Travelling abroad with medications?

[ftmichael]

Hey folks! I'll be travelling outside the US for the first time in my life this January, to spend four weeks in the UK (yay!). I'm flying via France on the way there and via the Netherlands on the way home. I'll be bringing my prescription injectable testosterone (T) and needles - the T in my carry-on due to pressure and temperature concerns in

Comments

[mirthical]

I highly doubt that you'll run into trouble - my best friend is diabetic and carries all kinds of interesting things with her (insulin, needles, blood test strips and gadget, pump, etc) and she hasn't run into trouble. I think she was asked to put her insulin pump in a bin while going through the metal detector once, but that was it.

If you're still concerned, I would call up the airlines and ask them their policies on liquid medications, or better yet, the Transportation Security Administration (or equivalent) in charge of the airports you're going to go through.

[tisiphone]

Liquid medications are specifically exempted from the 100-ml per container rules.

[ftmichael]

Only if you need to take (i.e., put in your body) them on board the plane. :)

[tisiphone]

Erm, I don't think so actually. Even so, they're not going to check that you do so once you're on the plane - it's all security theatre anyhow.

[tisiphone]

Bring all your prescription medications and anything else you need to take them on your carry-on - if your luggage goes to Paris, Kansas instead of Paris, France you're going to be in trouble. Since it's liquids and needles you'll probably want to bring your prescription with you (that will also help if you lose it, drop it down the sink or whatever.) It might be a good idea to get a prescription for the needles (even if they're non-prescription you can usually get a prescription as a medical device, just to cover your behind).

[tisiphone]

Oh, I forgot. Even though you really should have prescriptions (and carry things in their original bottles, though that's not really a concern for a liquid), I've never actually been asked to see them.

[tisiphone]

I think once someone asked what it was, but they didn't actually seem that interested.

[doe_witch]

I am afraid I don't have any info on this like previous commenters have had, but I know (partially) how the position you're in can feel, so- you have my high fives and my well-wishes.

[nikolche]

Eight round-trip US/UK flights in the last three years (plus numerous inter-European flights) and I've not once been stopped because of my T. Heck, there have been times I've forgotten there are needles in my carry-on, put it through the scanner, and not had an issue. Only time I've ever been stopped was when I forgot to take a bottle of Orangina out of my messenger bag.

To sum up: just take the prescription. You'll likely not even need that, but it's useful to have. And, uh, don't put too much faith in TSA.

[winterlillies]

When my sister visited me in September she brought a copy of a doctor's note for her meds just in case. She even had one for her CPAP machine because she has sleep apnea and told me she breezed through security in the UK with the machine and it was the US that held her back taking the machine apart, etc. When in doubt have a doctor's note-it won't hurt you.