I take quite a few vitamins/supplements & a few prescription meds. I understand that I need to have the prescriptions in their original bottles but if I were to take all of my supplements in their bottles, I'd fill up half a suitcase. I want to pre-package all of the vitamins into little zip-lock baggies for am & pm so that I can just grab a little bag each day on my way out. Is this okay to do or will I have a problem getting through airport security? How will they know that the pills in my little bags are vitamins & not prescription drugs? I also use a powdered fiber product and wanted to do the same thing (pre-package it into little zip-lock bags) but do you think this will be a problem? I don't want airport security to think it's cocaine or something! Please advise if you have had experience traveling w/ meds &/or supplements. Thanks in advance for your input.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
I can't recall anyone here reporting a problem with what you want to do.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9100 posts
Airport security doesn't care about any of this...they're checking for weapons and explosives. This is a customs issue, and when entering Europe it's almost non-existent....the checkpoints are typically unmanned. You have to be careful when your are reentering the US, US customs is more vigilant. But as long as your just taking along just enough to use while you're on the road and won't have anything left over on your way back, it doesn't sound like you'll have a problem.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA, USA
1449 posts
I've brought vitamins as well as prescription sleeping pills to Italy and other European destinations. I put them in a clear plastic bag. Never had a question about them, either getting on the plane in the US or on arrival in Europe. For that matter, nobody's even looked at the bag. I don't think you'll have any problem.
Posted by
Manhattan Beach, CA, USA
108 posts
I have done this going to Italy and France with no problems. I take many meds, and taking all the bottles is too bulky for me. I put daily doses in small "pill minders" then peel off the original labels from the bottles and stick them all on a single sheet of paper, leave a photocopy at home, and take the original with me. No one has ever asked me about them.