Japan anti depressants

umm...

Two years away as you state?

I think the better thing to do is speak with your doctor and/or pharmacist. How can anyone answer that sensibly or even 'lawfully?'

On the flip side, travelers who are prescribed medications by their doctors and filled by their pharmacists usually don't have a problem transporting their meds.

I don't know anything about anti-depressants. But, controlled substances probably should be in their original container with the legit label on it.

If you are trying to save luggage space, some put doses into little pill baggies - found in most pharmacies like Walmart. You can ask the Pharmacy tech to print out label(s) and then adhere them onto the baggie. Or, if possible, see if "blister packs" are available for that med.

Medications in foreign countries may not be of the same grade as what you are used to taking. Also, you may not be able to get the meds without seeing a doctor in Japan. There is a lot to consider.

Bottom line, as I wrote above, speak with your Pharmacist for accuracy

I don't know about Japan specifically.

My sister takes several mental health medications. She travels for up to 2 months at a time and just brings them with her, with the pharmacy labels intact. My husband takes a few medications (not anti-depressants) and does the same thing. This hasn't been an issue in Europe or Mexico/South America. In general you can take medications for personal use, no one cares. Many, many travelers take meds for one reason or another and bring enough for their trip. Controlled substances like narcotics are more regulated, but anti-depressants don't fall into that category. Again, Japan may be different.

In general, bring prescriptions with you - getting a new doctor to prescribe your medications might be difficult. Language barrier, different medications/dosages available etc. Especially for an ongoing condition like depression - if you got, say, a sinus infection, while visiting Japan, you could easily find a clinic and get a course of antibiotics. For antidepressants you need an ongoing prescription - this would be harder. If you are MOVING to Japan then you can bring enough to get started, then search out a new doctor at your leisure.

You should bring your own.

Why? Your prescription will not be transferable to a pharmacy there. You will have to see a doctor in Japan to get a new prescription. Your specific drug(s) may not even be available in Japan.

I know there are some medicines that you cannot get a large quantity at one time due to federal (US) laws so it might be difficult to get all you need for the length of your trip at the same time. However, do not try and have someone mail your refills to you in Japan. They will probably get caught up in customs. best case is they are severely delayed and you will probably run out of what you have before the shipment is released. Worst case, they may treat you as a drug smuggler.

Thanks for your help and I appreciate it I will talk with my pharmacist/doctor and see what they say and I will be taking the legal way of getting my meds to Japan thank you again.

Japan has very strict laws about bringing more than 30 days of medication into the country and some are banned. For more than 30 day supply you will need to get a customs form approved ahead of time.

https://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/doctors/importing-medication/

Also be aware that Customs screenings into Japan are more stringent than most other countries. It's typically a walk through in most other places but Japan x-rays all bags upon entry and a large percentage of those are then hand searched, so be sure you know and follow the rules.

Perhaps in two years after you graduate, you will no longer need anti-depressants. :-)

I will talk with my pharmacist/doctor and see what they say and I will be taking the legal way of getting my meds to Japan thank you again.

Good and wise choice Willow. Happy learning and happy planning to you :)