Did you know some popular prescription and over-the-counter medicines commonly used for things like pain relief, better sleep, allergies, or your common cold are illegal in some countries? That means you need to know what you can and cannot take into a country when traveling.
The United Arab Emirates and Japan, for example, are among the most restrictive nations. Many other countries ban or restrict importing narcotics, sedatives, amphetamines, and other meds you think are common. So…what should you do?
Plan Ahead
Laws vary by country and there is no central, up-to date repository. One travel consultant suggests asking your physician, travel medical insurance company, or local pharmacist four to six weeks before traveling. “When you inquire about your shots, ask about medications. Odds are they may not know off the top of their head, but they have the resources to find out.”
She also suggests checking with the embassy of your destination country. The US State Department website lists foreign embassies. It also lists insurance providers if you need one for health care abroad.
Label and Pack Your Medication Properly
Carry all your medication, from vitamins and supplements to prescription ones, in their original, clearly marked containers or packaging. You can put that in a clear plastic bag in your carry on luggage. Make sure the name on the prescription, the medicine container and your passport all match. If you lost the product information insert, ask the pharmacist to print a new one for you.
Also, check the TSA website for up-to-date rules and regulations on packing and carrying your medication when you depart. The standard rules for liquid carry-ons don’t apply to medications in liquid or gel form, but you need to inform them when you pass through security so they don’t confiscate it.
Obtain and Carry Necessary Documentation
Keep copies of your original prescriptions, if you can. Better yet, obtain a letter on official letterhead from your physician that lists the medicines you need and why they were prescribed.
Know the Names and Amounts of Active Ingredients
The documentation you carry should also indicate the generic and chemical names of the active ingredients, which determines permissibility, not brand names.
For example, the active ingredient in Benadryl, diphenhydramine, is banned in Zambia in over-the counter products. In Japan, it is allowed only if the amount in a tablet or injection is limited. However, a typical 25 milligram tablet of Tylenol PM in the United States exceeds the 10 milligram maximum amount in a tablet you can bring into Japan. Some countries restrict the overall total amount of an active ingredient an individual traveler can legally import, which may impact longer stays.
Bottom line…be prepared ahead of time.