Taking Prescription Meds across Border

[Eskie_Lover]

I'm on quite a number of medications, and due to the large number & size of all my prescription bottles I tend to put all my meds into a "one week" dispenser carry it around in my purse. We are going to Disney for one week, so I would like to take my dispenser, and leave all the bottles at home (I would bring a backup dispenser in my luggage just in case my purse was stolen...).

I know when crossing the border you are supposed to have meds in their original containers to prove they are prescribed to you - but I'm registered with Medic Alert, have a card which lists all my prescriptions, and the vast majority of my medications have the med name stamped on them. Do you think there would be a problem if I don't have the actual prescription bottles? If I do take them, they will be in my luggage, and I will still have my dispenser in my purse (need to take some during the flight), so if I get stopped and questioned, I still wouldn't have the actual bottles on me...

Anyone ever have a problem? It's been a long time since I have flown into the states (15 years?), and obviously security is much tighter now, and I wasn't actually on any prescriptions back then (ah, the good old days....).

Thanks for the help!

 

[mom_rules]

Take copies of your current dated prescription receipts and be prepared to identify which are which if asked.
To be certain, call your TA and have them verify this.

 

[wenabre]

You can also ask your pharmacist to make some labels with the pharmacy's logo on it and your name and medication info and put them on smaller bottles. I usually take my daily dispenser with me and then fill it once I am there. Hope this helps.

 

[Sandyincanada]

We tend to mix them up too and have never had a problem so far. I think they are looking for big quantities of drugs not just 10 of one kind of pill, for example. I'm not saying for you to do that, its just what we do

 

[Timon]

It shouldn't be a problem as the only ones concerned with your drugs will be customs and both ways, you will have your checked luggage with you during your visit with Customs.

However, it sounds like you really NEED those drugs so I would highly recommend NOT putting them in your checked luggage. You should always carry them in your bag on the plane. Once I went to Vegas with my Dad who takes 14 medications for BP/heart etc and on the way home, they lost our luggage. Our luggage apparently needed a vacation and toured Toronto for 7 days. The only reason his pharmacist gave him refills of his just filled prescriptions is because he's been going there for almost 20 years.
It would have been a lot harder for him had they lost our bags on the way there instead of on the way back.

 

[Canadiancruiser2]

I think if you have to carry narcotics or controlled drugs then maybe you might get some questions from customs. If you are concerned, maybe you could ask your doctor to list the medications that you take on a prescription pad and carry that with you. If you can't see your doctor in time for your trip, you could pop by the pharmacy and ask them to print out a patient profile which give you the list of all medications that you are on.

Hope this helps,
CC

 

[Eskie_Lover]

Thanks for all the replies. I am planning on keeping my one week dispenser in my carry on luggage, but bring a backup supply in my checked luggage as well, just in case my carry on, or purse get stolen....

With having the Medic Alert, I should be okay, but just wanted some reassurances.

Only one more week!!!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I carried Concerta (like Ritalin) in my carry on for my oldest ds and had the dr make me a letter stating why he needs it... for little ds' epipen and assorted allergy meds (inhalers, benadryl, nasal spray....) the allergist did a letter up for me.

NEver got asked for them crossing the border though.