Just a warning about prescription meds

[rguy123]

Does TSA have any actual authority when it comes to the meds you carry or is it only Customs agents and police ? Do they have legal authority to take your meds? Hopefully some one on this board has actual information.

 

 

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[BeagleOne]

According to this, TSA does not require meds to be in prescription bottles.

 

https://www.tsa.gov/blog/2014/09/05/tsa-travel-tips-traveling-medication

 

Here is what is in effect at Heathrow.

 

http://www.heathrow.com/more/help-with-this-website/faqs/security-and-baggage

[BeagleOne]

Or if that fails maybe I can talk our local pharmacy to make us up some bottles with labels to use. Vitamins and supplements could be a problem though.

 

You could put the vitamins and supplements in your checked baggage. I suspect your local pharmacy would help with smaller containers if you tell them why you need them.

[rguy123]

Thank you for the above information.

 

 

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[navybankerteacher]

Does TSA have any actual authority when it comes to the meds you carry or is it only Customs agents and police ? Do they have legal authority to take your meds? Hopefully some one on this board has actual information.

 

 

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TSA is not the problem - US Customs and Border Protection regs. require that prescription meds be carried in their original container or be accompanied by a copy of the prescription.

 

Of course, it may be that a customs agent is not qualified to determine whether the pills in a bottle are what the label says - but they are authorized to refuse their import into the US if they feel they have reason.

[RandallFlagg]

AS far as I know, the TSA does NOT have the authority to confiscate ANYTHING that a passenger has either in their luggage or in their carry on. However, they DO NOT have to allow boarding of ANY flight with the items in question. They will be more than happy to escort the traveler off the premises - unless the item in question is a danger to the public.

 

I distinctly recall flying to San Diego a few days after 9/11. We made it from our home to San Diego without a hitch. Upon going back to the airport in San Diego, I was required to remove the P-38 (a small military can opener) that I had carried with me through 20+ years on active duty and leave it in the "naughty" box. Oh well....

 

Honestly, I have flown all over the world since I was a kid, being raised in the Army. My job - a CI Investigator for the Army - had me traveling all over the world from 1969 through 1991. I don't care for the TSA (and I make no bones about it) but airport security is absolutely necessary in this day and age, unfortunately. I would far more prefer the security employed by the Israelis at Ben Gurion airport.

 

It (since the 70s) has been flawless. But we have what we have and, as much as I disagree with it, must abide by it.

Edited November 12, 2017 by RandallFlagg

[iancal]

In our experience of 40 plus years of travel throughout the world we have generally found all customs/border/immigration folks to be very reasonable. They are looking for something else. Plus, they are doing their job.

 

We only have two concerns. The first is what we call 'the new man on the job/trainee'. Second is the PITA. Fortunately in all the years of travel we only met one of the latter. He was a US border agent at the Sarnia bridge crossing two years ago. So we just smiled and put it down to either he was having a bad day or he was not feeling well. Everyone has one of those from time to time.

 

Besides, dealing with the public day in/day out is no treat. Last time we flew into Australia from Malaysia the agent just smiled, asked us if we were smuggling in any maple syrup, and then waved us through. Similar thing happens on the countless times we pass through US customs when boarding a stateside bound flight in Calgary or Vancouver

[SRF]

It not unusual for us to pass through US customs and immigration, land and air (TSA) multiple times each year over the past few years. We have never been questioned about medication.

 

DW has high blood pressure. She takes a few more as well. We have never been asked about prescription meds, we have had our carry-on hand searched and not a word has ever been said about meds. We bung them all into one bottle to save on room in our carry on. Same story in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australasia. Never, ever a problem or a query. Been through security in Tokyo Narita three years in a row with no issues or questions on our meds. Perhaps we have just been lucky.

 

We don't have the original prescriptions, nor do we have any physicians notes. Really, both are quite useless because they can be so very easily manufactured on any home computer with a low end printer. Knowing this, I cannot imagine why TSA would bother with them since this is the case. Besides, we are a couple of fossils with a few old age pills....we do not exactly fit the mold (though we re mouldy). And there are always the sniffer dogs! They seem to get a lot more excited over a small corkscrew, small nail file, or a tiny pair of manicure scisssors than they do over a few pills.

 

Same here. I fly a LOT (Gold, Gold, and Platinum in the 3 alliances). And never had a problem.

 

My daily meds go in an organizer. And some meds I carry in the pharmacy bottle.

 

Never have been questioned about them.

 

TSA is not worried about drugs, they are about possible weapons.

 

CBD and DEA are about drugs, but they use the dogs to sniff out if you are carrying something improper.

 

Which is why any narcotic, I would have in original bottle PLUS a letter from my doctor, and not carry more than needed for the trip.

[SRF]

Indeed. It always comes down to the particular "agent". We recently came back from England, Ireland and Scotland and at Heathrow - they asked to see our prescriptions. No big deal as they are kept in our carry on. They seemed to be more concerned about my camera equipment than the 'scripts anyway.

 

All in all - I honestly believe that we have had more "trouble" in the states than internationally. Seems as though the TSA at the larger airports are "unhappy" with their jobs.....(if you know what I mean) :D

 

Heathrow is not TSA, they are UK personnel, so they have different rules.

 

Only thing I had with them was a tube of a specific (but not prescription in the US) creme. But the screener stated that since he knew what it was, and what it was used for, so he would let it through. Would not have been a big deal if it had been taken.

 

TSA folks put up with idiots and obnoxious people ALL day long. And their starting pay is atrocious.

 

I always give them a smile, say Hi, and treat them like human beings, doing their job.

[SRF]

AS far as I know, the TSA does NOT have the authority to confiscate ANYTHING that a passenger has either in their luggage or in their carry on. However, they DO NOT have to allow boarding of ANY flight with the items in question. They will be more than happy to escort the traveler off the premises - unless the item in question is a danger to the public.

 

I distinctly recall flying to San Diego a few days after 9/11. We made it from our home to San Diego without a hitch. Upon going back to the airport in San Diego, I was required to remove the P-38 (a small military can opener) that I had carried with me through 20+ years on active duty and leave it in the "naughty" box. Oh well....

 

Honestly, I have flown all over the world since I was a kid, being raised in the Army. My job - a CI Investigator for the Army - had me traveling all over the world from 1969 through 1991. I don't care for the TSA (and I make no bones about it) but airport security is absolutely necessary in this day and age, unfortunately. I would far more prefer the security employed by the Israelis at Ben Gurion airport.

 

It (since the 70s) has been flawless. But we have what we have and, as much as I disagree with it, must abide by it.

 

Right after 9/11, it was not TSA, they were still local contract personnel. And enforcement was VERY erratic.

 

And yes, they cannot confiscate anything, but they can require that you dispose of it or not board.

[VitaminSea53]

TSA is not the problem - US Customs and Border Protection regs. require that prescription meds be carried in their original container or be accompanied by a copy of the prescription.

 

 

 

Of course, it may be that a customs agent is not qualified to determine whether the pills in a bottle are what the label says - but they are authorized to refuse their import into the US if they feel they have reason.

 

 

 

From US Customs website:

Prescription medications should be in their original containers with the doctor's prescription printed on the container. It is advised that you travel with no more than personal use quantities, a rule of thumb is no more than a 90 day supply. If your medications or devices are not in their original containers, you must have a copy of your prescription with you or a letter from your doctor. A valid prescription or doctors note is required on all medication entering the U.S.

 

 

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[CPT Trips]

TSA is not the problem - US Customs and Border Protection regs. require that prescription meds be carried in their original container or be accompanied by a copy of the prescription.

 

Of course, it may be that a customs agent is not qualified to determine whether the pills in a bottle are what the label says - but they are authorized to refuse their import into the US if they feel they have reason.

 

Actually, TSA IS the problem in my experience. One more than one occasion my family has had a security screener raise questions about our carry-on medication,solid, liquid, gel, and aerosol.

 

It got really bizarre a couple times when our daughter was traveling to swim meets with her inhalers. One screener claimed to be trained in medicines and wanted her to take a puff from each inhaler to "prove" they were "real" medicines. Her coach thought it interesting when she demanded a supervisor and then a police officer.

[sail7seas]

Indeed. It always comes down to the particular "agent". We recently came back from England, Ireland and Scotland and at Heathrow - they asked to see our prescriptions. No big deal as they are kept in our carry on. They seemed to be more concerned about my camera equipment than the 'scripts anyway.

 

All in all - I honestly believe that we have had more "trouble" in the states than internationally. Seems as though the TSA at the larger airports are "unhappy" with their jobs.....(if you know what I mean) :D

 

It is great you have never been questioned about your meds, Yet,,,,,,,,,,,, but clearly other people have been. As we sometimes say here, just becasue you did n't se e, it do it, hear it, doesnot mean others have not. What makestrhis forum so valuable, imo , is to hear about other people's experiences and g ive them all equalweeight. unless a good reason to not. It sometimes alerts us to the possibiltiy it could happen to us next !

[iancal]

I guess we broke all the rules. Travelled with eight months supply of two prescriptions in a plain bottle. No prescription, no Dr's letters. Never had an issue anywhere-US or otherwise. In our carry-on. Not only did we never have an issue, not once were we even questioned about it. I suspect that the agents have bigger issues to deal.

 

Besides, having a prescription label on a box or bottle is absolutely meaningless and the agents know this. It can bear no relation to what is inside the bottle or box. Anyone with a computer and a printer can easily print up a false prescription label, physicians not, whatever. I have no doubt that the agents are aware of this. An inhaler though, is very different from pills in a bottle.

[njhorseman]

All of you who claim that customs agents are unqualified to or unable to identify prescription medications are just flat-out wrong.

 

Any customs agent can identify medications in a few seconds if they wish to verify that the contents of a prescription bottle matches the label. All prescription pills and capsules are inscribed with a unique code that identifies the medication, its dosage and manufacturer. Even without specialized software or access to a specialized database you can input the code in a search engine such as Google and all the necessary information will be instantaneously displayed, including the shape and color of the pill or capsule. You can do it yourself. Take the code from one of your medications and type it into the search engine of your choice.

[Mcgruff1222]

Just flew from London to Bruges then back thru London to Ireland. Had at LEAST 2 checkpoints at Heathrow because we were leaving one country and going to another. They demanded ALL items out of bags. It was kinnda crazy. All my meds were in the originial containers. I asked my doctor if I could just get a printed list of all my meds so that I could take them in a pill pack. He said not to do it. He told me to take all of them in the correct bottle. I did not have any issues.

[$hip$hape]

Just flew from London to Bruges then back thru London to Ireland.

Had at LEAST 2 checkpoints at Heathrow because we were leaving one country and going to another.

They demanded ALL items out of bags.

It was kinnda crazy. All my meds were in the originial containers. I asked my doctor if I could just get a printed list of all my meds so that I could take them in a pill pack. He said not to do it. He told me to take all of them in the correct bottle. I did not have any issues.

What were they (who is they) checking ? Electronics?

 

FAQ...

Answers to frequently asked questions about security at Heathrow,

made up of genuine enquiries received from passengers.

Can I carry tablets or pills in my hand baggage?

Yes. There's no security limit on the amount of medicine you can carry in tablet or pill form.

There are no security restrictions on the carriage of powder or solid based medicines.

And it doesn't matter whether your pills are prescribed or not.

http://www.heathrow.com/more/help-with-this-website/faqs/security-and-baggage

Edited November 12, 2017 by $hip$hape

[iancal]

We use the DIN codes every time we submit an on line claim to our supplementary health insurer. But nobody sees the DIIN id. We bung two or three months supply into a bottle with our vitamin D tables. Never had an agent anywhere pick up the bottle let alone unscrew the lid or ask us about it. I suspect it is a result of disinterest and our demographic.

 

My point is that it does not matter what country, what agency. They are all the same to us. We have found over the years that there was zero interest in our medications. Maybe because we really don't have many. I strongly suspect that their interest lies in other directions. Might be different is one was carrying a briefcase full of pills.

[TravelinGert]

Speak to your pharmacist about small bottles with proper labels for travel. We have a couple of medications we get on a quarterly basis via our insurance by mail and then use a local pharmacy for our incidental medication needs. The ones we get via our insurance quarterly don't even come in a bottle. They are in a zip bag with a sticker on it instead.

 

On our first international trip some years ago I mentioned wishing I had small bottle of each of our long term medications to just take what was needed for the trip while picking up a small bottle with antibiotics for a sore throat at the pharmacy. I worried about loosing nearly 3 months worth of medications if our luggage was lost.

 

The pharmacist said he could help us out. I just take the larger containers up there a few days prior to the trip and tell him how many days I'll be gone. He pulls the proper amount from my larger container, puts it in a small bottle, and labels it as though I just got that much. If I forget to bring back the previously used small bottles he does charge us a couple of dollars.

[navybankerteacher]

 

...

 

My point is that it does not matter what country, what agency. They are all the same to us. We have found over the years that there was zero interest in our medications. Maybe because we really don't have many. I strongly suspect that their interest lies in other directions. Might be different is one was carrying a briefcase full of pills.

 

They may be "...all the same to us." But, we are not "all the same" to them. They make a lot of quick, subjective decisions depending upon our appearance, demeanor, etc. And, if something about you piques their interest and you happen to have a lot of obvious RX mixed up and not identified, you may be a lot more likely to spend a fair amount of time while they satisfy themselves. That is why CBP makes it clear that controlled substances should be properly carried and identified.

 

You probably will be OK doing it your way - just like you probably can make a 9:30 flight if your ship is scheduled to arrive at 7:00 --- but for some people "probably" does not always translate into "no problem".

[Ashland]

Just returned from my 4th trip to Asia...You would think if anywhere it would be there they would question you about...almost anything. We had 4 levels of security checks this time...they only cared about a battery-pack in your checked luggage...it needs to be in your carryon. We saw several people get called to the additional luggage check...and this was always the problem, but easily taken care of.

[iancal]

Actually we are paranoid about missing the ship. We are usually in at least a day prior to sailing. We live in the snow belt and travel by air frequently. We know all about snow delays, terminal delays, maitenance delays. Plus we typically have at least one connection, often two which increases our risk. This is one of the reasons that we do carry on now.

[Mcgruff1222]

What were they (who is they) checking ? Electronics?

 

FAQ...

Answers to frequently asked questions about security at Heathrow,

made up of genuine enquiries received from passengers.

Can I carry tablets or pills in my hand baggage?

Yes. There's no security limit on the amount of medicine you can carry in tablet or pill form.

There are no security restrictions on the carriage of powder or solid based medicines.

And it doesn't matter whether your pills are prescribed or not.

http://www.heathrow.com/more/help-with-this-website/faqs/security-and-baggage

 

TRUE-no security restrictions; however, you should know that some controlled substances, such as Loratab are often ban from various countries. I did not want to hassel with being caught with something without an actual bottle with MY name on it. I honestly cannot tell you who THEY were. I don't mean to sound stupid, but we have only traveled outside the country once before. Heathrow was very overwhelming, to say the least. I only remember that when we landed in London from Bruges we went into 2 checkpoints and I think one was Customs. Just as soon as we cleared the first one, about 20 feet in front of us was another checkpoint. Everything out of the carry on bag-I mean I had to dump it! I had 4 bottle of RX but NONE were actually checked. I do think it was TSA for us to fly OUT of London to Ireland. We flew in and out of 3 countries in two weeks and then back into New Orleans. I was all worried about New Orleans for US Customs and it turned out to be the easiest of all. Go figure. You asked about electronics. I do photography and had my camera gear with me. I did not have any issues at any time. My sister had a large laptop and although she was able to fly into London, Bruges and Ireland with it as a carry-on, they made her check it when we were flying back home out of London. Sometimes I think the rules all depend on WHO you get.

[Mcgruff1222]

Indeed. It always comes down to the particular "agent". We recently came back from England, Ireland and Scotland and at Heathrow - they asked to see our prescriptions. No big deal as they are kept in our carry on. They seemed to be more concerned about my camera equipment than the 'scripts anyway.

 

All in all - I honestly believe that we have had more "trouble" in the states than internationally. Seems as though the TSA at the larger airports are "unhappy" with their jobs.....(if you know what I mean) :D

 

We just came back from Ireland and I never even got questioned about my camera gear. They did look at my meds-they did not open any but seemed to just note them. You are so right! It all depends on WHO you get! LOL

[iancal]

Coming in to Canada by air from certain countries you are more likely to have you notebook PC examined than you are for someone to question your meds.

 

There is an ongoing project to check for illegal child porn. It is working. Several successful prosecutions, including a retired Bishop from Ottawa.