Traveling with meds and TSA, customs

There is a recommendation to carry in original packaging for the UK but it is not an absolute requirement. Do bring a copy of prescription too although this may not be examined.

Hi Jane, I guess I’m an “old lady”, too, because I use the same type for my tiny pills - LOL! I took a photo of my prescription label and have that on the iCloud in case I was ever asked to show the prescription. By the way, I bring an extra week or two of pills, just in case I was delayed going back home. So, if there’s room in your container, you might want to do the same.

I see that Marco has addressed the UK entry situation.

Leaving the US: The TSA is involved when you're boarding a flight originating in the US. Here's their information: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips/can-you-pack-your-meds-pill-case-and-more-questions-answered

Returning to the. US: you will deal with the US Customs and Border Protection agency. Their requirements re prescription medicines are online here: Traveling with Medication. It says in part: "Prescription medications should be in their original containers with the doctor's prescription printed on the container. It is advised that you travel with no more than personal use quantities, a rule of thumb is no more than a 90 day supply. If your medications or devices are not in their original containers, you must have a copy of your prescription with you or a letter from your doctor. A valid prescription or doctors note is required on all medication entering the United States.". That last sentence wouldn't apply to medicines that are OTC in the US. As to prescription meds, I don't know how stringently the original container/doctor note/prescription requirement is enforced. Obviously, if you've used up your prescription medication before you return, no worries.

Even if you are a charming old lady, you still could be smuggling drugs in or out, so it helps to make it easy for the customs folks on either end to identify what you're carrying, and some indication that they are for your personal use. A lot of pills look alike, and few people could identify them on sight. And some drugs which are legal in one country are not in another. Thirdly, if you are unconscious on the street in London, it would be good for the medics there to be able to tell quickly what drugs you're taking.

The only place to 100% check the rules is the official information of the country you are going to - whilst people answering may have personal experience, that matters little if you fall foul of laws that may have changed since the person answering needed them.

Personally I take original packaging and also have a copy of my prescription on my phone - I always carry medication as hand luggage. It has to be added that apart from this it has all been medication that was not a controlled drug in its own right, although I have carried those too in the past.

I have never, in at least thirty countries, been asked about my medication or needed to show any documents. If you comply with the official rules, your experience is very likely to be the same - especially if heading to the UK and France

The TSA is not the DEA.... they don't get involved.

Personally I just take a photo of the bottle the neds came out in on my phone. No one has ever asked for anything however

No one has ever shown the slightest interest in the huge volume of pills (mostly OTC) I travel with during my summer-long trips, of which I've taken six since 2015. I go so far as to dump three different prescription meds into a single pill bottle to save space. I always have photocopies of the Rx labels with me, just in case.

Although I use one of the 7-day pill minders when I travel, I don't put pills into it until after I get to Europe. I've had those things pop open, and I'd rather not have to fish pills out of the bottom of my airplane tote bag.

I always take an extra week's supply of pills.

I have gone to europe several times with meds with no issues. Not sure about going to U S. Not American..

Yes, most of the time no one will ever examine your pills. BUT, if you are one of those travelers caught for a random search, it's a different matter.

Coming home from Amsterdam I was one of the "chosen ones." Unfortunately I had a sandwich baggie full of dry starch. You know...add water and iron your clothes. You can imagine what Amsterdam security thought of that white powder. Despite their excellent English, they didn't know the word "starch." And this was in the days before smart phones and Google Translate. That baggie turned a routine quick check into a full blown baggage search lasting over an hour and resulting in my dirty unmentionables scattered all over the floor. They did carefully examine the prescription medications, which fortunately were in the original containers. I can only imagine how pleased they would have been to discover another baggie full of unlabeled pills! I finally thought to act out spraying and ironing clothes and everything was ok except that we almost missed our flight.

Moral of the story? Know and follow all of the rules. Anyone can be subject to a random search, and if you are, you will be very glad that you are in compliance. Oh, and don't carry dry starch!

I was questioned closely at Heathrow in August 2022 about my medication. I was required to show my original prescriptions and a letter from my doctor listing my medication and that it was for personal use. Most of my medication was in original packaging but I was carrying some that wasn't.

I was carrying syringes in a medical cooler and that seemed to be why I was taken aside just after it went through the X-ray at security. It all took about 15 minutes but I was very glad that my first language is English and that at 59 I look "low risk" as security were giving lots of people a hard time about forgetting liquids, belts etc.

No one has ever shown the slightest interest in the huge volume of
pills (mostly OTC) I travel with during my summer-long trips, of which
I've taken six since 2015. I go so far as to dump three different
prescription meds into a single pill bottle to save space. I always
have photocopies of the Rx labels with me, just in case.

Although I use one of the 7-day pill minders when I travel, I don't
put pills into it until after I get to Europe. I've had those things
pop open, and I'd rather not have to fish pills out of the bottom of
my airplane tote bag.

I'm just home from 21 days in the UK. On this trip I tried something new for me for my daily vitamins and supplements, and I'm pleased with how it worked. I'd almost forgotten that I have a package of some very sturdy plastic pill bags (2 inch x 3 inch internal size), with a front panel that you can write on. (The link goes to a page offering two 100-bag packs, but I bought mine 3 years ago and only bought one package.)

I labeled 21 bags with the days of the week, and placed the daily set of pills/capsules in each bag. I could have skipped the labeling, but TBH among the distractions of travel, the labels helped me keep track of whether I'd taken that day's supplements. All 21 bags fit easily into a quart sized Ziplock bag and took little room in my luggage. They're also handy for carrying OTC or prescription meds in your pocket or purse. They're reusable, and I'll probably start using them at home instead of the clunky 7 day organizer box.

The bags are sturdy and useful for holding other things (small jewelry, bits of hardware like nuts and bolts for home DIY projects). There's a larger size of the pill bag, 3 inch x 3 inch internal size.