What is a Prescription??

[Mike Bartenhagen]

We haven't traveled with our kids since the new liquids ban on airplanes and I am keep hearing that you can bring liquid medication on board with a presciption, what exactly are they considering a prescription. Is it the label on the bottle?

Mike

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Yes; as long as the name on the label matches the name of the passenger.

 

[justplaingoofy]

it would be like.... liquid meds like amoxicillan, prescription creams...

It would be a prescription issued from an MD, and filled at a pharmacy with the name of the passenger, name of md, name of pharmacy filled, date, name of med, sometimes the label will include what its used for..

 

[SueM in MN]

My understanding was that they are actually looking for the written presciption that you got from the doctor along with the bottles that are labeled.
My DH just traveled overseas by plane and got a copy of the prescriptionsfrom the pharmacy to take with him.

 

[Kae]

The label on the meds should be fine.

Kae

 

[vhoffman]

I've always wondered about that, too. I've often read to carry a copy of the written prescription, along with having the medicine in its original, labeled container. Well, you can't carry the written prescription, the pharmacy keeps that!

I've never had my medicines questioned, but we went to Russia several years ago and I was somewhat concerned, especially since some of the medicines I had were controlled substances. The pharmacist made copies for me. The pharmacy was in a grocery store with a bank and a notary, so we had the letter from the pharmacist notarized. That is, he copied the prescriptions, then wrote a note to the effect that this was a true and original copy of the prescription on file, then the whole letter was notarized. We didn't need it, but it made me feel better. You can't make copies of your own prescriptions, they have a watermark which will show up "illegal copy". Try showing that to Russian custom officials! Well, that only works if you can use a local pharmacy. We have to use a mail order pharmacy right now, and we're lucky just to get the medicines, let alone the 8 x 10 color glossys with words of explanation written on the back!

There's just so many new security regulations right now its hard to know what to do. All the security regulations are quite necessary, but confusing to deal with. My husband said the other day that maybe we should just all fly naked wit no carry ons to speed up the security process!

 

[SueM in MN]

I've always wondered about that, too. I've often read to carry a copy of the written prescription, along with having the medicine in its original, labeled container. Well, you can't carry the written prescription, the pharmacy keeps that!

My DH went to Thailand in mid August. The pharmacy made copies for him.

I have made copies of prescriptions before. You could obviously not get a pharmacy to fill them, but there was not watermark on my copy. (Controlled substances might be different).

 

[VirtuallyMe]

For Domestic flights- the original prescription bottle for a person with a ticket with the name just like the ticket should be fine for any sort of prescription.

I've had many friends flying with prescription and over the counter medications and they have had no problems.

My suggestion for parents of kids who need over the counter liquid medications is to get your pediatrician to write a prescription "paper" and bring it to a pharmacy to label the OTC box/bottle of medication for your trip. That should eliminate problems.

Now- overseas trips- I would probably want the copies of the actual prescriptions or get a new one from the doctor just incase- if for no other reason other than it would be easier should you need more medication for whatever reason.

Also if you are making a short trip and only have huge bottled quantaties of medication- you can go to your pharmacy (be prepared to wait or return later though) for them to give you a duplicate empty container- this way you can leave the bulk of your medication at home and only carry what you will need for your trip. If you must have the day of the week dispensers while there you can load it up on your arrival with the medication you load into your duplicate bottles...

 

[RunningthruDisney]

Call the airport and ask them exactly what they want. I have had family and friends travel in the past two weeks and each airport was different on some things. My sister was able to have chapstick, but not purell wipes that were in individual packets. Where a friend had to toss the chapstick but keep the wipes. I know it is not the same but you dont want to be caught without meds

 

[jbird327]

My daughter just flew to Israel yesterday and carried three labeled bottles with her. One is for Adderall, a controlled substance. She did not need any written prescription form. I guess the pharmacy could always be called to verify if needed. My doctor no longer writes a prescription on paper, it is transmitted directly to the pharmacy.

 

[Hope73]

I didn't know that. I used to have benadryl for the kids if sick on trip but will have to pack that.

 

[vhoffman]

Good point--oftentimes there isn't a written prescription. We use a mail order for many prescriptions, and the doctor faxes the prescription directly to the pharmacy. Geeez, what can you do, you can't provide them with something that doesn't exist! Also, call the pharmacy? They're not open 24/7, even if they were, they're not going to divluge personal information over the phone due to HIPPA and all the privacy laws. I couldn't even pick up my husband's pharmacy records for insurance purposes, without his signature. I can just see standing there at an airport in a foreign country at 3am local time and telling them "well, just call my pharmacy (or doctor) to verify". Lots of luck!