Documentation for prescription medicines and injection devices

Hi there,

I've traveled with prescription meds in their original containers with labels attached without any questions/problems both here and in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, and the UK. I don't have any experience with injectables, but being that a lot of people have to inject insulin I'm sure it wouldn't be an issue. I'd check the airline websites and even google bringing meds into whatever country you're visiting. Their national travel site should address this. Also, as an FYI, if you have larger pill bottles, pharmacies are usually fine with printing a label and giving you a smaller bottle to travel with. I know some of mine are 90 day prescriptions and the bottles are jumbo sized. Have a great trip!

Thanks Dean!

I use injectable Enbrel, and no one wanted to see it, the label, or any documentation, during multiple airport screenings in Italy, France, or England. Just to be on the safe side, I printed the prescription info on a page showing my name, but again, no one cared at ALL.

I've been jabbing myself on the road for years, never a question or a check. But if there are rules, dont do as I do, follow the rules.

I think because you depend on these medications, it is prudent to have a separate document, either from your pharmacy or doctor, that details what you take, dosages, and purpose.

This would not be so much for a customs officer, but more in case you need replacements. Things happen, pills scatter on the floor, down a drain, lose a bag, you may get stuck someplace an extra week or so nowadays. To get replacements you will need to see a Doctor there, the information will make it easy for them.

For customs, there is no mandatory check, they do not care about meds for personal use, there are some that may cause issues such as Opioids and Opiates, as well as Stimulants used for some treatments (Adderall for example), and you should be prepared to answer questions if for some reason they do pull you aside.

I travel with a ton of meds, to make them fit into my carry-on I use a blow dryer to heat the lable off the bottle and put it on a zip lock bag with the meds. Never - ever- had an issue. I would not worry about a note of any type. J

As long as you have the pharmacy label, you'll be fine. Customs officers have seen insulin and just about everything else.

If any of the medication you take is a narcotic, you might want to have extra information but it may not be necessary.

Check with your airline. Last summer, both United and TAP wanted to look at the medication, needles and to see the doctor's letter. Maybe I just look suspicious? i don't know if the fact that I had to carrier it in a cooler with blue ice, and therefore giving me two personal items, factored in or not, but I was glad to have the letter.

Despite Wanderlust's experience, the pharmacy label is what is important. Doctor's letters are very easy to fake. Pharmacy labels are not. An endocrinologist that I am very close to refuses to write such letters because in a jam, they don't count. Pharmacy label with patient's name, birth date and address, pharmacy phone number and address and doctor's name. That is all you need. Also, insulin can be safely stored at room temperature for at least 28 days (sometimes more), so the cooler isn't necessary.

If it was me I would have the letter just in case.

Many pharmacies will print extra labels for you if you explain why you need them. Much easier than trying to remove them from original containers.