 10-15 pills...&quot;

This is troubling because it implies that you are, perhaps arbitrarily, deciding which medications are more important than others.

Please be aware I am not saying you cannot perform your own self-assessment but if you are, in fact, temporarily stopping certain medications due to travel convenience it causes concern.

If you don't need them when you travel then you probably also don't need them at home when you aren't traveling.

Some clarification of your statement, if you wish to do so, would certainly put my mind at ease.

I also take a one page letter on my doctor's letter head stating that I am under a physicians care and then he lists all the prescriptions, and what they are for. I had to do that for China, so now I just take it when I go places. I use pill organizer too as the bottles are always way too big and bulky.

I have no advice on the meds and how to do that, but must say that my carryon bags have been searched by hand at CDG more than once, so they certainly do look in your bags in France at times. These were my carryon bags, and once was when I was traveling just a day or two after some plane bomb threat and they looked inside it and rummaged around and looked at things, and the other time was because I live in Wash DC and they were searching every single person's hand carryons on that plane going from CDG to IAD. I think that was not too long after that strange incident with Air France having some bad pilot or other character that caused problems--I forget the details. Both cases were Air France.

I'd just like to repeat the idea that NO ONE who has a need for a prescription medicine should ever consider traveling without a Prescription for it. Having those prescriptions will suffice for however your pills are arranged, in my opinion.

If it is a controled substance I would leave it in the original container with label (narcotic derivatives for example).

Vitamins, supplements, and other prescription meds I would put into the pill cases as you mentioned.

As long as you're not carrying any controlled substance you should not have any legal/customs issues.

But for your own safety/convenience you should carry

1) a list of all the meds you take with the MD's name and contact info (since you mention there are many of them)

2) a copy of each of your Rx's or bottle labels

3)pack at least double the amount of each med that you will need - in separate places - in case anything is stolen or lost (this is really much easier than finding a co-operative RPH - esp at night or on a weekend or in a small town)

And please consult your MD before dropping any meds - esp while traveling - which can effect (jet lag, different eating/drinking habits, stress) the meds you may need - esp if you're dealing primarily with hormones.

Hi
I also take much medication for diabetes, high blood pressure etc. I use a pill organizer and have always taken it with me when I travel. I put the organizer in a plastic bag and have never had any problems with customs or any officials.I have been doing this for about the past 8 yrs. I've thought about your concerns but I have not left anything behind.

I always carry copies of my prescriptions, thinking customs may take me for a dealer.

One additional comment: I carry prescriptions as well...But, I read on our trip to Egypt and Jordan, that just because you are on a prescription administered by a physician, that if a substance is illegal in a country where you are going but not in the US, they can and will confiscate and if you are found with that substance you can be held accountable. This caused me to leave my xanax at home on my trip to China. I just didn't want to risk it. I just stayed awake on the 18 hour flight to Shanghai, but it was better than risking arrest incountry.

See this link for a Canadian woman recently refused entry to the U.S. for having 6 Ativan pills - but no proof of her prescription.

http://www.herald.ca/Front/498545.html

My host parents are doctors and when I was preparing to head back to the US, they did this:

type the prescriptions onto a sticky label, then put that onto hospital stationary that said &quot;So and so is in need of the following medications: (sticky labels). Authorized by Dr. So and so on (date here).

I was questioned on the way back into the US, but it was blatantly because due to jetlag and a few other factors, I was as close to retarded as possible. I am pretty sure they thought I was on drugs or going through serious withdrawal.

I have never been asked anything on my way into Europe.

Go to your pharmacy and ask them to print out new labels that you can keep together with your pill organizers. Make sure to keep the part of the label that gives a physical description of the pill, eg. Round white tablet side 1: M 328. This gives any Customs agents the ability to quickly identify the pills and matches your prescriptions to the pills, even in organizers.

I agree, I've never had any problems carrying medicines across borders, but I usually keep a note from my doctor with me, just to be on the safe side.

We had to travel with serum for the DS to get shots, very long story that will be in a trip report, and found that airplanes have NO refrigeration available. They used to... So, our $700 serum may very well have been worthless when it was needed. But, what I wanted to say was that this serum also came with the needles needed to inject it. They got carried on board, and no one ever looked or knew. But, we did have a letter from the doctor, on letterhead, explaining all, which was never necessary at the border, and when the local doctor looked at it, it was somewhat worthless since it was in English. I translated, but, she had my word to go on that I was translating honestly and well...

BUt, a word to the wise, if you are counting on refrigerating anything in a airplane, like I used to years ago when travelling with the serum for my allergy shots, no can do anymore, at least in an AF Boeing 757.

Just as a side note, my DH was about to run out of one of his prescripts on our very recent Europe trip. He went into a pharmacy in Locarno Switz with his bottle and voila!! They refilled it on the spot, and it was at a very reasonable price.

If you are running low on a meds, you might be able to refill yours also.

I really wanted to put all my meds in a small pill container to save space, but after reading this, they're staying in the original bottles--plus I'll get a doctor's note.

Maire, if you're going to use your regular bottles, go to your pharmacy and ask them for the smallest bottles they have. I worked in a pharmacy for several years and in summer, especially, we always carried some really tiny prescription bottles for people going on vacation.