Vitamins and UK Customs

Posted by Joel (Snohomish, WA, USA) on 03/26/08 10:49 PM

We take a number of vitamins and supplements. When we travel in the US, we typically sort them out ahead of time and put them in little bags, labeled by person and meal (breakfast or dinner).

What will the UK customs inspectors do if they decide to look in our carry-on bags and find all of these unlabelled pills without a prescription? Laugh at the American's health paranoia, or confiscate them all?

An alternative to the little baggies would be to take the pills in their original bottles and do the sorting as we go, but that would take up more luggage room.

And, if we had just a day's worth in our carry-on, with the rest in checked bags, what does Homeland Security do if our bag is opened for an inspection?

Has anyone ever had troubles with vitamins and Customs? (I'm not thinking of the Festina cycling team, either!)

Posted by Michael Schneider

New Paltz, NY

03/27/08 05:00 AM

9099 posts

Don't worry about. In over ten trips to the UK I've never seen a customs inspector on duty. The desks have always been unmanned.

Posted by Flight Attendant

Niagara Wine Country, Canada

03/27/08 11:41 AM

808 posts

Any unlabelled pills, vitamins or not, can cause suspicion. Avoid a hassle and keep then in their originally labelled containers. Having them taken away should be your least concern.

Try to find travel size bottles. Keep the bottles and refill them for future travels. I found smaller bottles of Vitamins at the Dollar Store. I put my better quality vitamins in the empty bottles.

Or ask your Pharmacist to blister pack each day's supply for you. Thay also add Pharmacy labels. Better Drug stores provide this extra service. It was originally a service geared to assisting Seniors but it is also handy for Travellers. Talk to your Pharmacist.

(See additional respose below...)

Posted by Nancy

Bloomington, IL, USA

03/27/08 02:17 PM

9363 posts

I've never had a problem carrying unlabeled vitamins or supplements. And like Michael, I've never seen a customs inspector, either. Anyway, if they are just vitamins and supplements, would it ruin your trip to lose them? You could buy more when you get where you are going.

Posted by Kathleen

Reston, VA, USA

03/27/08 05:17 PM

809 posts

I take one small vitamin bottle and just put all our pills in it [multivitamin, extra C, and extra calcium). It does take more room than baggies but offers a bit of camouflage. I'm not sure it's necessary, judging by the other replies here; maybe next time I'll just try the baggie route [sorry, F/A!]

Posted by Flight Attendant

Niagara Wine Country, Canada

03/28/08 08:37 AM

808 posts

I'm not into transporting vitamins or other medications in baggies b/c I am also EMS and have seen the consequences of taking such an action.

Some herbals/vitamins and medications can interact. It is helpful to be able to see the actual bottle and be able to read the label. Removing this important information can put yourself and your (emergency) health care provider at a disadvantage. This is often only in certain cases but it is still a good policy to keep any pills in their originally labeled containers.

Prescription medication labels contain what we call "the 5 Rights of Medication".

The Five Rights Include:

-Right Person
-Right Medication
-Right Time to administer
-Right Method
-Right Dose

I won't bore you with all the other arguements for, but as an EMT and Incharge F/A, I'm convinced that this is the way to go. I cringe at my own family members who combine meds into little baggies to save a little space in their carry-ons! God forbid they are ever alone and go unconscious and can't speak for themselves! But that NEVER happens on holiday, RIGHT??