Medications

[Kerrigirl]

I have read that medications must be in the original packaging. Does this include over the counter medications and vitamins?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have read that medications must be in the original packaging. Does this include over the counter medications and vitamins?

Technically, yes. But many people just use the weekly pill minder holders, or zip loc baggies for the non-prescription stuff.

For us, we always bring the bottles, as we have to restock our pill minders due to the long cruises we take.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have read that medications must be in the original packaging. Does this include over the counter medications and vitamins?

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/guest-services/cruise-packing-list/

"

• Medications (in their original containers)"

 

[over50visits]

I have read that medications must be in the original packaging. Does this include over the counter medications and vitamins?

Good advice, DF. Disney on their website states medications should be in their original container. I suspect some people just put them in, for example, the handy weekly pillboxes, but I haven't observed what people do, of course, so I can't say for sure. Although it is my guess is that you will be fine no matter what you pack them in, please don't put them in a plain box or bag and if challenged at the port say "DIS told me many people just pack them this way."

 

[Capt_BJ]

food for thought ... not a recommendation ... just the way I look at it, and what I do (but I was in the interdiction business for 30 years . . .)

- over the counter stuff and vitamins are not (IME) "medications"

IME unless you have some of the hard core pain killers you won't have a problem with a 'pill minder' as that's what I typically use

BUT

if you DO have some of the hard stuff, Percocet or oxycodone, I'd definitely keep it in the original container .... or have a photo copy of the label 'proving' the perscription

there is an issue of 'quantity' as well. If you bring a 7 day supply for a seven day cruise you'll seldom have an issue. If you bring a two year supply for the same cruise ... questions could come up.

Lastly ..... I doubt you'd ever have a problem at boarding time .... I've never heard of such a thing b4. BUT

IF you were selected for a random search by Customs on return

AND were holding say 90 oxy tabs without the prescription label you just might have a very serious problem

*****
on a recent trip, cruise and land, in EU for a month, I carried all the 'real' bottles for the prescriptions and despite going thru "customs" several times, was never asked to show proof of anything . . . but all I had was cholesterol and bp meds . . .
******

I'm not sure what drugs dogs detect ... but if I had a prescription for an opiate or medical MJ I would FOR SURE carry that in the official container and as much documentation as I could muster!!!!

 

[OKW Lover]

Got to agree with @Capt_BJ above. If you're simply bringing pills for your personal needs during the cruise (including any post cruise stays) you're not going to have any problem bringing medications on board or when leaving the ship.

 

[professorandmom]

Welcome to one of the hot topics on the DIS Boards! You'll find strong opinions from which I encourage you to weigh the information...
Good luck!!!
Here is a recent thread with a few laughs AND dire warnings
http://www.disboards.com/threads/medications-in-original-container.3470061/

 

[lorimay]

We were on a 10 night cruise in Sept. and I had the weekly pill keeper, no issues at all. I had it in my carry-on.

Yikes, now reading professorandmom posting, I won't do that again. I will go back to bringing the original bottles.

Thank you!

 

[Maggie'sMom]

My DD takes 4 different prescription medications. I feel okay traveling domestically without the original containers, but I'm not comfortable going through customs without the medications in their original bottles. Maybe I'm being over-cautious, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

 

[OKW Lover]

Yikes, now reading professorandmom posting, I won't do that again. I will go back to bringing the original bottles.

Gone on 15+ cruises without bringing the original bottles and never, ever had a question about my medications.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

The only time I actually brought original prescription medicine containers was for our trip to Norway last year. Otherwise, I bring a copy of the prescription label that the pharmacy provides but put my medication in a weekly minder container. Never had any problems. Never had anybody ask. The only exeption is my DD's insulin which I keep in the original box for transport.

 

[tvguy]

I always get new prescriptions in small bottles before mail ordering them. I just keep the small bottles for travel. I'm not so much concerned about having issues at customs or airport security, as I am about my weekly pill box popping open and me losing a dose of some medicine.

 

[professorandmom]

Yikes, now reading professorandmom posting, I won't do that again. I will go back to bringing the original bottles.

I wasn't trying to give an opinion, only warn the OP of the potential firm responses from fellow cruisers.
I tried to avoid mentioning what I do to avoid DIS flames...I NEVER bring original containers (just a weekly pill case) including for my "just-in-case" case that has a few doses of a wide variety of medications....

 

[lorimay]

I wasn't trying to give an opinion, only warn the OP of the potential firm responses from fellow cruisers.
I tried to avoid mentioning what I do to avoid DIS flames...I NEVER bring original containers (just a weekly pill case) including for my "just-in-case" case that has a few doses of a wide variety of medications....

I appreciate you posting that information, I never thought about it.
We were gone 15 days and didn't want to carry the pill bottles, I thought the keeper was easier to pack, little did I know the mess we could have faced.
We flew internationally home from Canada and they put us through all kinds of security measures at the Vancouver airport, but luckily they didn't say anything about the pill keeper, at that point it only had one day of pills left, so it wouldn't have been too catastrophic.