Does Security Hassle you about Medicine in Unmarker Containers?

[vhoffman]

Not too sure where to post this, but I figured people with disabilities (and I am also disables with rheumatoid arthritis), probably have some experience with this.

We always take our medicines in their original, labeled pharmacy containers. However, we now must use a mail order pharmacy and get 3 month supplies at a time, which come in very large bottles. Our next Disney trip will be just 5 days and I was thinking of taking our medicines just in unlabeled bottles I got from a local pharmacy. After all, we're not going through customs -- would the security screeners even say anything about it? On second thought, I could get labels from the mail order pharmacy to attach to the bottles I take, that might work better.

I also am trying to figure out how to take all our vitamins. I take Citracal, a calcium supplement, and don't want to take a huge bottle for just 5 days. Each pill is stamped 'Citracal' so it would probably bear scrutiny. However, how to pack other supplements, like Vitamin C? Even the smallest bottle is 50 pills, and I only need 10 for the trip. Well, has anyone had any problems at the Orlando airport with medicines?

Also, I take Enbrel, which is an injectable. It comes in a kit with a disposable syringe per dose. They sent me an insulated bag for travel (it must be kept cold you need an ice pack with it). The whole box won't fit in the insulated bag, so in the past I've taken however many I need for the trip and break the carton down and take it in my purse in case there's any question. I usually just let the bag with the Enbrel go through the screener, I figure I will explain if there's questions, but its never been questioned. I guess the needle is mostly plastic, just a metal tip. Has anyone had trouble with Enbrel?

 

[Schmeck]

If you don't have the prescription on you, you can be arrested for having 'illegal' medication. Of course, there would have to be some reason that the police/security would be checking you out. Airport security could do this. Could you bring the receipts/prescription orders and the smaller amounts of medication you want to travel with?

 

[SueM in MN]

On second thought, I could get labels from the mail order pharmacy to attach to the bottles I take, that might work better.

That's a good idea.
I would contact the mail order pharmacy and ask them to provide you with either small bottles that you could put a week's worth of mediction in or just the printed labels so that you can label your own bottles.
I am very certain that this won't be an unusual request for them, so they will probably already have a way set up to handle this kind of thing.

I also am trying to figure out how to take all our vitamins. I take Citracal, a calcium supplement, and don't want to take a huge bottle for just 5 days. Each pill is stamped 'Citracal' so it would probably bear scrutiny. However, how to pack other supplements, like Vitamin C? Even the smallest bottle is 50 pills, and I only need 10 for the trip. Well, has anyone had any problems at the Orlando airport with medicines?

Here's a link to the Transportation Security Administration page about medications. You could print a copy of that page to carry along with you if you are concerned.
We travel with an assortment of prescription and non -prescription medications with us and have not had any problems. We have transported them in labeled pharmacy bottles.
On our last trip, one member of our group had injectable medication and syringes. He expected he might be questioned, but nothing was mentioned to him at all about his medication.
The page does say that:

Medications should be labeled so they are identifiable.
Medications in daily dosage containers are allowed through the checkpoint once they been screened.

It doesn't say they have to necessarily be in the original container. I would personally carry any prescription in a pharmacy container, but I think you would be safe with the Citrical and vitamins out of their original container, as long as you have labeled what it is. One way would be to cut off part of the box with the name on it and tape it to the container. Another thing I have done at times is to buy a smaller container of the same medication and then save the bottle for transporting that medication.

Also, I take Enbrel, which is an injectable. It comes in a kit with a disposable syringe per dose. They sent me an insulated bag for travel (it must be kept cold you need an ice pack with it). The whole box won't fit in the insulated bag, so in the past I've taken however many I need for the trip and break the carton down and take it in my purse in case there's any question. I usually just let the bag with the Enbrel go through the screener, I figure I will explain if there's questions, but its never been questioned. I guess the needle is mostly plastic, just a metal tip. Has anyone had trouble with Enbrel?

Here is what the TSA site says about medications, specifically information about syringes:

All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes and dispensing products, vials, box of individual vials, biojectors, CO² migraine inhalers, CO² refills, jet injectors, epipens, Atropens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened.

I have not seen Enbrel, but I am assuming that it somes in individually labeled vials (that each vial says Enbrel and the dose on it, but doesn't have your name anyplace except the box.) If that is the case, I think what you said you plan to do sounds fine.For injectable medication, you are allowed to bring a syringe for each dose.

 

[vhoffman]

I called our local pharmacy tonight and they said they would print out labels for our perscriptions then give us small botles to use. We filled the original perscription at the local pharmacy, then use mail order for long term medications. As long as the perscription's valid at the local pharmacy they can print out labels.

Actually, I'm a bit more concerned about the vitamins and supplements, since they don't have any identifying marks on them (except Citracal). Probably I could just buy a small bottle to travel with then save it for future trips,like SueM suggested. It seems such a waste to buy the small bottle for just a 5-day trip. Lugging meds is such a pain! I never pack meds in checked luggage; it always goes in my carry-on. And I usually pack at least two bottles of each, in case one is lost. Guess I should ask for two labels for each perscription. Honestly, I usually have one tote bag just with pills! However, I "load myself down" with perscription meds for fear of losing one. I just realized, our perscriptions have open refills at Walgreens and there's a Walgreens near where we'll be staying. Perhaps this trip I'll brave it and go with just one bottle each? We really aren't that critical -- we can survive one day or so without our @$#! pills! None of them are controlled substances so there should be no problem getting emergency refills if necessary. However, I always pack a few more than needed, in case of spills, delays, etc. I'm just not one of those people who can travel light!

 

[Cheshire Figment]

When I travel, which is fairly often, I will put all my morning pills in a separate sandwich bag for each day. For my dinner and bedtime pills I will have separate compartmentalized pill carriers (few pills for each, and all fairly small). I will then put all my pills, insulin syringes and alcohol swabs in one bag in my carry-on.

My tester has its own case, and the lancets fir under the tester in the case. If I expect a long trip I will carry extra lancets in a sandwich bag.

I used to carry my insulin bottles in with the pills, but I am now also on Byetta, which is very temperature sensitive, so I carry the Byetta pen, with its needles, as well as the insulin in an insulated lunch bag with gel packs.

I have never been challanged by TSA on any flight. I do not carry any prescription labels with me at all (except for the Byetta which is on the box with the pen and needles). However, I do carry a laminated card in my wallet that has my name, primary care physician's name and phone number, and a listing of all the medications I take including the doseages and when. If I were ever to be challanged I could show that card and tell them which pills were which. (The laminated card is kept current and is used when I go to any doctor's office and am asked what meds I am taking and also can be used if I have a medical emergency.)

 

[NJBlackBerry]

I fly at least once a week and have never had a problem with carry on medications or my CPAP (not relevant to this discussion, but a medical device nonetheless). I used to carry everything in the original bottles, etc. etc. but simply didn't feel like dragging 90 day sized bottle for a 3 day business trip. Never gotten questioned once.

 

[shades]

I travel a lot and I've never had any problems with security - anywhere - be it airport or Disney. I put all of my meds in ziplock bags because I don't want anybody else touching my med bottles. I ALWAYS take the printed copies of the prescriptions that I get with each refill. Those papers that all pharmacies seem to give out with each bottle that have all of the warnings listed as well as a print out of your prescription. If I only take a few pills - as opposed to the bottle - I tape the print out of the prescription onto the ziplock bag. When I approach security, I pull one big ziplock bag with all of my meds in it out and I move the stuff around in the bag so the security person can see it. I've never had any security person ask me to remove any bottles or even open the ziplock (gallon size) bag. I also mix my over-the-counter stuff in with the prescription stuff, including bandaids, tissues, etc. I personally would not be concerned about transporting less than a full bottle of vitamins, Tylenol, etc. My husband ALWAYS takes a ziplock bag with exactly the right number of vitamins he needs for each trip and has never had any problems at all.

 

[SueM in MN]

On a trip 2 years ago, I forgot to pack all my medications (NOTE: I didn't have any controlled substances; those might work differently).
I figured out that I didn't have them while we were in the airport waiting to load onto the plane for our trip out. My prescriptions are thru Target Pharmacy, so I called the Target I get them at and explained my problem. They were able to check on their computer for some Targets with pharmacies close to WDW. They gave me the numbers and then I called a few to see which was closest to OKW. The pharmacist at the close one called my home Target pharmacy and got the prescriptions temporarily transferred so that I could fill them in Florida. They even called the insurance company to get a "vacation override" so that I wouldn't have to pay for them out of pocket. The prescription was filled and waiting for us before we even arrived in Orlando.
That is one of the big advantages of using a nation-wide pharmacy.

 

[Meezers]

Just a word of caution.....here in Georgia it is illegal to carry a prescription medication in a different bottle other than the prescription. Not very many people get charged with this but it is a possibility. So...since I never get away with anything I don't even carry prescription meds in the car if there is a chance of a traffic stop. I am sure security at Disney won't enforce this law...but just wanted to make you aware..

 

[Mish]

I carry and EPI pen for my son and I called the airline last time we flew and they told me I had to have a Pharmacy label on it or a letter saying what it was needed for. But we did go through security with no problem. I just make sure we get the pharmacy to put the label on it.

 

[alisonbestford]

We've never had problems with DH's medication (and, believe me, there's an awful lot of it..... ) but I always pack it in hand luggage, with the original packages and a repeat prescription script (which we have in the UK)

This year was the first time I actually asked the GP for a covering letter (as they normally charge an astronomical amount at our doctor's surgery ) but we were never questioned

I take vitamins along too, in their original containers, but have never even considered that I should carry some form of proof that they are what they say......