Supplements in Carry on bag
 

I am traveling to Europe on Saturday. I take a lot of supplements and will have 17 little baggies x 2-morning and evening baggies. Is this going to be an issue going through security in Atlanta, Paris, and Zurich? They will be in a carry on? I asked TSA and the said since it was international I'd have to check with with airline or country and I am not really sure how to do that.
Thank you in advance - any advice would be greatly appreciated.

It's OK. There are no rules against carrying supplements.

As long as they are not liquid supplements, you'll be fine.

That should be as long as they aren't liquid supplements of more than 3.4 oz in size.

Though I'm committed at home, I find that many days I forget to take most of my supplements when I travel. So I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't hurt to give it a rest briefly and save feeling guilty when I bring most of them home again.

Security doesn't care about your supplements, they are looking for something that could be dangerous, a weapon or explosive. I think you don't understand the purpose of security versus customs upon return.

oh, as for the country you are traveling, well, sure because that would be THEIR CUSTOMS, not security. If it were some weird plant product, it could be banned, due to potential pest or disease issues.

I don't think anybody from TSA will be interested to read the labels of herbal supplements...

the only danger I can think of is if the supplment gives a false positive to any of the chemical readers. Similar to say playing card residue triggering explosive readers aka the Birmingham bombers.

I do without my usual supplements when I travel. I bring only the meds that make a real difference in pain--Celebrex, gout medication or prevention. Otherwise I just have too many pills.

I can't see that doing without fish oil or calcium are really necessary for the month when I travel.

"I can't see that...fish oil or calcium are really necessary for the month when I travel."

Amen, sister.

Funny, I don't feel inane. Do you feel inane, Pegontheroad? No, didn't think so. But it seems herself is overly concerned, poor dear massimo. THAT's inane.

If you need any supplements, you can always get them at the nearby natural food store in Paris.

I have a question. I've always heard that meds should be in original containers. Not sure what form these supplements are, but wouldn't 17 small baggies arouse suspicion? If they are pill form? Maybe these bags are original packaging or maybe I'm unfamiliar with what is in question.
Not trying to be difficult, I'm just wondering. I'm always a little nervous about my Alleve and TylenolPM not being in a bottle, but in a small pill case.

Supplements do not need to be in original containers. For that matter neither do Alleve, Tylenol etc. Only prescrition meds. For years I have put all supplements in a plastic bag. I don't take many so can distinquish them easily. Honestly, I've never had them take a second glance at my plastic baggie or pill case or even my prescriptions. I would say if you show them 17 baggies full of supplements or whatever, they may become suspicious.

<I've always heard that meds should be in original containers. >
Nope.

< Only prescrition meds.>
Nope, not those, either.

Think about it: so you have an Rx bottle with pills in it. Who is to say what those pills are? This would be impossible for screeners to check. They care about large quantities of smuggled drugs, and of course, dangerous things. Your pills, prescription or not, are of no consequence.

I take a lot of prescription meds and some OTC painkillers.

I use those geeky little multi compartment boxes. Some of the pills are certainly scheduled and may in fact be banned in some countries, e.g., Ativan. No one at a border has ever asked to look at my pills. YMMV

My PCP does not get excited if I miss a week or two of preventive medications like allopurinol and statins because I am compliant at home and within the right bands when I am tested.

YDMV: your doc may vary.

Supplements?

Thanks for the responses. I did some internet searching and almost anything I found said original bottles. However, I couldn't find any official information, just opinion pieces.

It might be a good idea to have a copy of one's prescriptions, in case the meds get lost or damaged somehow and you have to go through the hassle of trying to get them refilled wherever you are. Perhaps that's behind the "original bottles" advice? But it would be easier to have a paper copy.

I have never - ever - had a TSA agent even glance at my prescriptions.

If you have an Rx from the USA or another country, it's doubtful that you will be able to get it refilled.
Just bring a few more pills to get you through.