PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

Can you take your prescriptions to a local pharmacy to get a smaller quantity in a small bottle for your trip?

My husband is a pharmacist and he says that no pharmacy can relabel a bottle without the actual prescription. If you had your prescription filled at a local pharmacy, they would easily and happily repackage in a smaller labeled bottle. You could get a new prescription and get it filled at a local pharmacy in a smaller quantity, but your insurance company most likely would not pay for this if it had recently been filled via mail order. You could also ask your mail-order company to send you a smaller labeled bottle (but GOOD LUCK with customer service at a mail-order pharmacy!)

Thanks for posting this issue. I too take several prescriptions and they come in 90 day supply bottles via mail order. For the last several years, I've taken the bottles with me along with copies of the prescriptions which I have decided is overkill. They take up a lot of room in my Civita bag. I have decided to put enough pills in individual baggies along with a copy of the prescription form that comes with the order. I tried this on flights in the US and no one has ever said a thing. I take the bag of prescriptions along with the ziplock of liquids out of the Civita bag and place in the tray through security.

Many companies sell travel bags for precriptions/vitamins. I have never purchased one because they do not suit my personal needs. Most are labeled AM/PM and are 7 or 14 day supply. I am usually in Europe for at least 3 weeks.

I read a posting on this board by a pharmacist who said it is illegal to take prescriptions out of one bottle and put them in another prescription bottle (combine 2 or more pills in one bottle). I haven't read any horror stories about prescription medications through security or customs as long as you have the prescription info with you.

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For my prescriptions, I combine them in smaller bottles for the trip. I do this all of the time for both buisness and pleasure plane travel. Along with my 1-quart Ziplock bag, I have one or two for my prescrptions. I pull it out along with the 1-quart and I've never been challenged. However, in my travel papers, I do carry a copy of the prescriptions. I've never needed to show them.

The TSa's website says they "suggest" you use the original prescription bottle but do not require it. Like a lot of other folks, we usually put the in either a baggie or other container and keep a copy of the prescription info in the carryon. We have never been questioned.

Thank you all for your advice. I think I will put the pills into my regular dispenser (3X per day)along with extras in baggies (our tour is 17 days). And I will carry prescription information. At first I thought, "OH NO, I don't have the prescriptions anymore or the paperwork from the mail order pharmacy." Then I remembered, I can get that online. I think you've solved my problem! Thanks to all.

I really have to wonder how often this really becomes an issue. Of the tens of thousands of folks who go through airport security everyday I can't imagine that more than a handful get asked about the drugs they are carrying, especially if they are "personal use" quantities and the screener has no other reason to be suspicious.

Jeff, I have been asked before. Maybe that is because the prescription I have to take has potential street value as a drug but regardless I have been asked. I have been advised to always bring a letter, in the local language of the place you are going to, stating what the medication is and signed by my doctor.

I'm a 'senior'. I combine my many meds into a few small prescription bottles. I've never been challenged in the US or overseas. Frankly, I think that an inspector would be surprised if most older Americans DIDN'T have some meds.