Bringing medications through airports

[*Miss G*]

3 hours ago, crystalspin said:

"Whose hat is that and how did it get in my backpack?!?!?"

 

You people are making me nervous about our layover in Frankfurt next October.

 

The only problem I had with Frankfurt airport was their terrible signage and the crazy music overhead.  It sounded like the shower scene in Psycho.  🔪  Is this the impression you really want to leave with your visitors?  😳

[lynncarol]

Had layovers in Frankfurt at least 6 times over the years.  Never had any issues there.  In fact, they have a hotel within the airport that we have used twice when long layovers were involved. As far as meds, I carry a pill dispenser box with my prescription medications, and put all the OTC stuff in small plastic baggies.  None of this is marked, never use original pill bottles, and never any problem anywhere going through security in any country. I guess that's one of the few advantages of being a "woman of a certain age".  Obviously I look like all these pills are necessary.

[ldubs]

10 hours ago, crystalspin said:

"Whose hat is that and how did it get in my backpack?!?!?"

 

You people are making me nervous about our layover in Frankfurt next October.

 

We had a connection there almost exactly one month ago.  We had a late arrival and long walk to the connecting gate, but made it with plenty of time to spare.  

[clo]

17 hours ago, ilovhywd said:

Thank you everyone for your quick responses and great ideas - with a few chuckles thrown in as well!

 

The “winner” is the poodle “Clo” who suggested I print out and carry the meds page from my physician's online portal (similar to My Chart) that has everything listed.  Now I will just use my 7-day pill caddy and refill it each week from my supplies in the ziplock baggies.

 

Safe travels everyone!

Actually that poodle's name is "Hairy Red Dog." But I'll answer to clo.  I almost hate to say "you're welcome" just in case. I had the printout in a zipping bag with the meds. Looked like I knew what I doing hopefully 🙂 Travel well. clo

[Mary229]

For the vitamin carriers - I now carry those powdered drink packets with a full dose of vitamins.  It is much easier than carrying all of those pills and doubles as a beverage.  There are a lot of formulation options these days 

[clo]

9 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

powdered drink packets

I have no idea what those are.  If you could provide a photo? I'm trying to pills in the drink packet that then becomes a beverage.

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, clo said:

I have no idea what those are.  If you could provide a photo? I'm trying to pills in the drink packet that then becomes a beverage.

This is one variety but there are many. 
 

 

[clo]

1 minute ago, Mary229 said:

This is one variety but there are many. 
 

 

 

Thanks so much. So it will hold 14 or 28 vitamin pills.

[Mary229]

Just now, clo said:

Thanks so much. So it will hold 14 or 28 vitamin pills.

I buy a packet 30 and transfer the slim packets out of the box into a ziploc.  Each packet is a full daily dose. There is one variety that is like a fizzy tablet. 

[ecs66]

On 4/2/2024 at 2:52 PM, ldubs said:

Didn't ask about pills.  Instead he pulled out my hat and asked if it was mine. 

Maybe he had seen "Goodfellas" recently where the young girl drug mule wouldn't fly without her "lucky hat".  (Turned out it wasn't all that lucky.)

[lynncarol]

Anyone who is taking the blood thinner Warfarin, should check the labels of any multivitamin packet to make sure it doesn't contain the Vitamin K.

[donaldsc]

Unless you are taking a prescribed narcotic I can't understand what all this fuss is about pills.  I take several of them a day.  I put them in small ziplocks in my rucksack and carry them on board and on airplanes as necessary.  Nobody has ever looked at them ever.  Seems to me that everyone is overreacting about this issue or perhaps I should say non-issue.  

 

DON

[Mary229]

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

Unless you are taking a prescribed narcotic I can't understand what all this fuss is about pills.  I take several of them a day.  I put them in small ziplocks in my rucksack and carry them on board and on airplanes as necessary.  Nobody has ever looked at them ever.  Seems to me that everyone is overreacting about this issue or perhaps I should say non-issue.  

 

DON

For most countries and certainly for domestic problem it is not an issue but there are countries who are very particular.  As travelers we find it simpler to follow the strictest guidelines instead of not and finding out the hard way. And yes, I review our few medications periodically to be sure they are not on some country’s not allowed list. 

[clo]

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

For most countries and certainly for domestic problem it is not an issue but there are countries who are very particular.  As travelers we find it simpler to follow the strictest guidelines instead of not and finding out the hard way. And yes, I review our few medications periodically to be sure they are not on some country’s not allowed list. 

I did a little quick study and, yes, there are certain drugs not allowed into certain countries. I laughed (kinda) when I saw that Pepto Bismol is banned in France!

[KBS1607]

My daughter was 11 and we were flying home from France. My husband and I were as jumpy as drug mules then DD got up there. We could see laughing and talking and didn’t know what was up. 
 

Turns out he was asking if her Tweety Bird sweater was accurate. It said “small bird, big attitude”. 
 

I have opiates that I would be afraid to fly with to some countries. 
 

I fly in August and it’s my first time with pre check. 

[clo]

3 hours ago, KBS1607 said:

I have opiates that I would be afraid to fly with to some countries. 

It seems that's a no-no in quite a few countries. I'd do some serious research before trying to take those. Research as in contacting that countries consulate.

 

[GeezerCouple]

2 hours ago, clo said:

It seems that's a no-no in quite a few countries. I'd do some serious research before trying to take those. Research as in contacting that countries consulate.

 

In many cases, the country will have online instructions about their own controlled or prohibited substances, as well as online forms to complete/submit or contact information about how to handle the request.

 

We *always* do whatever is required, even though we doubt we'd ever "get in trouble".

All it takes is a) a sniffer dog and enthusiastic agent or b) an agent who got up on the wrong side of the bed, and "you're it!" for whatever possibly arbitrary reason...

Probabilities are very low, but especially in some places, the consequences can be very severe.

It's just not worth the risk.  It's also not worth the worry.  It's quite simple to "do it their way" if one is going to their country.

 

The few times someone has signaled us over, or there was a sign to "declare" something, we headed over.  As we walked over, I was opening the carry on and gettin ready to show what we had and perhaps our documentation.

We are GeezerCouple and don't look much younger.  Perhaps for that reason (?) every time, the agent has smiled and waved us along.  In countries where there were strict issues, I'd start to say that we had some medications with us.  That generated another smile and a slightly more vigorous wave to continue on our way. 🙂 

 

There have been a few times when we were in a luggage area sort of between airside and the immigrations/customs area, and we saw agents with dogs patiently sitting next to them.  We also watched them take the dogs around the various baggage.

One time, the dog was sniffing and suddenly SAT DOWN.  That's the signal, not to call too much attention (no barking or such).  We watched to see if the agent was going to "do something", but the dog got a treat and they went on their way.

We figured that was part of the training.  (We also wondered what was actually in that luggage!)

 

GC

[KBS1607]

10 hours ago, clo said:

It seems that's a no-no in quite a few countries. I'd do some serious research before trying to take those. Research as in contacting that countries consulate.

 

I appreciate this. It will be a while before we fly internationally again. 

[CDNPolar]

20 hours ago, donaldsc said:

Unless you are taking a prescribed narcotic I can't understand what all this fuss is about pills.  I take several of them a day.  I put them in small ziplocks in my rucksack and carry them on board and on airplanes as necessary.  Nobody has ever looked at them ever.  Seems to me that everyone is overreacting about this issue or perhaps I should say non-issue.  

 

DON

 

The average security screening entering the airside of the airport does not care.  It is if you get pulled into a secondary screening that can happen without notice where they might question your medications.

 

I don't think that this is an overreaction because it does not impact you until it does.

 

Being prepared with the official prescriptions and/or bottles is not in my opinion an overreaction, it is proper preparation.

[ldubs]

18 hours ago, KBS1607 said:

My daughter was 11 and we were flying home from France. My husband and I were as jumpy as drug mules then DD got up there. We could see laughing and talking and didn’t know what was up. 
 

Turns out he was asking if her Tweety Bird sweater was accurate. It said “small bird, big attitude”. 
 

I have opiates that I would be afraid to fly with to some countries. 
 

I fly in August and it’s my first time with pre check. 

 

When traveling with our minor kids, they never went through customs without us by their side. Who knows what they might say.  Probably the same reason Mrs Ldubs doesn't let me go by myself. 😀

[clo]

2 hours ago, CDNPolar said:

 

The average security screening entering the airside of the airport does not care.  It is if you get pulled into a secondary screening that can happen without notice where they might question your medications.

 

I don't think that this is an overreaction because it does not impact you until it does.

 

Being prepared with the official prescriptions and/or bottles is not in my opinion an overreaction, it is proper preparation.

Last time we flew I printed the MyChart list of meds. They sent me on my way immediately.