Planning to fly with medication? Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, it’s crucial to know the rules and best …
43 Comments
Planning to fly with medication? Whether you're traveling domestically or internationally, it's crucial to know the rules and best practices to ensure a smooth journey. In this video, we cover everything you need to know about flying with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and medical devices.
*What You'll Learn:* – How to pack medications for air travel (carry-on vs. checked baggage) – TSA regulations and what you need to declare at security checkpoints – Tips for managing time zone changes and medication schedules – The importance of keeping a medication list and doctor's notes – How to handle temperature-sensitive medications during your trip – Traveling with liquid medications and other special considerations
*Don't Miss:* Expert advice on navigating airport security with ease and the top mistakes to avoid when flying with medication.
Whether you're a frequent traveler or planning your first trip, these tips will help you stay prepared and stress-free. Subscribe for more travel tips and hit the notification bell so you never miss an update!
*VIDEO TIMELINE* 00:00 Intro Start 00:22 Medication List 01:21 Research 02:51 Check Rx Labels 03:03 Liquid Medication Requirements 04:02 Repackaging Rx Medications 05:53 Carrying Medication thru TSA 06:55 Medical Devices 08:08 Carrying Vitamins 09:48 OTC medications 10:33 What are you experiences with traveling with medication or medical devices? 11:13 Outro
*Join the Conversation:* Have a tip for traveling with medication? Share it in the comments below!
Thank you for watching & visiting my channel! I appreciate your time & any feedback so please comment! I try EVERY product and I only recommend what I actually use and LOVE! As an Amazon Affiliate, Links I provide, may earn me affiliate commissions at NO additional cost to you and help support my channel. Some items are tagged in the video for you to shop directly! I get a small commission from the sale of these items and truly appreciate your support from these purchases!
PATREON CHANNEL & MEMBERSHIPS! I have also started a Patreon channel where I will be putting up additional content that can not be found on my basic YouTube channel. This content is more about my personal life. You can find my Patreon Channel here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheoryofSimple?fan_landing=true and for those of you that do not want to join Patreon, I have the same videos available via membership to my channel.
Wait – what pharmacy? I’m kind of joking, but MY meds come via mail order in big bottles for 90 days. Meaning theres no pharmacy to ask for small labels or small bottles or any of that stuff. My solution is to repackage into a pill caddy with photocopies of the RX labels and each pill clearly labeled within the caddy. It’s all the same information as what is on the bottle but I just can’t pack those huge bottles for 20 days. Honestly, I’m glad I don’t take anything that would be iffy in any way.
Whatever labeling the military uses on prescription bottles you cannot peel them off . In order for me even to place those bottles in the trash, and to remove the label ahead of time, it requires a lot of soaking, and a lot of scraping with a knife to remove that label
WE just returned from 7 months 7 countries and were never questioned 1 time about our meds . We had them in our carry on . Most meds you can purchase in Turkey without a prescription and at better prices .
Hi Eunice ….. am I hallucinating, or did I see that you had a trick to hang a water bottle onto your tray table? did you use a hook of some sort? I'm flying in a couple weeks and want to hang my water bottle so it's close at hand. thanks
Good advice, I use a pill organizer, I fly within the US and TSA didn't care. I take the labels off the bottles and put them on index cards. TSA requires my inhalers to be in a separate clear bag.
When tubes of prescription cream/ointment, or a bottle of tablets comes in an outer small box with the medication details on, the pharmacist usually sticks the label on the box. You can ask your pharmacist to actually stick labels onto the tubes of prescription cream/ointment, and the bottle that is inside a small cardboard box. That way, you don't have to worry about taking the boxes when you travel. Hope this helps.
For prescription creams instead of trying to peel off a the script that just won’t budge , I just fold the box flat and place it in the bag with the tube. I find it’s just easier than fighting with the label.
Great video!! I learned that our health insurance now covers me for travel and a lot people don’t check their insurance policies. 1. I went to my pharmacy and asked if I can get travel size bottles with my prescriptions and the pharmacy technician said he would ask the pharmacist on duty. 2. The pharmacist told me that we are allowed to get ONLY once a year travel size medications for travel. I got my travel medications and re-used my medication bottles for travel through out the year. 2. You can ask your doctor for a list of your medications and they print it out on their official letterhead and sign it so you will have it for back up. 3. You can ask your doctor for all your prescriptions and they will put it on their letterhead and sign it so you will have a prescription if you need it. Now when I travel I have travel size medications, a copy of my medications and prescriptions. Also you can ask the customs in different countries questions about medications you want to make sure you are authorized to use and they will answer you back in English.
For those creams, leave the second tube home, then take the ends off the box so it will lay flat and you can put it in the bag with the rest of your medications. This way it's easy to match up to the tube.
I print a miniature copy of my passport and on the other side I list my name, phone, email all my medications, allergies and emergency contacts. I keep that in my wallet at all times. Use a San serif font so it is easy to read even when it is tiny print.
I went to Greece in 2022. I carried my Rx in their original bottles. I had them in my personal item bag and never had a problem getting to Greece or coming home to USA. I find it quite unbelievable and petty that countries are making a big deal all of the sudden about bonafide Rx meds. I wonder about the very few irresponsible people who have screwed it up for the masses. The comment on here about contact solution being an issue in the USA blew my mind. It’s utterly ridiculous and evil that people are being ARRESTED for having perfectly valid and legal Rx medications. WOW, everyone is a criminal even in the USA…contact solution, really?!?!
Thankfully at age 61 I am not on any rx meds & just take very few supplements. We went to Italy for 3 wks & the supplements I took were packed & labeled in litte vitamin bags. No issues at all going through Atlanta,Rome, Genova, Florence & Bari Italy & NY (JFK). Sorry for those who have had issues with airlines & TSA.
On my last trip to Asia, I asked my pharmacy to reprint my pharmacy labels. They were happy to reprint the stickers so I could place them on amber colored ziploc bags to hold my medications.
I'm a retired CDL bus driver. I drove on to 5 different military bases around me, plus VA hospitals. I take off my prescription labels and put them on those small Tylenol tubes. I was checked at 1 or 2 of military bases & they were OK. TSA has never given me issues either.
This is really helpful! Love the idea of getting the small med bottles and moving the label or having the pharmacist print another. I have a daily pen injection with little needles, and put everything in a separate clear bag. I have a small Nalgene bottle that I use as a sharps container to carry my used needles back home. I've only flown in the US, but haven't had a problem with TSA. Thanks for the useful video!
We have a pharmacy in town that will make up a bubble pack of your meds, all the work is done for you! All the info on it. Maybe there is a pharmacy that does blister packing of meds and otc's near you? Great vid.
Ой, какая же, вы, – красивая! Простите, но ваша блузка пестрая, она вас поглощает. Она вас «сьедает»! Вас не видно из-за неё. Советую однотонные верха у лица. Как же вам идёт голубой цвет! Он вас очень бы украсил, был бы он – однотонный. Шикарная женщина! Спасибо большое за ваши бесценные советы!
The paperwork for Japan, to carry drugs went fairly well. Most just had limits and we were carrying over 60 days. UAE is much worse. I had one drug that wasn’t allowed but we were overnight connection so we left it on the air side. And yes I had counted exactly so I only had 2 pills that I could have given up. After several attempts the UAE never sent us back the paperwork approval like Japan did.
Nice video!!! If only pharmacies would start using rectangular shapped bottles they would be much easier to pack since they would pack flatter than round bottles which would help solve much of this med packing issue. Both my husband and I use inhalers which have to be delared to TSA, and they are packed in their labled boxes which are put in a clear bag separate from other meds. As someone who can't see much without my glasses I always pack an extra pair of my prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses and do the same for my husband. This is probably too big for you, but I just got from Amazon made by the Tripped company a pouch which is for chargers but it is perfect for a plane comfort item bag because it has so many pockets. And my Tripped pouch fits perfectly in my new Lug Jumper duffle bag which I am using when we fly to Rome in April for a Mediterranean cruise on United which has odd dimensions personal item bag requirements which this bag meets. I am a big Lug fan and own multiple Lug purses, tote bags, and other travel items because Lug is all about organization and so am I. Happy travels.
Hi Eunice, we are getting ready to go on an Alaska cruise. I have a torn meniscus that requires surgery in November. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I will need to use a cane. I purchased a folding cane that I can collapse and put in my bento bag. This should be interesting! I hope your back is doing better.
I have an insulin pen that needs to stay cold. I used ice packs for my last international trip. TSA had no problem with how I did it I used a very small see-through child size backpack to pack my insulin pen, alcohol wipes, sharps holder, etc. It worked beautifully.
I will be travelling to the UK in a couple of weeks’ time & since my last trip in 2020, I realise I’m travelling with more medicines than I’ve ever done before. Aging comes with all the health problems! Your video is pretty timely & I will be following all yr advice. BTW 11:4511:45 , I’m glad you use the phrase “just in case” every now & then as I’m one who use it too, but my friends think I’m paranoid. Not so for me as I believe in being safe rather than sorry
For some reason contact lens solution was the thing that confounded TSA this summer. Both my daughter and my sister had their containers opened, swabbed and discussed with a supervisor even though they were still factory sealed and within the allowable liquid limit. They were eventually allowed through. It happened in both North America and Europe.
I use a little red mesh zip bag to hold my Epi Pen and inhaler. I put it in the bin and usually have no issues in security domestically or internationally. I also make sure whomever I am traveling with knows where I typically keep that little bag in case of emergency.
Before my first overseas trip (2 yrs ago) I called my mail order pharmacy and asked if they would send me a label. They said they wouldn’t. I’m going to try and use a hair dryer to see if I can get the labels off the big bottles. I'll let you know if it works. Also, my brother has flown extensively overseas and he said he’d only been stopped once about his meds in a days of the week med container! After explaining they were his daily meds they let him go through!
Super duper helpful info. Thank you. I have a couple of meds that come in boxes. One holds meds in blister pacs and one for an inhaler. I remove the meds from the boxes and pack them in a ziploc. Then I fold down the boxes so they’re flat, cut off the ends and put them in the ziploc. Easier to tuck in somewhere in my personal item bag.
Love the ideas and will also use for my son's meds I give to the school, my meds I just take in my purse and work. So not great flying hacks, but life hacks! No one wants the huge Rx bottles Thank you and love you
Planning to fly with medication? Whether you're traveling domestically or internationally, it's crucial to know the rules and best practices to ensure a smooth journey. In this video, we cover everything you need to know about flying with prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and medical devices.
*What You'll Learn:*
– How to pack medications for air travel (carry-on vs. checked baggage)
– TSA regulations and what you need to declare at security checkpoints
– Tips for managing time zone changes and medication schedules
– The importance of keeping a medication list and doctor's notes
– How to handle temperature-sensitive medications during your trip
– Traveling with liquid medications and other special considerations
*Don't Miss:* Expert advice on navigating airport security with ease and the top mistakes to avoid when flying with medication.
Whether you're a frequent traveler or planning your first trip, these tips will help you stay prepared and stress-free. Subscribe for more travel tips and hit the notification bell so you never miss an update!
*VIDEO TIMELINE*
00:00 Intro Start
00:22 Medication List
01:21 Research
02:51 Check Rx Labels
03:03 Liquid Medication Requirements
04:02 Repackaging Rx Medications
05:53 Carrying Medication thru TSA
06:55 Medical Devices
08:08 Carrying Vitamins
09:48 OTC medications
10:33 What are you experiences with traveling with medication or medical devices?
11:13 Outro
*PRODUCTS FEATURED IN VIDEO*
– Small RX medicine vials: https://amzn.to/4dKfGAM
– Gray Travel Printer: https://amzn.to/4dxgFob
– Cream Label Printer: Linked in video or on Amazon here https://amzn.to/46RheXq
– Travel Pill Bottle Bag : https://nomad-lane.myshopify.com/discount/EUNICE10?rfsn=7587339.1ae494 – USE CODE EUNICE10 for 10% off!
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Paisley Top: TJMAXX
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– International Travel Must Do Now! https://youtu.be/CSShCl-9wZA?si=3JKJ7R_mU5QEMQEk
*Join the Conversation:* Have a tip for traveling with medication? Share it in the comments below!
Thank you for watching & visiting my channel! I appreciate your time & any feedback so please comment! I try EVERY product and I only recommend what I actually use and LOVE! As an Amazon Affiliate, Links I provide, may earn me affiliate commissions at NO additional cost to you and help support my channel. Some items are tagged in the video for you to shop directly! I get a small commission from the sale of these items and truly appreciate your support from these purchases!
PATREON CHANNEL & MEMBERSHIPS!
I have also started a Patreon channel where I will be putting up additional content that can not be found on my basic YouTube channel. This content is more about my personal life. You can find my Patreon Channel here: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheoryofSimple?fan_landing=true and for those of you that do not want to join Patreon, I have the same videos available via membership to my channel.
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#TravelTips #FlyingWithMedication #TSA #AirTravel #PrescriptionMedication #TravelingWithMedicalNeeds #MedicationManagement #HealthTravel #TravelSafety
Wait – what pharmacy? I’m kind of joking, but MY meds come via mail order in big bottles for 90 days. Meaning theres no pharmacy to ask for small labels or small bottles or any of that stuff. My solution is to repackage into a pill caddy with photocopies of the RX labels and each pill clearly labeled within the caddy. It’s all the same information as what is on the bottle but I just can’t pack those huge bottles for 20 days. Honestly, I’m glad I don’t take anything that would be iffy in any way.
Whatever labeling the military uses on prescription bottles you cannot peel them off . In order for me even to place those bottles in the trash, and to remove the label ahead of time, it requires a lot of soaking, and a lot of scraping with a knife to remove that label
WE just returned from 7 months 7 countries and were never questioned 1 time about our meds . We had them in our carry on . Most meds you can purchase in Turkey without a prescription and at better prices .
Hi Eunice ….. am I hallucinating, or did I see that you had a trick to hang a water bottle onto your tray table? did you use a hook of some sort? I'm flying in a couple weeks and want to hang my water bottle so it's close at hand. thanks
Good advice, I use a pill organizer, I fly within the US and TSA didn't care. I take the labels off the bottles and put them on index cards. TSA requires my inhalers to be in a separate clear bag.
When tubes of prescription cream/ointment, or a bottle of tablets comes in an outer small box with the medication details on, the pharmacist usually sticks the label on the box. You can ask your pharmacist to actually stick labels onto the tubes of prescription cream/ointment, and the bottle that is inside a small cardboard box. That way, you don't have to worry about taking the boxes when you travel. Hope this helps.
We are traveling to Spain and Portugal in September 24. Your video was so informative. I checked the cdc web site for both countries.
Unfortunately, when you get meds by mail, they will not do blister packs or extra labels.
For prescription creams instead of trying to peel off a the script that just won’t budge , I just fold the box flat and place it in the bag with the tube. I find it’s just easier than fighting with the label.
Thank you and all the viewers for all the great travel hacks with medications.
Great video!! I learned that our health insurance now covers me for travel and a lot people don’t check their insurance policies.
1. I went to my pharmacy and asked if I can get travel size bottles with my prescriptions and the pharmacy technician said he would ask the pharmacist on duty.
2. The pharmacist told me that we are allowed to get ONLY once a year travel size medications for travel. I got my travel medications and re-used my medication bottles for travel through out the year.
2. You can ask your doctor for a list of your medications and they print it out on their official letterhead and sign it so you will have it for back up.
3. You can ask your doctor for all your prescriptions and they will put it on their
letterhead and sign it so you will have a prescription if you need it.
Now when I travel I have travel size medications, a copy of my medications and prescriptions.
Also you can ask the customs in different countries questions about medications you want to make sure you are authorized to use and they will answer you back in English.
For those creams, leave the second tube home, then take the ends off the box so it will lay flat and you can put it in the bag with the rest of your medications. This way it's easy to match up to the tube.
Thank you, Thank you! Finally a realistic video on traveling with medical equipment
I print a miniature copy of my passport and on the other side I list my name, phone, email all my medications, allergies and emergency contacts. I keep that in my wallet at all times. Use a San serif font so it is easy to read even when it is tiny print.
I went to Greece in 2022. I carried my Rx in their original bottles. I had them in my personal item bag and never had a problem getting to Greece or coming home to USA. I find it quite unbelievable and petty that countries are making a big deal all of the sudden about bonafide Rx meds. I wonder about the very few irresponsible people who have screwed it up for the masses. The comment on here about contact solution being an issue in the USA blew my mind. It’s utterly ridiculous and evil that people are being ARRESTED for having perfectly valid and legal Rx medications. WOW, everyone is a criminal even in the USA…contact solution, really?!?!
Thankfully at age 61 I am not on any rx meds & just take very few supplements. We went to Italy for 3 wks & the supplements I took were packed & labeled in litte vitamin bags. No issues at all going through Atlanta,Rome, Genova, Florence & Bari Italy & NY (JFK). Sorry for those who have had issues with airlines & TSA.
On my last trip to Asia, I asked my pharmacy to reprint my pharmacy labels. They were happy to reprint the stickers so I could place them on amber colored ziploc bags to hold my medications.
What about all your vitamins… can you put them in a weekly “day” little container? Flying to Mexico.
Good information
I'm a retired CDL bus driver. I drove on to 5 different military bases around me, plus VA hospitals. I take off my prescription labels and put them on those small Tylenol tubes. I was checked at 1 or 2 of military bases & they were OK. TSA has never given me issues either.
This is really helpful! Love the idea of getting the small med bottles and moving the label or having the pharmacist print another. I have a daily pen injection with little needles, and put everything in a separate clear bag. I have a small Nalgene bottle that I use as a sharps container to carry my used needles back home. I've only flown in the US, but haven't had a problem with TSA. Thanks for the useful video!
We have a pharmacy in town that will make up a bubble pack of your meds, all the work is done for you! All the info on it. Maybe there is a pharmacy that does blister packing of meds and otc's near you? Great vid.
Ой, какая же, вы, – красивая! Простите, но ваша блузка пестрая, она вас поглощает. Она вас «сьедает»! Вас не видно из-за неё. Советую однотонные верха у лица. Как же вам идёт голубой цвет! Он вас очень бы украсил, был бы он – однотонный. Шикарная женщина! Спасибо большое за ваши бесценные советы!
If the instructions or script is on the box i just cut the single box panel and pack it flat with the sheet of blister tablets.
The paperwork for Japan, to carry drugs went fairly well. Most just had limits and we were carrying over 60 days. UAE is much worse. I had one drug that wasn’t allowed but we were overnight connection so we left it on the air side. And yes I had counted exactly so I only had 2 pills that I could have given up. After several attempts the UAE never sent us back the paperwork approval like Japan did.
Nice video!!! If only pharmacies would start using rectangular shapped bottles they would be much easier to pack since they would pack flatter than round bottles which would help solve much of this med packing issue. Both my husband and I use inhalers which have to be delared to TSA, and they are packed in their labled boxes which are put in a clear bag separate from other meds. As someone who can't see much without my glasses I always pack an extra pair of my prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses and do the same for my husband. This is probably too big for you, but I just got from Amazon made by the Tripped company a pouch which is for chargers but it is perfect for a plane comfort item bag because it has so many pockets. And my Tripped pouch fits perfectly in my new Lug Jumper duffle bag which I am using when we fly to Rome in April for a Mediterranean cruise on United which has odd dimensions personal item bag requirements which this bag meets. I am a big Lug fan and own multiple Lug purses, tote bags, and other travel items because Lug is all about organization and so am I. Happy travels.
Great advice again Eunice! Always good!
Hi Eunice, we are getting ready to go on an Alaska cruise. I have a torn meniscus that requires surgery in November. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I will need to use a cane. I purchased a folding cane that I can collapse and put in my bento bag. This should be interesting! I hope your back is doing better.
The link for the pill bottle bag goes to a purse website. Can you repost the link? Thanks.
My pharmacist was able to print a second copy of my prescription label for a recent trip. She also offered to package in a blister pack.
I have an insulin pen that needs to stay cold. I used ice packs for my last international trip. TSA had no problem with how I did it
I used a very small see-through child size backpack to pack my insulin pen, alcohol wipes, sharps holder, etc. It worked beautifully.
I will be travelling to the UK in a couple of weeks’ time & since my last trip in 2020, I realise I’m travelling with more medicines than I’ve ever done before. Aging comes with all the health problems! Your video is pretty timely & I will be following all yr advice. BTW 11:45 11:45 , I’m glad you use the phrase “just in case” every now & then as I’m one who use it too, but my friends think I’m paranoid. Not so for me as I believe in being safe rather than sorry
For some reason contact lens solution was the thing that confounded TSA this summer. Both my daughter and my sister had their containers opened, swabbed and discussed with a supervisor even though they were still factory sealed and within the allowable liquid limit. They were eventually allowed through. It happened in both North America and Europe.
I use a little red mesh zip bag to hold my Epi Pen and inhaler. I put it in the bin and usually have no issues in security domestically or internationally. I also make sure whomever I am traveling with knows where I typically keep that little bag in case of emergency.
Thanks for a great video as always!
Before my first overseas trip (2 yrs ago) I called my mail order pharmacy and asked if they would send me a label. They said they wouldn’t. I’m going to try and use a hair dryer to see if I can get the labels off the big bottles. I'll let you know if it works. Also, my brother has flown extensively overseas and he said he’d only been stopped once about his meds in a days of the week med container! After explaining they were his daily meds they let him go through!
I need to bring all the med bottles I'm moving by plane
I go to my pharmacy and have them print up new labels on smaller bottles.
Super duper helpful info. Thank you.
I have a couple of meds that come in boxes. One holds meds in blister pacs and one for an inhaler. I remove the meds from the boxes and pack them in a ziploc. Then I fold down the boxes so they’re flat, cut off the ends and put them in the ziploc. Easier to tuck in somewhere in my personal item bag.
Love the ideas and will also use for my son's meds I give to the school, my meds I just take in my purse and work. So not great flying hacks, but life hacks! No one wants the huge Rx bottles
Thank you and love you
I had a problem with TSA regarding my oral chemotherapy meds at the beginning but now I’m ok. However I still get flagged because of my port access.
Where do you find what’s allowed outside the us? Can your dr tell you or what international agency has that info?
BTW, I love that shirt on you, it really suits you.