packing medication

[RivaLJ]

Are there airline regulations as to medicines in carryons? do I have to leave the meds in the original containers or can I put them in pill holders or even baggies?

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I don't think I ever had a problem w/ meds. I always kept them in carry on in case luggage got lost. Don't think it matters w/ container.

 

[fitzpa]

I take my son's liquid meds in the original containers in a ziplock bag. I take his pills in a pill sorter container.

 

[RivaLJ]

thanks for the replies. You never know these days!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Are there airline regulations as to medicines in carryons?

No. The airlines don't set the rules, the TSA does. You can read everything you want to know about carrying meds on a plane if you visit tsa.gov.

 

[MindyDean]

I had prescription meds on the last 5 flights. No problems.

 

[corster]

No issues bringing them in carry on, but you should probably keep them in the original containers, especially if they're liquid.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Liquids must be in their original containers if the bottles are greater than 3.4 oz or the bottles won't fit in your quart sized 3-1-1 bag. 3.4 oz or smaller bottles of liquid can just go in your 3-1-1 bag if they'll fit. Pills don't matter at all though I personally like to bring original bottles for prescriptions but it has nothing to do with TSA. For prescriptions, if there's any kind of emergency (medication gets destroyed somehow, I end up rushed to the hospital, there's a travel delay and I run out) then I like having those prescription labels right there to be able to show medical providers or pharmacists. You could just as easily just create a single piece of paper with this same information and not need those prescription bottles.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I always put my pills in a daily reminder and TSA has never looked at or asked about them. TSA is not a drug enforcement agency. The only thing they will check is liquid medication because it is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule.

 

[aubriee]

I always put my pills in a daily reminder and TSA has never looked at or asked about them. TSA is not a drug enforcement agency. The only thing they will check is liquid medication because it is exempt from the 3-1-1 rule.

True! We always put our pills in those daily reminder boxes. I also have another pill box with each section filled with OTC meds we might need--Pepto, Excedrin, Motrin, etc. I also take a Victoza injection every day. It comes in a box of two pens with the prescription written on the box, not the pen. All I fly with is a single pen and the needles that go with it, so no prescription is printed for it anywhere. It has never received a second look from any TSA agent. Now I do travel with a list of my meds, so it would be listed on there, but I've never been asked to show it. That list stays in my carry on in a divider file thingy that has all our itinerary stuff in it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

That's never happened to us. Nor should it happen. TSA has absolutely NO business getting involved with peoples medication or how they choose to carry it. They wouldn't have a clue as to what they were looking at.
What would they say besides "What is this??"
Besides being none of their business, what would they do with anything you told them?? What is the airline security risk??? Other than the already mentioned liquid rules--there isn't any!!

We always pack our meds in pillboxes or baggies.

 

[yenanh00]

I would at least try to follow the rule with TSA. Last year when we travel to WDW, I have to take 2 weeks worth of medcine for my DS3 allergies and eczema which is combination of 5 prescriptions cream and 3 liquids. One of the cream was cerave in 16oz tube. I cant find a travel size or I could put it in a disposable bottle since it was a cream. which is moisturizer for son. I had a prescription note from my pediatrician and dermatologist. The TSA didnt listen when I told her that it was not just a lotion and my son need it for his eczema. She said she was going to throw it out. I ended up calling my pediatrician DR at 8 PM and have her to the TSA Agent and the head TSA there. ..

 

[aubriee]

Medication can mean the difference between life and death, so it must be available to travelers at any moment. With all the laws on the books concerning what is admissible and what is not, it is essential to know the difference. Traveling by bus, train, car or air all have different options for your medication. Airlines have the most stringent rules. If you follow the airline plan you should have no trouble with the bus or train.Make sure all medication is properly labeled in your name. If it is not in your name the airline screeners will make inquiries, which could impact your ability to take the medication or even to travel.

I just copied this from the TSA web site:
All medications in any form or type (for instance, pills, injectables, or homeopathic) and associated supplies (syringes, Sharps disposal container, pre-loaded syringes, jet injectors, pens, infusers, etc.) are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. Atropens, an auto-injection system that can help treat many emergency conditions (low heart rate, breathing problems, and excess saliva related to insecticide, nerve gas or mushroom poisoning) are also allowed.

We do not require that your medications be labeled.

Medications in daily dosage containers are allowed through the checkpoint once they have been screened.

Gels or frozen liquids needed to cool disability or medically related items used by persons with disabilities or medical conditions.
Non-liquid or gel medications of all kinds such as solid pills, or inhalers are allowed through the security checkpoint once they have been screened. We recommend, but do not require, that your medications be labeled to assist with the screening process.

We have always carried our pills in pill boxes and have never had a problem. Again I also carrry a Victoza pen for my diabetes that doesn't even have a label on it. We've never had a problem. Because of the needles, I do put the pen and it's needles in a bin, but never take the pill boxes out of the carry on. As far as keeping them in their labeled pill bottles, what good would it do anyway? What's to keep me from putting 30 pills of my choice in say a bottle that's labeled Lasix? Do you actually think those TSA agents would know what a Lasix pill looks like? You could put any pill you wanted to in that bottle and then show the TSA agent a list of your meds that include Lasix. Drug control is not the TSA agents job, security is. Now if I wanted to keep that Victoza pen cold, TSA does have a right to take away my little blue frozen thingy, but only if it's not completely frozen. The pen and it's needles they can't though.

 

[Uncleromulus]

A great point--you could put narcotics in a Lasix bottle and the TSA wouldn't know the difference. Or any other combination of meds.
Making the whole "labeled" business--from a SECURITY standpoint--worthless.

 

[CPT Tripss]

A great point--you could put narcotics in a Lasix bottle and the TSA wouldn't know the difference. Or any other combination of meds.
Making the whole "labeled" business--from a SECURITY standpoint--worthless.

Yes, very true, neither oxycontin nor ecstacy nor "meth" will bring down an airliner. From a "security" standpoint, alot of activities by Airport Security Screeners is worthless.

 

[satorifound]

I flew with lots of medicines when I was doing surrogacy. I had syringes too and they never blinked an eye or asked to see my prescription.... I did bring them in the labeled bag just in case, but there was never an issue.

 

[book_junkie]

Based on personal experience only (YMMV) :

Prescription Pills: We've been fine putting these in daily reminders and have never been looked at twice.

OTC Pills: Kept in their original bottles, not in the 3-1-1 bag, even the gel caps.

Needles/Lancets/Diabetic Testing Supplies: I keep mine in their original containers with the script because I have had issues before with TSA looking weird at the sharps; however, this is has always been right around an incident. It didn't matter how many I was bringing, I always keep the most current box and put whatever I need in it.

Insulin: Mine are pens, not vials, so I take what I need and keep them in a clear ziplock separate from everything else, but I don't take them out of my carry-on, either. They are pretty obviously labeled as insulin, and I've never had issues with them being inside the carry-on.

Prescription Creams/Toothpaste: Hubby has prescription creams and toothpaste that he has to use, and those have labels all over them. They get packed in a separate ziplock bag, and they get put in the bin with our 3-1-1 bag because they DO get looked at and inspected. We've not had to call anyone about them to get them through security, but we make sure that the labels are clear- and that's taken a few late night trips to a 24 hour Walgreens!

My parents haven't had issues with their vials of insulin, but have had issues with my dad's CPap (sleep apnea breathing machine). They had to put it together and demonstrate what it was and how it worked a couple of times- yet my brother, who was flying with them, got through security with a normal sized tube of toothpaste and shampoo.

We have had some issues with bath salts... And for some reason every time we fly my hubby gets pulled over for more detailed testing of his shoes...

 

[CPT Tripss]

Interesting to read the CPAP experience. Was that at DFW, or elsewhere?

 

[MEF01]

I understand that prescription liquid medications don't have to meet the 3oz rule. But, what about liquid medications like tylenol, motrin, cough medicine? I want to bring liquid tylenol thru security to give to my dd prior to take off right before boarding but not sure if that would be allowed. I haven't seen any bottles of this 3oz. We leave in few days and her back molars are coming in so those are hurting and her ears hurt due to the teeth so I want to try to make her as comforatable as possible for the plane to make for a pleasant ride. I did have her checked and her ears are totally clear, but the teeth are causing the pain/discomfort.

 

[NotUrsula]

I understand that prescription liquid medications don't have to meet the 3oz rule. But, what about liquid medications like tylenol, motrin, cough medicine? I want to bring liquid tylenol thru security to give to my dd prior to take off right before boarding but not sure if that would be allowed. I haven't seen any bottles of this 3oz. We leave in few days and her back molars are coming in so those are hurting and her ears hurt due to the teeth so I want to try to make her as comforatable as possible for the plane to make for a pleasant ride. I did have her checked and her ears are totally clear, but the teeth are causing the pain/discomfort.

I carry OTC liquid meds ALL the time domestically, several times a month. To make it as simple as possible, put the bottles in a separate ziploc (any size on this one) and label it "Passenger [LastName], Medications". Then put it in the bin next to your 3-1-1 baggie, that is marked "Passenger [Lastname] Toiletries". There is NO size limit on medicine bottles, and yes, even contact solution counts as medicine.