How do you all take your Rx meds with you?

[LuAnn]

DH is currently taking multiple meds at various times of the day. I used to just take the bottles but not sure about that now. I have one of those "dispensers" at home that have the 4 times during the day for 7 days. I'm concerned that the "catches" might pop up if I tried to take several of those along plus they are bulky. Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions? Thanks !!

[GeezerCouple]

Just now, LuAnn said:

DH is currently taking multiple meds at various times of the day. I used to just take the bottles but not sure about that now. I have one of those "dispensers" at home that have the 4 times during the day for 7 days. I'm concerned that the "catches" might pop up if I tried to take several of those along plus they are bulky. Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions? Thanks !!

 

We each have slowly ended up taking an interesting assortment of pills. 😞

It started taking up too much room to have the plastic Rx bottles for every one of them, especially the ones where just one tiny tablet per day just took up too much space in a mostly empty bottle.

What we finally figured worked the best was to get the little (tiny) ziploc-type plastic bags, something like 2" x 2" (there are quite a few different "small" sizes).  For however many day's worth we need, we always add an extra few days or a week's worth, in case of delays.  (Um, after some of the early Covid disruptions, we'll probably add more like 2 weeks; it doesn't add much weight or space this way.)

 

Then we ask the pharmacist (with *plenty* of warning so there's no rush) to print out extras of each stick-on label, but just to give them to us to put on the little bags.  That way, it's just as official as the plastic vials are.

 

We also bring along copies of the Rx scripts, and also a letter from our physician (one for each of us) that includes that there is a medical necessity for anything that might be injectible or controlled.

NOTE:  We always check ahead with each country about laws concerning meds.  Some have surprising restrictions, including for things that might be OTC in the USA.  When necessary, we do get formal permission in advance.  Thus far, it's only been Japan where we've needed to do this officially (and with two different agencies).  But with email, it was all taken care of within 24 hours.  Better safe than sorry!

 

Anyway, a collection of these mini ziploc baggies takes up very little space if there's not a lot of extra air in each.  It would be easier to put something like one day's worth (or AM and PM, etc.) per little bag, but not for crossing borders.  I figure... the time we do that will be the time we'd get randomly stopped... and then we'd be really sorry that everything wasn't properly and separately labeled, etc.

Then in the larger "meds" zippered bag, we also have things like EpiPens, and a few other supplies.  ANYTHING that has a prescription... we have copies of those.

 

The few times we were instructed to "declare" meds, as we approached the counter, some agent sort of smiled and waved us away.  So I pressed on, and reached to open my carry on, saying something about medicine, and they just smiled some more and said to keep going, no problem, etc.  Okay.... I wasn't going to keep fighting. 😉

 

We keep all of these things (the little labeled bags, the letters...) together, and we don't update them each time.  After a few years, we get fresh copies.  For the one controlled med and for one injectible, we do keep that information more current, but not fresh for each trip.

 

I've thought about using one of those services that pre-packages each "set of pills per each time of day", but then we'd need to get each set of Rx's to renew at the same time.  And then, if a new med, or a change in dose... it just didn't seem worth it.  If packaging these little bags is too much trouble, well, we probably wouldn't be traveling much by then (?).  Or we'd bring along someone to help and they could deal with it!

 

GC

[LuAnn]

30 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

 

We each have slowly ended up taking an interesting assortment of pills. 😞

It started taking up too much room to have the plastic Rx bottles for every one of them, especially the ones where just one tiny tablet per day just took up too much space in a mostly empty bottle.

What we finally figured worked the best was to get the little (tiny) ziploc-type plastic bags, something like 2" x 2" (there are quite a few different "small" sizes).  For however many day's worth we need, we always add an extra few days or a week's worth, in case of delays.  (Um, after some of the early Covid disruptions, we'll probably add more like 2 weeks; it doesn't add much weight or space this way.)

 

Then we ask the pharmacist (with *plenty* of warning so there's no rush) to print out extras of each stick-on label, but just to give them to us to put on the little bags.  That way, it's just as official as the plastic vials are.

 

We also bring along copies of the Rx scripts, and also a letter from our physician (one for each of us) that includes that there is a medical necessity for anything that might be injectible or controlled.

NOTE:  We always check ahead with each country about laws concerning meds.  Some have surprising restrictions, including for things that might be OTC in the USA.  When necessary, we do get formal permission in advance.  Thus far, it's only been Japan where we've needed to do this officially (and with two different agencies).  But with email, it was all taken care of within 24 hours.  Better safe than sorry!

 

Anyway, a collection of these mini ziploc baggies takes up very little space if there's not a lot of extra air in each.  It would be easier to put something like one day's worth (or AM and PM, etc.) per little bag, but not for crossing borders.  I figure... the time we do that will be the time we'd get randomly stopped... and then we'd be really sorry that everything wasn't properly and separately labeled, etc.

Then in the larger "meds" zippered bag, we also have things like EpiPens, and a few other supplies.  ANYTHING that has a prescription... we have copies of those.

 

The few times we were instructed to "declare" meds, as we approached the counter, some agent sort of smiled and waved us away.  So I pressed on, and reached to open my carry on, saying something about medicine, and they just smiled some more and said to keep going, no problem, etc.  Okay.... I wasn't going to keep fighting. 😉

 

We keep all of these things (the little labeled bags, the letters...) together, and we don't update them each time.  After a few years, we get fresh copies.  For the one controlled med and for one injectible, we do keep that information more current, but not fresh for each trip.

 

I've thought about using one of those services that pre-packages each "set of pills per each time of day", but then we'd need to get each set of Rx's to renew at the same time.  And then, if a new med, or a change in dose... it just didn't seem worth it.  If packaging these little bags is too much trouble, well, we probably wouldn't be traveling much by then (?).  Or we'd bring along someone to help and they could deal with it!

 

GC

OH thank you so much!! I had thought about those tiny plastic bags but not the idea of having the labels printed out...that's genius. Only once when changing planes in Frankfort did someone ask me for the actual Rx..even though I had the bottles..but that was awhile ago. At least at this time (who knows what's next right? 🙂 he doesn't have anything to inject nor controlled. But you have certainly covered "all your bases". Thank you again!!! 🙂

[Essiesmom]

Magellan’s.com has a day/night pill organizer that folds flat.  Uses ziplock bags, and I think you could use the little ziplocks and customize to what works for you.  You can get all sizes of little bags in craft stores.  EM

[ozscotart]

Princess advise you take a month’s worth of prescription medication, and most countries customs authorities want you to show  prescriptions in their original packaging (they rarely check). The month is presumably due to the risk of quarantine. I always take enough medication in the original packaging plus my actual prescriptions just in case. This can amount to quite a bit but I can’t take the risk of going without or missing a flight because someone isn’t familiar with the generic I’m using. 

[GeezerCouple]

6 hours ago, ozscotart said:

Princess advise you take a month’s worth of prescription medication, and most countries customs authorities want you to show  prescriptions in their original packaging (they rarely check). The month is presumably due to the risk of quarantine. I always take enough medication in the original packaging plus my actual prescriptions just in case. This can amount to quite a bit but I can’t take the risk of going without or missing a flight because someone isn’t familiar with the generic I’m using. 

That's precisely why we ask the pharmacist to print out an extra label for each Rx so that we can stick it on the little ziplock type bag.  That is "official".  There is no requirement that the meds be dispensed in any specific type of container, and there are occasional times when the pharmacist dispenses something in that exact type of little plastic bag... with the same label stuck on it.  It would be impossible to tell whether "our" packaging was done by the pharmacist or by us, unless one gets to the level of checking for the pharmacist's finger prints!

 

In the past, we'd ask the pharmacist to give us the smallest little plastic container, with the label on it, instead of the larger bottle (sometimes surprisingly large) that, say, a 90 day supply came in, but we don't need all of that.  Unfortunately, the local pharmacies have pretty much cut back and don't stock what used to be the smallest 2 sizes of those plastic bottles.  Seems wasteful to me, to put perhas 10 tablets in a much-too-big container, but that's not my decision.  I guess they don't need to keep so many different sizes on hand.  But that's partly what caused us to think of a plan B, and come up with the little ziplocks with labels attached.

 

It's really great how little space a bunch of them take up.  Nice!

GC

[ozscotart]

16 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

That's precisely why we ask the pharmacist to print out an extra label for each Rx so that we can stick it on the little ziplock type bag.  That is "official".  There is no requirement that the meds be dispensed in any specific type of container, and there are occasional times when the pharmacist dispenses something in that exact type of little plastic bag... with the same label stuck on it.  It would be impossible to tell whether "our" packaging was done by the pharmacist or by us, unless one gets to the level of checking for the pharmacist's finger prints!

 

In the past, we'd ask the pharmacist to give us the smallest little plastic container, with the label on it, instead of the larger bottle (sometimes surprisingly large) that, say, a 90 day supply came in, but we don't need all of that.  Unfortunately, the local pharmacies have pretty much cut back and don't stock what used to be the smallest 2 sizes of those plastic bottles.  Seems wasteful to me, to put perhas 10 tablets in a much-too-big container, but that's not my decision.  I guess they don't need to keep so many different sizes on hand.  But that's partly what caused us to think of a plan B, and come up with the little ziplocks with labels attached.

 

It's really great how little space a bunch of them take up.  Nice!

GC

It’s a great idea to get them to print extra labels, I don’t think they’d do that here, but I might ask next time, my problem is it mostly isn’t the packaging, it’s the drugs themselves that are bulky, sometimes in specialised packaging that has a time limit on it, ie you can only safely open when you’re ready to use. 

[JFontaine]

On a recent cruise I used a 7 day organizer, and because I was worried about ending up in quarantine because of Covid, I took all of the nearly-full original  bottles in a large plastic bag.  On the last afternoon  of the cruise I packed the plastic bag full of the bottles in a carryon for the ten minute drive home from the port. And when I got home I found the plastic bag had been stolen. There was one medicine that would've been interesting to someone,  and I didn't realize. Be careful. 

[GeezerCouple]

13 hours ago, JFontaine said:

On a recent cruise I used a 7 day organizer, and because I was worried about ending up in quarantine because of Covid, I took all of the nearly-full original  bottles in a large plastic bag.  On the last afternoon  of the cruise I packed the plastic bag full of the bottles in a carryon for the ten minute drive home from the port. And when I got home I found the plastic bag had been stolen. There was one medicine that would've been interesting to someone,  and I didn't realize. Be careful. 

 

How did this happen with a carry on bag?

 

We each have meds in our carry ons, and they *never* leave the sight of at least one of us.  Usually we have "hands on" each of them in any crowded location.

 

I also keep an emergency supply of the most critical ones in my purse.

 

Thank goodness this happened (if it had to happen at all, of course!) on your way home!

 

And I now realize that just as some couples "cross pack" so there are some clothing for each in each suitcase, in case one goes wandering, we should to that for the meds.

Thank you for the warning/reminder.

 

It used to be "valuables" that were the worry... 😞 

 

GC

[JFontaine]

Packed the carryon and went to dinner. Carryon was in the room. I suspect that someone saw the plastic bag in the room during the cruise and waited until the end of the cruise opportunity,  knowing I wouldn't notice until home. Still working with insurance company 3 months later. 

[GUT2407]

Depends on the cruise. But I do like the baggies. When I was on a LOT of meds, small baggies for breakfast lunch, dinner, before bed. Then those in a bigger bag, a days worth each. So every day I should be opening a new bigger bag. On longer cruises I’d just pack the boxes, bottles etc and a pill dispenser like I’d use at home to ensure I didn’t miss a dose.

[JFontaine]

From a theft perspective,  now that I have some experience,  putting meds in plastic bags or a pill dispenser makes tremendous sense to me. Nobody will risk stealing because they won't know what the meds are. 

[GUT2407]

I used to carry my meds in a cash tin, as I could lock it (strong opiates, little kids) till I got my bags after a flight home only to find my bag broken open and the cash tin pried open.

[LuAnn]

Thanks again for all these great ideas!!

[lenquixote66]

On 1/16/2022 at 6:11 PM, LuAnn said:

DH is currently taking multiple meds at various times of the day. I used to just take the bottles but not sure about that now. I have one of those "dispensers" at home that have the 4 times during the day for 7 days. I'm concerned that the "catches" might pop up if I tried to take several of those along plus they are bulky. Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions? Thanks !!

I take 25 pills every day.I bring the individual bottles as well as 3 pill boxes.When I get down to the last two days I put the remaining pills in the pill boxes.

[lenquixote66]

On 1/24/2022 at 8:33 PM, JFontaine said:

From a theft perspective,  now that I have some experience,  putting meds in plastic bags or a pill dispenser makes tremendous sense to me. Nobody will risk stealing because they won't know what the meds are. 

There are people who do not care what the pills are they will just take them.I came out of a Manhattan pharmacy once .A guy followed me,apparently and when I was getting ready to cross a street he grabbed the bag and ran.

[Id rather be diving]

I bought pillpanion https://www.pillpanion.com.  I loved it!!  We could just take the morning pills to breakfast with us.  It helped us remember when to take the pills and if we missed any (which we didn’t).  I ordered ours from QVC then ordered an extra pack of bags from the manufacturer website.

[GUT2407]

I love a pill organiser to keep track of days, ie did I remember to take tablets today, currently I gave one that is a leather case, with 7 containers each with 4 compartments, when I was taking pills 4 times a day I’d take bottles/boxes and refill when empty, now I take everything at once they do take two of the compartments, but the whole set lasts two weeks, often no need to take the boxes or bottles.

 

Just grab the days container and take to breakfast with me.

[InNeedOfSaltWater]

I have four of these 

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B06ZY8JQHG?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Edited July 25, 2022 by InNeedOfSaltWater
Link

[candydane]

We use the weekly dispensers .  We put each in a small zip loc bag then put a rubber band around the outside so the dispenser lids will not pop open.