MLG4MEE Posted October 29, 2006 #1 Share Posted October 29, 2006 We leave in a month for a 4 day cruise on the Majesty. My wife has Rheumatoid Arthritis and I was wondering what the deal is on packing prescription medicine for the flight down and back. She keeps all her pills in a holder which are broken down into day's of the week and into morning and night. With the new rules (I think) she would have to bring ALL her pill bottles (9 or 10 bottles) with her name on them to prove the prescriptions are for her (now she's not like Rush Limbaugh, she does really need the prescriptions and she not faking the pain and swollen joints). Can anybody tell me what the protocol is now for bringing prescription medicine on flights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendajv Posted October 29, 2006 #2 Share Posted October 29, 2006 My DH is a transplant patient who also uses a pill organizer like the one you describe. We haven't encountered any problems taking this on recent flights.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisenfever Posted October 29, 2006 #3 Share Posted October 29, 2006 May I suggest that she contact her doctor to list of all the medications that she is taking on either a scipt form or letter that has his/her name on it. Then just take what is necessary and if asked when going through security, she would have her doctor's letter with her. Sure beats taking 9-10 bottles with her. We did this on our most recent cruise and though we were not asked, we had peace of mind that we were legitimate drug users!!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubapuss Posted October 29, 2006 #4 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I throw all my pills in the same bottle. I Travel at least 3 times a year. No one has ever asked about it nor do they care what is in your pill organizer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip Posted October 29, 2006 #5 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I also take a quite a few medications daily. Now, I am forced by the TSA to take them all in their own bottles, which is an inconvenience. But, I have all dozen, or so, bottles in a clear, plastic baggie (gallon-size). I lay it on top of my stuff in my carry-on before I zip it up. I carry it in my carry-ons suitcase, because it won't do me any good in my checked luggage, if the airlines lose or misplace my bags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teajak Posted October 29, 2006 #6 Share Posted October 29, 2006 The most important reason for taking the original bottles is if you are delayed getting home for any reason you have all the information for a refill away from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIcruiser99 Posted October 29, 2006 #7 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I saved the old bottle when I refilled my rx, then put in the amount of pills I would need for the cruise in the old rx bottle, and took my weekly organizer. After flying, I put the pills in the organizer and threw away the old bottles. I don't think they even looked at the bottles, for all they knew, it could have been someone else's pills but I never wanted to take a chance and have them confiscated, throw away, or whatever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy Posted October 29, 2006 #8 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I kept the pharmacy label that was attached to the bag the last time we filled the prescriptions. That way I was able to carry the pills in a more convenient pill organizer, but had the prescription information in the same ziploc bag in case TSA wanted to see it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted October 29, 2006 #9 Share Posted October 29, 2006 I have always traveled with a pill organizer and I have never been questioned. I break them down into packets of morning and night and they all go into one organizer. I scan the pills (it can be done) and just make a list next to the picture of the pill of what each is. I stick it in the organizer. I just took 17 days worth and not a problem. This last trip in September, my husband had to bring all of his emphysema medication in their original boxes, (With the pharmacy label and his name on them) because of the TSA rules in effect. The name on the prescriptions had to match the name on the Airline ticket he had. It took up a lot of room in our carry on, but they did go through it all and check it because it was inhalants and such which were banned at that time. Inhalants, liquids and gel caps and such are more apt to be questioned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunCruiser56 Posted October 29, 2006 #10 Share Posted October 29, 2006 We just returned from a trip to Orlando and we carried all our meds in a daily organizer for each of us. We carried this in our carryon and we never had a bit of problem. We each have several meds we take and we have the scripts filled in 90day supplies. Those are alot of large bottles to carry with. We pack an extra 3 days supply when we travel incase of a delay. I also packed the perscription info that came with each order in our carry on. They never once looked at anything in our carryon, other that the luggage scan. Bev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micki Dee Posted October 29, 2006 #11 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Between my husband and myself, we carry no less than 12 different prescription medications. I have always taken my original bottles and just carry them in my carry on. I've never been checked either, but just in case I feel safer having the original bottles. If you are checked and the goverment is unsure about your meds in the little organizers, they can confiscate the medicine and you will be out of luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missbear Posted October 29, 2006 #12 Share Posted October 29, 2006 It's not just the new TSA rules. Federal law requires that you have your presciption info with your pills saying what they are and who they belong to. It doesn't have to be the label on the bottle, it can be that printed extra label thing that usually comes on the bag for your Rx. Someone could give you a hard time if you don't have the proof that the pills are legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choose2Cruise Posted October 29, 2006 #13 Share Posted October 29, 2006 by air, where I had separated all my prescription meds into original bottles, and later reorganized them into my daily organizer. That took more time and effort than I care to spend, but I did it anyway. The TSA checker told me that meds in pill form are NOT what they are concerned about. They want to see any LIQUID meds in original prescription bottles. They are, however, fussy about the size Ziploc bag you use. Quart size is the size they insist on. If your lotions, toothpaste, gels, shampoo, etc. are over 3 oz each or not in a quart size ziploc bag, they can and will give you a hard time and we saw alot of items confiscated for just those reasons. I could have made some quick cash if I had brought along a few boxes of the quart size ziplocs and sold them to those unprepared travelers! Another suggestion that a pharmacist gave me was to ask for duplicate labels when you get a new perscription filled or refilled. Then you can use these labels on small bottles for your trips instead of carrying along those large bottles that are used for a 3 month supply. As always, depending on the airport or the individual screener, you may get hassled even when you are super-concientious (sp?) but they are mainly concerned with LIQUIDS and things OVER 3 oz size. Pills don't seem to set off their buttons, at least that was our impression from the last 4 airports we went through last week. International airports may present their own problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisin'Kim Posted October 29, 2006 #14 Share Posted October 29, 2006 We have to go through immigration from Canada when we get on the plane, so it may be different from here. My husband has M.S., and we both have high blood pressure, so between us we carry 8 bottles of prescription meds, plus needle injections for my husband. I just put everything in their original bottles in one large baggie, and throw it in one of our carry-ons. I just don't want to take the chance on them questioning the rest of the medication, particularly as we also have needles packed with it all. Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catnip Posted October 29, 2006 #15 Share Posted October 29, 2006 Another suggestion that a pharmacist gave me was to ask for duplicate labels when you get a new perscription filled or refilled. Then you can use these labels on small bottles for your trips instead of carrying along those large bottles that are used for a 3 month supply. That is a most excellent idea!!!!!!! Thanks for the tip! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted October 30, 2006 #16 Share Posted October 30, 2006 Don't forget to take a couple days' supply extra, just in case you're delayed coming home. Have a great time! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J&G Posted October 31, 2006 #17 Share Posted October 31, 2006 When we flew for our Alaska cruise in September we had our meds in clear plastic bags in their original containers and boy were we glad we did. On the way to Vancouver they looked at each and every one of my husband's and on the way back from San Francisco they looked at each and every one of mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spotcat Posted October 31, 2006 #18 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I travel with all of my medications in the original pharmacy containers. I have traveled out of the country and have never been questioned, nor has anyone even bothered to look at my meds. I think this is so strange. Some of my medications are injectibles. Aren't they curious about someone traveling with liquid filled needles in her purse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisecookie Posted October 31, 2006 #19 Share Posted October 31, 2006 When I fill a new RX and I know that I will be travelling soon, I ask the pharmacist to give me an additional small labeled bottle for each RX. I travel with the small labeled bottles and leave the rest of the pills at home. But, I've got another question. What if your pills are not RX. I take several vitamins and aspirin. Can I put those in an unlabeled pill organizer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynnees Posted October 31, 2006 #20 Share Posted October 31, 2006 I always keep an inhaler in my pocket. When going through screening I throw it in my the plasic container along with my purse etc. Nothing has ever been said until the last time. The first checker hollered "INHALER!" UPPER LEFT CORNER". That was it, no one looked at it and no one acknowledged his holler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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