NewbE

In an emergency, if the pills are lost or damaged, one could surely manage to get essential medications somehow--though I'm sure it wouldn't be easy. Having at least a photo of the original prescription would at least help clearly identify what is needed. I am not suggesting any pharmacy would just do a refill!

StCirq

Supplements of any kind are not a problem. Europeans gobble them like candy. And you can get them in any European pharmacy, bio store, marketplace....lots of places.

For prescription drugs, if you don't have the original bottles and scrips, it`s possible you could have a problem. If you did encounter such a situation, you would need to see a European doctor and ask for a European scrip. Whether or not s/he would give you one without documentation of your medical history is anyone`s guess.

NewbE

Although of course they are sold all over Europe, getting the correct supplements in a country where one doesn't speak the language would surely be more difficult than simply bringing what one needs.

suze

No more difficult than ordering a meal, or having a drink, or taking a taxi "where one doesn't speak the language".

NewbE

Actually, I think sorting out medications and supplements in a foreign language is much, much harder than any of those things, suze. Medical terms, names of herbs and vitamins and such, are usually really different, and the need for precision much greater.

Having a drink?? Taking a taxi?? No comparison, at least IME.

janisj

buferson: >>Thanks for the responses. I did some internet searching and almost anything I found said original bottles.<<

Maybe you need to search a little more. Granted this is TSA and US-centric. But except for serious opiates and such, the same rules apply most places.

https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2014/09/05/...ing-medication

among other info: <blue>TSA does not require passengers to have medications in prescription bottles, . . . </blue>

>> I'm always a little nervous about my Alleve and TylenolPM not being in a bottle, but in a small pill case.<<

Seriously? Aleve?

fuzzbucket

Even if your doctor has prescribed opiates for your condition, you will not be given a second glance by TSA if you do not have a few more than you need.

They are only concerned if you have a great deal more than you need and are thinking of to trying to sell them. Like a 90 day supply, for a 1 week trip.
Most people put their pills in little plastic bags or pill boxes.
There's no way to identify them by TSA standards.

If you need Aleve or Tylenol, you can get them at the local pharmacie.

StCirq

It is not EVER a problem, IME, dealing with a pharmacist in any European country. They all speak English, they all know the equivalencies between `American and other OTC and prescription drugs. It IS exactly as suze says, the equivalent of taking a taxi or ordering a taxi. It's a no-brainer. In fact, a lot easier than in the USA.

Of all the many things you might have problems with in a European country where you don't speak the language, pharmaceutical problems should be your least concern.

buferson

Janisj, Actually I did read the TSA guidelines. I was wondering about other countries. I don't even take any meds, but the comment about lots of small baggies made me wonder.
The Alleve comment was rather tongue in cheek, I guess that wasn't clear.
I love going into pharmacies in other countries, just to see what is different. I have asked them for help on occasion and language was never an issue.

NewbE

< It IS exactly as suze says, the equivalent of taking a taxi or ordering a taxi. It's a no-brainer. In fact, a lot easier than in the USA.>

Easier, is it? LOL. OK. Never mind. You live in your world, the rest of us will stay in ours.

fuzzbucket

It's those little, tiny ziploc bags that are about the size of a credit card. These are available in many pharmacies.

suze

<You live in your world, the rest of us will stay in ours.>

Actually she lives in France.

janisj

>>It's those little, tiny ziploc bags that are about the size of a credit card. <<

I get these really teeny zip locks (even smaller than a credit card) at the container store. https://www.containerstore.com/s/pil...l%20containers

Each one holds quite a few pills.

You can label them w/ a sharpie if you can't identify all your meds on sight. They take essentially NO space.