Taking prescribed controlled drugs into the USA

[TigerMom]

We came back just over a week ago. DH has 11 different medications to take as a result of his double bypass and he's a diabetic so he has insulin as well. He carries them all in their original packaging. He's been searched by TSA because of the insulin being in a cold pack but they paid zero attention to the other meds.

[PPM]

Originally Posted by geniefan

I am the OP.

So, confusing replies on this thread.

In a nutshell... am I okay to just take one strip of tramadol tablets (containing just 25 tablets) WITHOUT a prescription slip, as long as its in the box with my name on it, given to me this summer?

Im only taking one strip of 25 because its pointless me taking the whole box of 100 tablets when theres no way I'm going to need 100 tramadol tablets on a 7 day holiday. I might not even need to touch any of the 25, but its just in case.

See more...

The consensus on here is to take the original packaging with the pharmacy label and your name on it. If you want to take just one sheet just put that in the box. Personally I’d take the 100... this would cover for most delays to returning home.

[geniefan]

Yeah maybe it would be easier taking the whole box of 100. They might get funny if they see I've taken one strip out of a box where there should be 100. Like I've sold them or something? ha ha

I dont want no troubles I just want to go on holiday but having a medication condition makes things stressful

[Guest]

Originally Posted by geniefan

Yeah maybe it would be easier taking the whole box of 100. They might get funny if they see I've taken one strip out of a box where there should be 100. Like I've sold them or something? ha ha

I dont want no troubles I just want to go on holiday but having a medication condition makes things stressful

See more...

Or given that you got them this summer they might just assume you'd taken the others? I know I would.

I'd be more suspicious of a basically unopened prescription medicine that had been lying about for months - that screams unnecessary medication and taking more than required for the purposes of medication whilst on the trip.

[geniefan]

But that's the thing, because I was given them in the summer and not taken any, that's why they have removed them from my repeat prescription list.

oh stuff it I'll just take a strip of 25 tablets in the box from the summer. Its got my name and stuff on it.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by geniefan

But that's the thing, because I was given them in the summer and not taken any, that's why they have removed them from my repeat prescription list.

oh stuff it I'll just take a strip of 25 tablets in the box from the summer. Its got my name and stuff on it.

See more...

That's what I'd do.

It proves they were issued to you by a licensed pharmacist.

It shows you aren't bringing in any more medicines than you could conceivably require (i.e. not bringing in some spares to sell on)

And masses of people are on medication it is nothing new to the people in the airport

[geniefan]

I think I'm just so worried because I'm a female travelling on my own... and remember there was that girl who took tramadol into Egypt and ended up in prison? I think she took hundreds, and then lied about having a boyfriend or something didnt she? I'm just anxious that's all lol

[archibald]

The girl taking tramadol into Egypt is an extreme case of illegally sourced drug smuggling. Not someone going on holiday for a week with their own prescription drugs. Just take the strip of 25 in the original box and don't give it another thought.

[geniefan]

Originally Posted by archibald

The girl taking tramadol into Egypt is an extreme case of illegally sourced drug smuggling. Not someone going on holiday for a week with their own prescription drugs. Just take the strip of 25 in the original box and don't give it another thought.

See more...

Thank you, I think I will

I just get anxious flying anyway, and I'm doing this on my own trying to be all brave and boost my confidence and I'm just worried sick about being arrested for taking my medication into the country! But I won't think anymore about it, I dont have a prescription because I got this box of tramadol in the summer. So I'll just take the strip of 25 in the box, and be done with it.

[archibald]

You're never on your own, there's a few hundred dibbers right behind you. Ask if you need help - and always be amazed by the conflicting array of help and advice and completely irrelevant viewpoints offered - in fact to steal a well misused phrase - in Disney you're probably never more than 10' away from a Dibber!