Traveling to France and Hydrocodone

You could try the closest French consulate to you. If you need help with French, perhaps a French instructor from a local university or someone from the Alliance Française chapter near you (if one exists) could assist you with the communication. Since the consulate would be staffed by French agents living in the U.S., there's a reasonably good chance that they'll speak at least some English.

I don't have any experience with that type of medication. On a short visit, if you're an American or Canadian, the chances anyone will inspect anything of yours, beyond a passport check, are pretty small. But if you want to be sure, contacting the French authorities via the consulate might be a useful step.

The U.S. embassy, on the other hand, would be a good place to check for bringing stuff back to the U.S. I wouldn't think they would be expert for advice on bringing things into France.

Good luck w your research. Fortunately that is yr last stop, so she should be carrying what she needs for personal use (3 doses per day plus a maybe 10 spare tablets ?)
And of course keep it in original bottle w all of the printouts from the pharmacy

If your mother has her medications with her, there is little chance that anyone will know she has them, since border crossings within the EU are seamless, with no passport or luggage checks. The fact that the substance is banned in France probably refers only to the fact that it is not legal to prescribe it or obtain it from a French pharmacy. But, since she already has a prescription and will merely be traveling with the pills, it shouldn't be a cause for concern. As with all prescription meds, however, do make certain to have a paper copy of her prescription with you.

If your mother has her medications with her, there is little chance that anyone will know she has them, since border crossings within the EU are seamless, with no passport or luggage checks. The fact that the substance is banned in France probably refers only to the fact that it is not legal to prescribe it or obtain it from a French pharmacy. But, since she already has a prescription and will merely be traveling with the pills, it shouldn't be a cause for concern. As with all prescription meds, however, do make certain to have a paper copy of her prescription with you.

A quick clarification to Patricia's comment. Not all border crossings in the EU are without passport checks these days. If you fly from another EU country and land in France, chances are that you'll have to go through a passport/residence permit check after you leave the plane.

When I read this I was thinking that Hydrocodone is a town in Greece.

If your mother has a prescription from a US doctor and keeps it in the original bottle, you won't have any problem. If your mother needs it, she is entitled to use it, even though it is "banned in France". If "sniffer dogs" are around, you can explain to the agent.
Carry it in your checked luggage with her other medications and you won't have to explain it. I'd suggest bringing just a few more than needed, just in case she needs them.
By the way - Pepto-Bismol is "banned in France", due to the bismuth in the solution.

The only problem people have is with trying to smuggle significant amounts of drugs which are "banned in France". That's what the agents are really looking for.

my husband takes Percocet which I think is the same thing.

I never even though of that when we traveled to France in 2015. He had it in his carry on in it's original bottle and we had a letter from the doctor explaining that it was medically necessary and why and for what doses. We were never checked when we arrived in Paris (Charles De Gaulle)

Now I feel stupid cause it never crossed my mind to check on this. I wonder if I have to worry about this for England?

Thank you for posting this. Curious to know what you will find out.

My brother carried Hydrocodone to England in it's original bottle and was fine.
Again - if the agent thinks you are bringing much more than you need during your trip, you might have a problem.
It's never wise to stop taking drugs like Hydrocodone cold turkey.

Thank you everyone for the information. France is our last stop on our trip before home, so she will not have as many pills as when we leave. Someone mentioned England, that is one of our early stops and there is no problem taking Hydrocodone or Percocet into the United Kingdom if it is in the original prescription bottle, a personal use amount, and you have a note from your doctor. Same with Ireland.