Carrying on meds

The safest recommended approach is to take pills in bottles. However, given space bottles take, I haven't done that in years, and have never had a problem. I put pills in tiny 2-inch zip-lock baggies. If it's Rx, I peel the label off the bottle on put it on the baggie. If it's OTC, I just label the baggie with a marker. I've never had a problem, but I know there's always that possibility. And a knife in checked luggage is fine.

Sherry is absolutely correct. BUT, I have a little heart condition and I take no less than 7 different drugs. The bottle just got to be too bulky so i got one of those folding pill sorters (travel smith i think or Magallen maybe) and labeled each pouch and poured enough for the trip and another few days if we got stranded someplace into the pouches. Then i carry copies of the prescription receipts from the pharmacy. This is not the right way to do it but so far so good, but then i have never been checked either.

I portion mine out into pill sorters (the 7 day kind). No labels or anything. I have never had them examined or questioned.

this question comes up rather often. Here's the advice I always give TSA does NOT require that meds be in original bottle or label. Whether or not inspectors in other countries will worry about how you have your pills organized is always a question. Personally, I've never had a problem taking meds into other countries for my personal use (and we've had more than 40 international trips) It is the INFORMATION that is important- more in case you have a medical emergency, or need a refill (lost meds, trip extended...) You should have the brand name of the medication (ambien, etc.) and the generic name, and if no generic, a "chemical" name as brand names are not always the same. There are lots of ways to organize your meds. You can ask your pharmacist to print you an extra label (or use the one they give you that is with the 'side effects" printout) and put it on a small Ziploc bag, then put the medication in the bag. Alternatively, some pharmacies will prepare blister packs with all your meds grouped according to when you take them (example, day 1, am in one blister, day 1 lunch next, day 1 pm next,etc.)and put all labels on the top of the sheet. You could use a pill organizer and put the labels from the pharmacy on one sheet of paper with the organizer.
I also carry an information sheet with the above info and I also list my Dr's phone #s, pharmacy's #, and emergency contact info as well a list medical conditions, surgeries /dates. If you become ill while traveling, or need a refill because you lost meds, etc. it could be vital. Feel free to private message me if you want a sample copy of the info sheet. Also, note that liquid meds of more than 3 oz should NOT be placed in your 3-1-1 bag, but should be in their own baggie, in original bottle.

No problem with a knife in your checked luggage. And unless you are carrying more of a drug than is needed for your personal use there is no reason be be concerned. I'll bet the chances of having a customs inspector ask you about the pills you are carrying are no more than 1 in a million.

On the European side, you'll just walk through the "Nothing to REGISTER" customs lane (for some reason, this website will not allow me to write the verb form of the word "declaration). From what you have described, you are not taking anything that requires a declaration.

Ryan: It may be a technical point, but Customs are not concerned about your knife, but Security will be. As you have been advised, put it in your checked baggage and you won't have a problem. In your pocket or carryon, you will.

We've never had a problem with prescriptions but I keep an electronic copy in Evernote just in case. You can also have your pharmacy print them out for you, I used to do this before Evernote/iphones and ipad, I had to explain to a couple of different pharmacy people what I was wanting but once they understood, they were happy to help. Those pesky labels don't always come off in one piece and between my husband and I we have 4 inhalers and the label for those is on the box which we typically throw away.
I've never worried about OTCs.