Anyone flown with medication before??

[foxxxy83]

I tell you, I am SO grateful for the existence of this site! Has anyone ever taken high quantity of medication on a flight before? I wondered if I would have to declare to customs or not? Have had 2 lots of pancreatic surgery in last few mths and need 3 different pain meds as well as a gastro-resistant one. As we're going for 2 wks, will need to take quite a lot of medication with me as it isn't "over-the-counter" type stuff. I was planning to take my discharge summary from the hospital so they know exactly what it's for and put it in hold. Anyone know if this will be ok or is there a special procedure. Keep getting the "have I remembered everything" niggles! Lol!

 

[Lisash]

Would it not be better in hand luggage. I'm diabetic so have to take quite a bit with me. I wouldn't want to risk it in hold luggage in case bags ever got mislaid plus hold is too cold for my insulin cartridges. I just carry it in hand luggage in its original boxes labelled with my name and with covering letter from my doctor just in case. For fortnight I have quite a lot of medication tablets, syringes pens etc and its never caused me to be stopped before.

 

[foxxxy83]

Really?? Oh that's absolutely FAB! It says on Manchester Airport site that you can only carry 100 mg medication in hand luggage.. guess in hindsight, that means stuff like Calpol with it being liquid? Might phone airport just to be on safe side but thanks heaps for that coz last thing I need is to have to pay US prices for morphine pills!! Eeeeek!! Lol!

 

[2Tiggies]

Never ever put your meds into checked bags. Always keep it in hand luggage. If your bags for any reason get mislaid or delayed you don't want any essential items to be in there. Medication is one thing not easily replaced on the spot by insurance for delayed bags. I don't know what the procedure is through security but at MCO they have special lanes for those traveling with medications.

 

[arieliwish]

We carried through DH meds for stroke/blood pressure/arrhythmia/warfarin/pain relief/epilepsy -all in named boxes with a copy of prescription in hand luggage thru Manchester/Atlanta/MCO and he didn't have his bag checked once. We had requested wheelchair assistance so not sure if that helped.

 

[tinkerpea]

I take a lot of meds with me and 3 types are morphine opiate types,
I also take ondansatron which I a very expensive anti sickness medication,

I second what everybody is saying about NOT putting meds in your checked luggage, I did this on my 1st trip taking these types of meds, when j got to the hotel I realised that my case had been tampered with and that I had lost just under half of my meds!!
Yes they had been stolen, I'm a triple checker so I knew I hadn't left them behind plus they handy only taken 1 type of medication they had taken around 50 ondansatron tablets and a weeks worth of oral pethadine which I was taking 6 50mg tablets a day and a few boxes of tramadol!!

I couldn't believe it as I knew no way would I get through with out these meds and that no doctor was just going to prescribe me them even with a script that I had on me for customs....

Anyways I spent a whole morning in The ER at the hospital with all the nurses saying no way is a doctor going to prescribe these meds, luckily I had the most amazing lady doctor who said this happens way more then people think and that the ondansatron was worth $40 a tablet!!! In the US more then the opiates as we found out when having to pay for the script,
She wrote me a script for what I needed and we went in our way but it ruin the whole day waiting around then finding a chemist etc.

Sorry for the long story but you need to know just how important it is you have your meds on you!
Also you can take a separate hand luggage bag with you as a medical bag if you have that much to take, I did this last yr jut let the airline know a few days before hand that you will be wanting to do this.

 

[foxxxy83]

Awww, thanks guys! It was touch and go for a long time as to whether I'd be fit to fly but my consultant has just given me the green light on condition I stay pain-free and take regular pain meds whether I feel in pain or not coz it will the pain under control so I won't have to visit an emergency room. I put a padlock on all my bags so thankfully they shouldn't get tampered with and they're in a clear bag if customs really do want to check. We have fast-track through security so hopefully if they do say anything, it will only slow the process down to similar time as if we'd been through normal security check! Thanks again guys! What would the world do with the DISS??

 

[Zeebs]

We have to take liquid medication for Cullen, he has had to taste it before for them but we haven't had any problems.

Kirsten

 

[WSussex]

We have just got back and been 7 times and out of a family of 4 - 3 of us are type one diabetics!! We always take two sets of identical meds all in hand luggage (super cautious!) which involves over 800 insulin needles/syringes plus 20 plus viles of insulin etc - we always get a letter from GP but as yet have never had an issue at customs - I usually say to the officer as it goes thru the x ray that we have meds and not once has it been checked!

Sally

 

[tinkerpea]

Awww, thanks guys! It was touch and go for a long time as to whether I'd be fit to fly but my consultant has just given me the green light on condition I stay pain-free and take regular pain meds whether I feel in pain or not coz it will the pain under control so I won't have to visit an emergency room. I put a padlock on all my bags so thankfully they shouldn't get tampered with and they're in a clear bag if customs really do want to check. We have fast-track through security so hopefully if they do say anything, it will only slow the process down to similar time as if we'd been through normal security check! Thanks again guys! What would the world do with the DISS??

I just wanted to add that you can not rely on the padlocks to keep your meds safe! You really should keep them on you

 

[Elise79]

Awww, thanks guys! It was touch and go for a long time as to whether I'd be fit to fly but my consultant has just given me the green light on condition I stay pain-free and take regular pain meds whether I feel in pain or not coz it will the pain under control so I won't have to visit an emergency room. I put a padlock on all my bags so thankfully they shouldn't get tampered with and they're in a clear bag if customs really do want to check. We have fast-track through security so hopefully if they do say anything, it will only slow the process down to similar time as if we'd been through normal security check! Thanks again guys! What would the world do with the DISS??

Make sure they are TSA approved padlocks as the TSA have right to open any bag to inspec it and the will break off any lock which they can't open.

 

[foxxxy83]

Thanks for all the advice folks! Didn't realise they took padlocks off bags although it makes sense when you think about it. Always put locks on and never had a prob before

 

[disneyholic family]

The TSA is required to let medical equipment be carried on board, including all medication.

DD travels with a full pharmacy in her carry on bag, including numerous liquids...

 

[Cinderella2006]

My son has a few health issues and needs his medication with him 24/7, we take a whole cabin sized suitcase full and have never had any problems. We do ask his consultant to write a letter and always make sure the medication is in the suitable bottles/boxes. Rarely been asked to see the consultants letter ... Hope this helps x