Unfortunately I caught a cold last week in Paris and then passed it on to my husband. We went in to a pharmacy and were able to make it understood that we were looking for cough syrup. We were give a bottle of Peter's Ethylmorphine that stuff is a miracle drug! Puts Robitussin to shame. Two French-sized teeny teaspoons keeps us comfortable all day and then a second dose let's us sleep through the night. Doing some Wiki-research we find that this is "sort of" a controlled substance but that it isn't used in anything in the US which makes the controlling
sort of a moot point. We are thinkng to buy two more bottles for future use, thus our checked luggage will have roughly 2 1/3 bottles in it, and I'll have two 3 oz. bottles I've filled in my carry on luggage to get us through the flights home. Does anyone know where I might find info online that tells me whether over the counter drugs available outside the US might be problematic when coming back into the country? Thank you.
Posted by
winston salem, nc, usa
1078 posts
Faith, I have been bringing some of these "wonder drugs home from the EU for the last five years-a super throat spray I got in Italy, along with a cough syrup from France that I have not found the equivalent in the U.S. Have never checked to see what was allowed or not.
Never been asked about anything, just have it in my checked bag along with my "digestives" Grappa and Eau de Vie!
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
Just be prepared to lose it at Customs...but it probably will end up in your medicine cabinet ;-) I might 'forget' to declare it, though...because I feel soooo lousy...and I'd minimize the amount needed in my carry-on...Good luck, and I'm glad you're both feeling better. I love 'miracle' drugs! This may have been typed by Baby the Cat...
Posted by
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
180 posts
I believe the rules are the same in the USA and Canada on this one. It is unlikely that you will be forced to give up a quantity that falls under personal use. This is usually equivalent to three months worth of use. Here's the official stance: http://www.fda.gov/ForIndustry/ImportProgram/ucm173751.htm
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
I keep a supply of Boots Sore Mouth Gel that I get in the UK (it contains a drug not sold over the counter here). I just pack it in my checked luggage and nobody asks anything about it.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
Our rules aren't the same as Canada. Canada allows codeine, which is a terrific cough suppressant - we consider codeine a controlled substance. Declare what you have. One customs guy will take it because it's really not allowed while another might not worry about a small half used bottle. You're never in trouble as long as you declare it - but you may get in trouble if you fail to declare it.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Why would you declare? It doesn't fall under any of the categories to declare.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
Technically you're supposed to declare all " Items you purchased and are carrying with you upon return to the United States." http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/what_you_declare.xml
Posted by
OP
San Pedro, CA, USA
186 posts
Never even occurred to us to "declare" the cough medicine since nothing prompted me/reminded me on the customs form to do so. Hubby filled out the form, I glanced at it enough to make him change the $10 in purchased items to $100 (he'd forgotten I'd bought candy as gifts), and that was it.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Brad says ".... you may get in trouble if you fail to it." What kind of Customs Agent would cause a fellow citizen to "get into trouble" over some cough syrup, especially a nice lady with the wonderful name of Faith?
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
If it looks like they're about to confiscate it, just down it real quick and get loaded.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
But I'm sure you always check the box on the landing card, indicating you've hiked through pastures, petted a goat, or been around cows after hiking through the Swiss countryside, right? :)
Posted by
albany
355 posts
Maybe I am just an honest looking guy....but I have never had a custom agent search my bag. I declare what I want to declare and anything I don't want to declare I forget is in my bag. Figuring I would use the "oops I forgot" defense and let them confiscate it. Hasn't happened yet. Unless you have the profile of being a member of the cough syrup smuggling cartel, I doubt the agents will be searching your bag for this.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
From my post: "I might 'forget' to it, though...because I feel soooo lousy..." ( I would never encourage someone to 'forget' something where the US Customs are involved; hence, Baby may have written that post...) Apparently one can't declare within quotation marks...