Carrying medication on airplanes

[mmessler]

With the current state of TSA regulations, is there anything I need to know about bringing my several inhalers in my carry-on bag? For obvious reasons, I don't want to put those in my checked bag, but what I'm asking is do I need to put them in a separate plastic baggie, like lotions and stuff? Or can I just throw them in my purse? Should I disconnect the cannisters from the holders? I will make sure I have the original boxes.

 

[Chuck-PA]

We just flew in February to Orlando. The only thing you need for medications is the original container with the script attached. We carry all of our meds in our carry on luggage. We also carry inhalers in our carry on luggage.
Hope this helps.

 

[mmessler]

We just flew in February to Orlando. The only thing you need for medications is the original container with the script attached. We carry all of our meds in our carry on luggage. We also carry inhalers in our carry on luggage.
Hope this helps.

With the script attached? Do you mean the sticker they attach at the pharmacy to the bottle or box? Because the original would be at the pharmacy. And the other question, can I leave them in my bag for screening? Or do I need to take them out separately like the liquids? Sorry to be so neurotic, I just want the whole screening process to be as quick and painless as possible. I'm not even bringing on liquids I normally would (3 oz or not) just to avoid that whole issue. But if I have to do it for the inhalers, I might anyway. I can do without my hand lotion and eye drops for 3 hours, but I don't want to.

 

[belsayre]

so do all medications have to be in the bottles?
I have little pill box with OTC meds ( tylenol, pepcid) I carry in my purse.
Is this a No-NO ?
Thanks

 

[kaytieeldr]

With the script attached? Do you mean the sticker they attach at the pharmacy to the bottle or box? Because the original would be at the pharmacy. And the other question, can I leave them in my bag for screening?

Yeah, I'm pretty sure Chuck means the label

You shouldn't need to remove your medications at security, but you might want to put them all in a separate clear plastic zip-top bag from your "3-1-1" liquids bag. That way, if TSA does question them, you can easily remove the entire bag at once from your carry-on. But no, as a rule, you would not have to take this bag out of your luggage and run it through the machine separately.

 

[NikP]

so do all medications have to be in the bottles?
I have little pill box with OTC meds ( tylenol, pepcid) I carry in my purse.
Is this a No-NO ?
Thanks

I was always lead to believe that this is a no no when travelling. Carry all orginal bottles. You can buy travel size Tylenol and Pepcid. I wouldn't want to be flaged for a more evasive search because I had generic OTC meds that were not easily identified by sight. I am sure this rarely happens in the US but I wouldn't take the chance going anywhere else.

 

[ducklite]

I was always lead to believe that this is a no no when travelling. Carry all orginal bottles. You can buy travel size Tylenol and Pepcid. I wouldn't want to be flaged for a more evasive search because I had generic OTC meds that were not easily identified by sight. I am sure this rarely happens in the US but I wouldn't take the chance going anywhere else.

Only when traveling internationally. In the US they could give a rats behind what you've got as far as pills--as long as you aren't carrying enough that they would suspect you of trafficking. Even when traveling within North America a "normal" number of pills in a daily dispenser or even generics in the OTC bottles aren't going to raise eyebrows.

The one time I've seen the customs guys FLIP was with a friend of mine who used liquid ginsing purchased in sets of small, unlabeled 1/4 ounce bottles. They "dipped" the bottles but obviously they didn't test positive for drugs. So they seized them, it was all they could do. But they were running around like ants around the queen thinking they were in the process of breaking up an international drug ring or something. It wasn't funny then, buts it's pretty funny now.

Anne

 

[belsayre]

Thanks for the info- I certainly dont want to be flagged and have a more envasive search That would NOT be the way to start vacation!

But it is kind of silly in a way. Just because pills are in a bottle marked as tylenol, does mean that is what it is. Lots of medications look very much alike. It wouldnt be hard to be dishonest. (Not that I would be .. just stating a fact )

 

[belsayre]

Anne- Thanks!
I will keep my little box in my purse then
But if I get one of those "envasive searches" I am going to hunt you down

 

[ducklite]

Thanks for the info- I certainly dont want to be flagged and have a more envasive search That would NOT be the way to start vacation!

But it is kind of silly in a way. Just because pills are in a bottle marked as tylenol, does mean that is what it is. Lots of medications look very much alike. It wouldnt be hard to be dishonest. (Not that I would be .. just stating a fact )

I leave my inhalers in my purse and put it through the machine. They've never as much as blinked an eye. With so many of us using inhalers they are used to seeing them.

Anne

 

[jennilouwho]

I called this morning about the pill box issue as my mom was needing to know. The lady at Southwest told me all medication needs to be in it's original container and that anything in a pill box will not be accepted through security. Whether that is correct information or not, I don't know, but we decided that we won't take our chances.

 

[mmessler]

I called this morning about the pill box issue as my mom was needing to know. The lady at Southwest told me all medication needs to be in it's original container and that anything in a pill box will not be accepted through security. Whether that is correct information or not, I don't know, but we decided that we won't take our chances.

You could always just pack everything in its original container and then fill your pillbox once down there to carry every day with what you might need. Or put it all in your checked bag, I guess. I'd err on the side of caution too. Sometimes it depends on which airport, which screener, whether they got up on the right or wrong side of the bed in the morning, etc. Some are a little touchier than others. I've had screeners at MCO practically throw things I politely requested a hand screen for onto the belt and send it through the machine, all the while giving me a nasty look.

 

[NotUrsula]

The lady at Southwest told me all medication needs to be in it's original container and that anything in a pill box will not be accepted through security. Whether that is correct information or not, I don't know, but we decided that we won't take our chances.

Well, just so you know, it is NOT correct information. If you want to know what TSA will do, ask TSA, *not* the airline. The airline does not have any compellling reason to keep track of TSA's rules, and they quite simply don't have any say in the matter. TSA's word on the matter is here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

What Anne said is correct, TSA doesn't give a rat's patootie about pills/capsules of any kind, *except* when you hand them packaging that says something like "GELCAPS" -- at which point they will get all bent out of shape over the idea that the pills might be made of gel. You actually attract LESS scrutiny to pills/capsules by putting them in a daily case than when you carry the original OTC packaging. I travel domestically several times a month (on SWA most of the time, fwiw) with my plastic pill case in my purse. I have never been questioned about it for so much as a second.

Make sure that your liquids (including contact lens' solution) or creams in tubes are in original labeled packages, whether Rx or OTC. Size does NOT count for medications, so you can carry the original package even if it is larger than 3.4 oz. For convenience in "declaring" them, it's best to put them in a separate ziploc marked "medications", and put that through the scanner right next to your 3-1-1 baggie.
(BTW, if your pharmacy normally labels the box instead of the tube/bottle, they can make an extra, smaller label that goes on the inside, just ask.)

PS: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER put medications or medical supplies (*especially* diabetic test strips) in checked bags. They are a very popular target for theft, and you'll end up missing doses if you have to get a new supply while travelling. (Also, your insurance company will probably pitch a fit over having to fill them a second time in a refill period.)