Medications in original bottles???

[meandmyshadow]

I thought I remembered seeing something here about having to keep all meds - prescription and non prescription, in their original containers. I usually mix up a bottle of advil, children's advil, sudafed, aleve, bonine etc. It takes up much less space! Should I be keeping them in their own bottles? Is this for checked luggage and carry-ons??

I keep thinking of all of these things I need to know before we go! I am starting to get nervous! ONLY 6 MORE DAYS!!!

Thanks everyone! Couldn't have planned this trip without all of you!

 

[CM_Mom]

For the over the counter stuff, I usually get the smaller quantities that come in "blister packs" so I don't have a bunch of bottles. These packages usually have the description of the medicine so are safer.

For prescription meds, I ask my pharmacist to provide me with smaller bottles with a prescription label on them, or I take the labels off of the big bottles and put them on smaller bottles so the medications can be in smaller bottles and not take up too much space in the luggage.

 

[TootyJane]

I keep all prescription and non-prescription drugs in the original containers. As for mixing non-prescription drugs, the idea of taking up less space is great but the possibility of taking the wrong pill could happen because not all pills/tablets are marked. HTH

 

[pppiglet]

But does DCL require them in the original bottles. We take a lot of Vitamins and I just ordered a container to group them. (I would need a whole new carryon for all that!) I have a pill box that has excedrin and other over the counter stuff mixed. I would understand about the prescription stuff though.
Hey ...maybe it's says it the passporter guide! I just got it in the mail! YAY!

 

[Windermere]

If the medication is not properly label it can be confiscated (sp). Make sure you have original bottles or prescriptions labels or be prepared to leave the meds behind. Ok with OTC stuff but I wouldn't want to have to leave digoxin behind.

 

[hydster]

When we went on our 5-1 cruise I took ziploc bags with medications in them like Tylenol and such! I put a plastic label on them all and then rolled them up. Took up less space and never had a problem with it (not that you might not but we didn't) and I took a ton of prescrip meds with us some in original bottles others not...still no problem! We have done it this way forever before and after 9-11 no problem. Maybe we are lucky or maybe they don't care. If you are worried about it I'd take your prescrip meds in their original bottles but if they throw away your tylenol you CAN always buy more!

Heidi

 

[tvguy]

I suspect DCL doesn't care, but customs and airport security sure will.
Always travel with medications in the original containers. I buy travel sizes of over the counter drugs. I now order 90 day supplies of my prescription drugs, but have retained the old, smaller 30 day supply bottles for travel purposes.

 

[CM_Mom]

Also be sure to take your prescriptions in your carry on luggage. Don't take a chance on it being lost. Clothes are much easier to replace than medicine.

 

[hydster]

Customs doesn't care about anything but prescription drugs

Here is a website

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/leavingarrivinginUS/vacation/source/straight_from_source.xml

It only says prescription drugs.

HTH
Heidi

 

[MommaluvsDis]

We cruised about 4 weeks ago and had no problem what so ever with our prescription meds being in the daily pill holders. The main reason that I can see the importance of taking the original bottles is if you're incapacitated (sp?)and can't tell medical personel which meds you're currently taking. Other than that, as I said, we had no problem on the plane or thru customs.

 

[Doctor P]

This is one of those things that you do not mess with. This is not a convenience thing, this is not a "well, I never had a problem thing." You MUST take all of your drugs in originally labeled packages, especially prescription drugs. There are several reasons for this: 1) medical emergencies, as people have already noted; 2) proving what the pills or medicine is--remember, you are going through customs and immigration, as well as the fact that you are entering foreign countries that often have different rules and laws about possession of different kinds of drugs; 3) it is illegal to import drugs into the United States, so you need to be able to prove that these are your drugs obtained before you boarded the ship. It is going to be a pain in the butt for me to take some of my pill bottles, but no where near the pain that it would be to spend time in custody or time in jail.

 

[*Huey*]

I receive my daily prescribed meds thru samples provided by my Dr's office. Because I'm one of the millions with no health insurance (too expensive when you work for a tiny company!) my doctor provides my meds thru samples. I of course, have labeled bottles, but there is no evidence that it was actually prescribed to me. Do I need a "doctor's note" or do they just want to know what it is?

My daughter is also on meds and she and I have a "Travel bottle" full of everything we need for our weekend outtings (meds, vitamins, etc.) Guess we'll need to divide them all up again before we go.