Bringing medicine and vitamins?

I always play it safe with medicine - anything that's on prescription I bring in original packaging together with prescription that has my name and address, name and dose of medication and doctors' details and signature. And make sure it's not a controlled or restricted medication.

For over the counter medicine, I keep it in original packaging. I definitely wouldn't repackage things into smaller bottles which are not correctly labeled.

Can you buy smaller packs? Worth noting also that many OTC medicines and vitamins are easily available in Türkiye.

Whilst the government advice is quite specific I experienced no issues whatsoever with my medication at Istanbul airport, no-one was the slightest bit interested. I appreciate that this is entirely anecdotal however that was my experience and I wouldn't worry about it.

Generally it is an issue with prescription medications, particularly highly potent drugs like opioids. If you are taking something like that, you should definitely keep in the original pill bottle, carry the written Rx, and also have a doctor's note. You'd also want this in the off chance you lost your meds or unexpectedly found yourself staying in Turkey longer than expected - no way to get a refill if you have no proof.

They are not concerned about vitamins or over the counter medications for the most part, but if you have a giant bag full of pill bottles they might get interested (and then test them and find out your multivitamins are nothing dangerous). As long as you have a reasonable amount for your trip there should be little reason to worry. I myself packed 2.5 weeks of assorted vitamins and supplements plus OTC meds in plastic bags and did not get any questions. YMMV.

Well, things are not that easy. My spouse takes DOZENS of prescription drugs, and the last thing we need after a 14-hr flight is some official in a red hat telling us we didn't jump through enough hoops. It's the only country I know that does it. Would be nice to get an official explanation for this practice, but I doubt any bureaucrat will tell us anything that is not a written party line. Looks like we are going elsewhere this year. . . .

Looks like we are going elsewhere this year. . . .

Probably for the best. If your spouse really requires dozens of prescription meds in addition to your plethora of OTCs, speaking as a retired health professional, I'm actually amazed that he was medically cleared for such a journey. Turkey is certainly not the only country with strict requirements regarding the importation of medications. In any case, providing your trip isn't particularly lengthy, most pharmacists would provide, on request, a small bottle with a copy of the original pill bottle label for any of the prescription drugs. However any controlled drug should always be in the original packaging. As for all those OTC meds and supplements, as long as they are legal to bring into the country, put them into individual small bags and properly label them. If you want to use a pill organizer, fill it after you arrive. En route, carry all prescription meds in a personal item. OTCs can go in your checked luggage.

I keep reading that the customs officials want to see any pills and
tablets in their original containers (and have a prescription).

You keep reading what? Did you read the Turkish government website? Never heard that about vitamins, surprised you did.

IF your wife is in need of her medicine then it would be silly to risk things by doing anything less than the most conservative approach. Pack the original containers and carry prescriptions. Replacing them if you did get caught would be a lot of work … if you could.

For the vitamins and the OTC drugs, so what if they get confiscated because it’s a few hundred unidentified pills in a zip lock bag. They sell vitamins and aspirin in Turkey; you can replace it. Or for this trip you can make a better choice and avoid COSTCO and buy small bottles specifically for the trip.

You are going to find the same requirements in many of not most countries you visit. The biggest difference might be the color of the hat. I suggest that your way of looking at the issue is such that it may not be conducive to travel and you might have a miserable time, no matter where you go.

Not sure what to make of it, as we buy vitamins in huge Costco bottles. Instead, we carry small plastic bags with the vitamins and drugs (e.g., baby aspirin, statins, multivitamins . . .) packed for each morning and night. I suppose we could bring a lot of smaller prescription bottles and pack the vitamins in those, if really needed, but the contents wouldn't always match the bottles. How have you dealt with this? Thanks to everyone who can help!

I went to Turkey in 2013, 2016 and 2024. My medications (no opioids) and supplements have never had anyone bat an eye. I suppose there's always a first time. . .

My meds are always in the original pill bottle. I've taken a ziplock with vitamins figuring if they take those I can replace them in Turkey.