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Supplements and prescriptions

Finally heading back to Europe for 5 weeks soon. I normally prepare tiny bags of our daily supplements and prescriptions ahead of time to save space since we travel with only carry-on. However, I am thinking that perhaps I should keep the prescriptions in the original bottles and just bag up the supplements. Has anyone been challenged for taking supplements into Europe? I guess the sad situation for Brittney Griner has me concerned, but I will not have any CBD/THC supplements with us.

Thanks for your insight,
Deb

Posted by
6265 posts

We've never been challenged on our supplements, but my husband was always antsy about it. This year he repackaged his in labelled bottles; I just put mine loose in small baggies. No problems for either of us.

Posted by
7449 posts

My take is this:

  • You will hear over and over " I have travelled for 200 years with three suitcases full of pills and never been stopped" implying that you are free to take in whatever legal and illegal drugs you wish. Ignore that advice.
  • Regulations all state that you need the medications in "original container". To that, I would comment that there is no standard or verifiable way that they can know what an original container is. Is it a amber pill bottle? Dose packs? Ziplocs? The key is, you need labels provided by your pharmacy, you need to be able to show you were prescribed these medications.
  • What is more significant, is what if you dump your meds on the floor or a drain? What if your bag is stolen? What if you are delayed (Covid? Volcano shutting down airways? Simple misunderstanding that delays you a few days, week?) and you need to get additional meds...you want a list of what you take, dosages, generic names, purpose of the med, etc...so take some separate documentation.

All this is of no concern for simple supplements, non-critical meds you can live without (Yeah...talking about you guys), but if you can't skip for a day, have proof, have backup info, be prepared.

Posted by
14804 posts

Customs officers are not looking for legal prescription drugs or OTC supplements. Have a copy of your prescription with you and labels from supplements. Also make sure the supplements are legal in your arriving country.

Just because something is allowed here doesn't mean it's allowed there.

Posted by
26833 posts

All my prescription pills for a 4-1/2 month trip fit in a single prescription bottle. I'm lucky they are that tiny. I bring photocopies of the drug store printouts. That bottle is never packed in my suitcase (which is checked on planes and out of sight on trains and buses).

I take a lot of supplements that in aggregate are bulky/heavy. They start the trip each in their own bottles (not necessarily their original bottles, sometimes with just my very amateurish labels) in my carry-on bag, but as they are used up, I consolidate them so I can discard empty bottles. On this trip I got tired of all the weight in my carry-on tote, so I put together a bottle with about 10-14 days' worth of all the supplements and moved the bulky remainder to the bottom of my wheeled suitcase, which makes the weight easier to manage.

Since 2015 I have flown into, out of or through about 12 different countries in Europe (but not Russia) and no one has ever shown the slightest interest in my pills. Which I realize doesn't mean it cannot happen. It's worth the risk to me because keeping everything in its individual container would require me to use a larger suitcase.

Although I usually take about a week's worth of extra pills, on this trip I increased it to two weeks' worth because of the possibility of getting COVID at the end of the trip and needing to reschedule my flight home. (Schengen is an entirely different issue.)

Posted by
51 posts

Thanks for all these comments. I plan to continue as usual, based on what you all have shared. I will take along copies of the prescriptions, just in case. Great idea about taking an extra 2 weeks supply, in case of a Covid attack.

Deb

Posted by
6228 posts

I bag everything and then take a photo of each Rx and vitamin bottle, but as others have said, no one has ever asked for that.

Posted by
1150 posts

I used to take enough for the length of the trip plus a few extra days, but that changed when I read how the passengers on the cruise ship quarantined in port early on in the pandemic (in Japan?) were running out of their medicines because they were locked in place for so long. Next trip, I'm taking whatever is left of my 90 day supply.

Posted by
12172 posts

It's good to have a doctor's note of prescriptions you take, as well as why. It's also good to know the generic names of any drugs in case you have an unplanned need in another country.

Carry your meds with you, always, because lost luggage happens.

Fortunately, border inspectors can easily identify legitimate prescription drugs/supplements vs. illegal items. They are trained for it. If they have any questions, show them the note from your doctor.