Traveling with prescription drugs.
 

I will be traveling to Italy in June, and recently heard that if you plan on bringing prescription drugs through customs they had better be in original bottles or they will be confiscated. As both my husband and I have a number of medications, we were going to bring them in one bottle to save space. Now I'm concerned about them being confiscated. Any information will be appreciated.

Unless your luggage is searched, the whole question is moot.<BR><BR>You can ask your pharmacist to provide small bottles with a portion of your presscription in each of them, just enough for the trip.

Lena: We have always taken our medication in the original containers (enough to cover the trip) and likewise with our vitamins and non-prescription drugs. Never had a problem. We put them all in a zipper bag and carry them onboard in my husband's tote bag. Too chancey to put them in checked luggage. We have four prescription meds, plus nasal spray; four vitamin containers. Even if you have many more than this, I don't think there is any way around it, particularly with security supposedly more stringent now.<BR><BR>j

I don't know of anyone who is fortunate enough not to need medications so there must be thousands of travellers who have their medicine in their carry-on. Unless someone suspects you are drug-dealers, why would they want to confiscate anything? As for mixing all your meds, I have always heard it is wrong to mix different meds. Why don't you buy some of the small pill boxes available at pharmacies? They have many to choose from depending on the number of meds and how often you take them. As a back up, you could ask your doctor to give you a prescription to take with you in case of an emergency.

My carry on baggage has been checked a number of times. You need to have the RX with you. They will inspect the pills and compare it to the RX. If they really have it in for you they will compare the actual pills to a PDR (phys desk ref), I saw them doing that to a young woman in LHR. Chances of having it done to you are slim but I have been picked on several times because I require so many meds. Best to be safe.

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NEVER EVER MIX YOUR MEDS!!! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???? OR MAYBE DRINKING???Unless you have good insurance policy and really are just trying to kill each other so your kids can get rich!! If the airport find them good chance they will take them from you and not throw you in jail for bringing drugs into their country. Alice

I always travel with my prescription meds in their original containers. Non-prescription stuff is taken out of the boxes, but left in the original wrappings with the box label torn off and put in the bag with it. Why take a chance?

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE promise yourself that you will not mix different meds in the same bottle! I am a nurse, and you do not know how dangerous this is! I have the most intelligent people do the craziest things with their prescriptions- the last thing you want is to get seriously ill on your vacation because you took the wrong pill, or too much/not enough of your own pill...<BR>Ask your pharmacy if they will provide you with small prescription bottles with a pharmacy label for the needed supply of medicine you need. Most pharmacies will oblige. You will have smaller containers in your baggage, the proper labelling and packaging, and above all it is far SAFER than having a hodge podge of meds in one bottle...<BR>good luck, and good health

I would never, they will take them from you and then beat you to a pulp and then lock you in a broom closet! It's their way, you know, the European way. They're all druggies and degenerates and cannot be trusted with a dime much less a dime bag. Oh, wait a minute, you said prescription drugs... I have no idea.

Hi Lena,<BR>I think I can help, though I'm not an official authority....<BR>Went to Europe last 9/20, and was equally concerned. Lotsa meds, vitamins. No way could all our OTC and Rx bottles go! So... I combined vitamins/OTC in large vitamin opaque bottle; did indeed take my original Rx bottles for the 2 critical ones; the remaining Rx's I put in two Pocket Pak partitioned, labeled containers. But... I also brought a letter from my doctor stating the Rx's I take and why, in addition to duplicate Rx's. Funny thing was: no one ever questioned the meds during searches (or on previous 5 trips either). Those guys are prioritizing terrorism, and likely spot check our meds here and there. They turned my stuff inside out and never said a word.<BR><BR>However, you might take a letter and Rx's for another reason if meds are critical, even if you're in the US.... I was in a bad car accident in Memphis (lived in L.A.) a few years ago, and the hospital promptly took away my own meds, and didn't replace them until they found my Dr., 5 days later! (We're talking hormones and a tummy med, not morphine!)<BR>My meds weren't labeled, no Rx or letter - their hands were tied. I come prepared now, even though I hear there are great English-speaking doctors throughout Europe. A stitch in time... I usually don't need some meds I take along, but it's nice to know they're there!<BR>Oh, and they're right about mixing certain meds...your pharmacist can help.<BR>Throw an extra coin in the Trevi for me, and have a blast!<BR>

while it is better to take the original labelled prescription bottles , i use 7 day reminder boxes and ask pharmacist just for extra labels which I stick on a piece of paper. In almost all cases , you go thru a "Green Lane" at customs if you have nothing to declare on entering a country. In 35 years of once or twice yearly trips to Euripe , NEVER have we even spoken to a customs agent you just walk on by . They have already questioned you at the immigration point. They will on occasion pull someone from the line for a check but it is usually younger people or thiose who stand out in someway.<BR><BR>even coming home , they look at your customs form but if you have been honest about what you bought and listing food products, they ask what it is and wave you thru. Only once on arrival home has my bag been checked and that was when I had declared about 2000 dollars worth of antiques and they asked to see receipts to prove it was all over 100 years old and therefore not subject to duty/<BR><BR>Maybe we have just been lucky, but I certainly would not worry about customs searching you.