Your medicine may be illegal overseas
Alone and exhausted. Thousands of miles from home. Going through airport security in a foreign airport. And then: Shock settles into fear as airport personnel … confiscates your medications?
Yup.
Traveling internationally with prescription medications seems simple enough, but it can bring some unexpected challenges if you aren’t prepared. On an overseas adventure, here are some things you should consider to ensure healthy travels.
Before your trip
Contact your pharmacy. Be sure to inform your pharmacist a couple weeks before your trip. This gives the pharmacy enough time to prepare your medications in case problems arise with insurance or refills. Some insurance companies require extra steps to cover vacation supplies. If you are out of refills, the doctor office can take 24–72 hours to respond to a refill request. In some cases, your doctor might want to see you for an appointment before your trip.
Contact the American embassy or consulate of your destination country. Every country has its own policies on what medications are permitted upon entering. Check to make sure yours are allowed.
- Medications that are legal in the US might be prohibited in other countries.
- Check to see how much medication you are allowed to bring. While it’s recommended to take no more than 90 days worth, some countries, like Japan, only allow a one month’s supply to be brought in.
- If you need a higher day supply than what the country allows, they might have policies that provide exemptions or other options, such as mailing your medications or finding a local health practitioner. Refer to that country’s American embassy for more details.
Know your insurance prescription-refill policy. Some insurance plans allow you to refill your medications early only once a year for a vacation supply. Contact your insurance company to see what option they offer.
Have a copy of your prescriptions and/or a doctor’s note. These are important to have, especially if your medications are not kept in their original containers with proper labeling. These documents are required if you are returning to the United States after traveling abroad. They should include the name of the medications (brand and generic), doses, directions, and the health conditions for which you are using them.
Preparing for security screenings
It’s best to keep your medications with you in a carry-on bag, and the last thing you’d want is for security to confiscate your medications due to improper handling. Here are some key points to help ease the screening process at the US’s Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA):
Bring the amount of medication you’ll need for the length of your trip and a little extra just in case of emergency. The US Customs and Boarder Protection (CBP) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend packing no more than a 90 days worth of medication while traveling abroad.
Store your medications in an readily accessible place. So that they may be separated from your belongings during screening if needed.
Keep your medications in their original containers, clearly labeled with their descriptions and directions as prescribed by your doctor.
- If you don’t have the original containers, have your doctor’s note or copies of written prescriptions available to present during the security screening.
- Medically necessary liquids and creams over 3.4oz or 100mL are exempt from the “3–1–1 Liquids Rule”. These items must be declared to the screening officer. You can bring these in your carry-on without having to place it in a zip-lock bag. However, if these items alarm the screening process, they might be subject to additional screening and not be allowed.
Notify the screening officer of any medications or declare medically necessary items.
While overseas
Medications available in the US might have different names, different uses, or might not exist in other countries.
- Some drugs have the same name but contain very different medications. For example, Norpramin, in the United States, is the brand name of an antidepressant. However, in Spain, the same brand name refers to a medication used for heartburn.
- This is why it’s important to have a copy of your prescriptions and/or a doctor’s note (as described in “Before your Trip”). Along with ease of travel, these documents can be a lifesaver in case you’re in an emergency and require medical attention while abroad.
Helpful resources
For additional up-to-date information on traveling with medications, visit the following websites:
Kaelynn Wang, PharmD is a community pharmacist and is part of the Iodine pharmacist team.
