OTC medications in carryon

[jjarman]

Can you take over the counter medications in your carry on? I have a cute little container that I like to keep benadryl, motrin, immodium, allegra, etc. in. It is perfect to carry all those medications in one container. Can I take this in my carry on or should I check it? The medications are all out of their original containers.

 

[goofy4tink]

I never take any meds out of their original packaging when I travel. I would keep it all intact and then transfer it over to the container you have already. I just hate to take any chances at security, but I tend to overdo it a bit. I just figure that better safe than sorry.

 

[jjarman]

Thanks. I guess I'll just put it in my checked baggage and keep a small bottle of motrin in my carry on. That is what we use the most.

 

[NotUrsula]

If these are pills we are talking about, you can carry them any way and any where you like. There are NO rules about pill-form medicines on domestic flights. (Except that if you were carrying *really* large numbers of controlled-substance tablets you might attract the attention of law enforcement, on suspicion of dealing. By really large numbers, I mean hundreds of pills of the same med.)

If you have liquids you need to keep them in their original bottles and "declare" them for TSA. I always put the bottles in a ziploc marked "medications" and put them next to my 3-1-1 toiletries baggie in the bin, makes things easier. (The medications baggie is not subject to a size limit, BTW, as it isn't required.)

One last note: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER check medications of any kind!! They are prime targets for theft, and you would miss doses if the bags were misrouted.

 

[billcsho]

Are you saying the liquid medications are not subject to the 3oz (or 100ml) limit per person? My daughter has skin allergy that we need to bring along a couple creams, benedryl, and zyrtec.

 

[goofy4tink]

If these are pills we are talking about, you can carry them any way and any where you like. There are NO rules about pill-form medicines on domestic flights. (Except that if you were carrying *really* large numbers of controlled-substance tablets you might attract the attention of law enforcement, on suspicion of dealing. By really large numbers, I mean hundreds of pills of the same med.)

If you have liquids you need to keep them in their original bottles and "declare" them for TSA. I always put the bottles in a ziploc marked "medications" and put them next to my 3-1-1 toiletries baggie in the bin, makes things easier. (The medications baggie is not subject to a size limit, BTW, as it isn't required.)

One last note: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER check medications of any kind!! They are prime targets for theft, and you would miss doses if the bags were misrouted.

Absolutely right. It's just me erring on the side of caution nowadays. I hate the thought of security making an issue because I have a slotted container full of non-labeled drugs, OTC or not. I will put my Sudafed (the kind that doesn't work so well, not the good stuff!!!) in my checked bags. It's only my prescrip. meds that I carry in my carryon, in original containers obviously. Again, I just err on the side of caution...don't want to give those TSA folks anything to complain about .

 

[NotUrsula]

Are you saying the liquid medications are not subject to the 3oz (or 100ml) limit per person? My daughter has skin allergy that we need to bring along a couple creams, benedryl, and zyrtec.

Yep, that's what I'm saying: they are NOT subject to the 3-1-1 rule. (In the case of OTC creams, esp. moisturizers, there could be some quibbles about what is or is not a medication, but anything Rx is automatically not subject to the size limit.)

The information is here: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/specialneeds/editorial_1059.shtm

Essentially, as I said above, the rule is that you have to notify the TSO's that you are carrying liquid meds, and let them see them. The simplest way to do that is to put them in a separate "medications" baggie that is marked as such, take the baggie out of your carryon and run it through the xray in a bin.

 

[jjarman]

These are all pills I would be carrying in the little container. They container has about 6 divided compartments and is about the size of a bar of soap. Really handy little thing and I would hate to have to throw it away at security checkin.

 

[NotUrsula]

Won't be a problem on a domestic flight -- no one will even look at it as long as it is plastic. I have one like that that travels in my handbag (I never let my Rx meds leave my side when I'm away from home). More flights than I can count, and no one has ever given it a second glance, let alone asked to inspect it.

 

[DebbieB]

I travel almost weekly (domestic only) and keep my prescription meds in a daily pill box. It's never been questioned.

Not long ago I discoved a small bottle of eye glass cleaner in my laptop bag, it has probably gone through security 15 to 20 times, including 1 hand inspection, and was never caught.

 

[bavaria]

I travel almost weekly (domestic only) and keep my prescription meds in a daily pill box. It's never been questioned.

I agree with DebbieB on this topic every time it is asked (weekly?)

I pointed out that I flew about 100,000 miles last year; after the new carryon restrictions were imposed I flew every trip with liquid capsule migraine medication which I purchase in Germany. There is not one word of English on the box, and it has never once been an issue. The box is only marked in German and in braille.

I also carry a variety of other pills in various containers ie not the original packaging. Nobody has ever once looked at any of these medications in all the times I have cleared security, both in the US and internationally.