How to Take Prescription Drugs on International Flights

Whether you're on your way to skiing the Swiss Alps or exploring the depths of Patagonia, you'll need to have access to your prescription medication. For those who rely on prescription medication, being able to safely transport medication should be a primary concern when flying internationally. If you follow the appropriate procedure, bringing medicine onto the plane is a routine process that need not raise any flags.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Original prescription bottle Letter from physician
Original prescription bottle
Letter from physician

Step 1

Check with the embassy or consulate of the nation that you're flying into to ensure that your medication is legal in that country. The U.S. Department of State recommends this step to ensure that you don't run into legal trouble while abroad.

Step 2

Be sure that your medication is stored in the original prescription bottle with the medication information, your name, doctor's name and contact information clearly legible. Avoid using an old bottle in which the information is ripped off or faded and don't carry medication in anything but the prescription bottle.

Step 3

Get a letter from your physician explaining your condition and the medication prescribed, including generic medication name.

Step 4

Store the medication on your person or in your carry-on luggage. If you need to take medication during the flight, you'll want to access it, and storing it in your carry-on luggage will also ensure that it stays with you and doesn't get delayed or misplaced should there be a problem with your checked luggage.

Step 5

Place liquid medications in a clear, plastic, quart-size zip bag. These medications should also be in a labeled prescription container, but should be placed inside of a bag like other liquids in your carry-on luggage. If you haven't placed them in a bag, be sure to declare and present them for inspection to the security official.

Step 6

Keep your physician letter handy so that you can present it to TSA officials should they ask for it.

Tips & Warnings

Remember other important medical information such as insurance cards, medical bracelet and emergency contact information. Check with your health insurance provider to see what costs, if any, they cover while you're abroad. Bring extra medication to ensure that you have enough.

Remember other important medical information such as insurance cards, medical bracelet and emergency contact information.

Check with your health insurance provider to see what costs, if any, they cover while you're abroad.

Bring extra medication to ensure that you have enough.

Resources

List of Embassies

Article Written By Joe Fletcher

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

Editor's Pick

5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...
More National Parks...
Popular Article

National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...
More National Parks...
Featured Destination

Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...
More Camping Basics...