Using Pill Container in Carryon About This Page:

[ArielsMomto2]

I realize the title can be a little confusing but I couldn't figure out how to word it. I know you can take medications in your carryon when they are in their original bottles. I've done this lots of times. However, my family of four have a lot of medications and last year it took up 2 gallon size ziploc bags

So my question is, have any of you frequent flyers used the daily pill containers and just carried what you would need for your vacation in your carryon? I was thinking of just getting 4 of the 2 week size and filling them for each day we were there for each person. Has anyone done this or do you think it is doable?

[oldmom]

i've never risked that approach, but would love to. i figured TSA would have issues.

[Dave Marx]

Domestic travel is different than international travel, and liquids are different than pills.

Generally, you shouldn't have problems carrying pills that way on domestic flights. It's always a good practice to have full info on the subscriptions with you, though, in case you lose some of the meds, or end up staying longer than anticipated and need more. Taking the original bottles is a decent way to carry the necessary info and have a backup supply. Prescription liquids should not be repackaged, though, because they'll be exempt from the 3 oz. rule if they're in the original package, but limited to 3 oz. containers if they are repackaged.

On international flights, customs agents going in both directions are concerned with the importation of illegal drugs (including prescription meds that may be legal in some countries and illegal in others). So, for international flights, definitely keep things in the original bottles.

[Tracy M.]

I'm on 3 different medications and I always just combine all the pills into one bottle when I'm traveling (there's no way I'd confuse any of the medications). I've never even considered that it might be a problem.

[mickey0823]

, it should not be a problem. However, if anyone in your party is taking anything that would be concidered a "controled substance" (prescription pain killers), then you should keep those in their original pill bottles with a dr's note.

[EddieCVS]

I don't see it being a problem, if your not sure just go on the TSA website to be sure.

[Pris]

I have always done it with no problem at all.

[krisk11]

Glad to hear it as I have two small green one week pill containers and that is what I planned to put my rx's and my dd's rx's in them. All the meds are pills and none of them are anything unusual but I didn't feel like carrying down the original containers as we buy them 3 months at a time so the bottles are big.

[ArielsMomto2]

Thanks everyone for your answers. I did check the TSA website and they suggested to keep them in original containers but it isn't a requirement. I hadn't thought of what Dave mentioned and getting stuck somewhere and not having backup meds. My son has Aspergers and my daughter is ADHD, so not having their meds would be a complete nightmare. I'm gonna give this a little thought and I'll let you know how it works.

[Principessa_di_Fata]

I never even considered worrying about my prescription pills and flying. I just chuck a mess of them in the carry-on in plastic baggies, and no one has ever said anything to me about it. I don't bring the original bottles because I only take as much as I'll need for the trip, plus a few extra (in case of delays or whathaveyous).

Very good point about needing the prescription info in case of refills. All my prescription info is online at my pharmacy so with one click I can get refills. But for a general purpose, it raises a very good point.

[Disneyfan62]

I was wondering that too. I am only taking a carryon since our upcoming trip is only 4 days, and some of the bottles are too big- like vitamins and such. I use a pill organizer at home and planned to take that. Thanks.

[coffeechef]

I only take what I need in a one week container, or two week one if I am going more that a week. I usually have a couple extra days worth with me. I don't bring the prescription bottles. I do make sure though that I keep my meds hidden in the hotel room. especially the kids stuff ( aderal) I work in a College and I hear about students getting their meds stolen all the time, so I am careful not to leave anything out, even though I don't take anything that would have market value to anyone.

[saxgirl2003]

the one wk medicne holder is a good idea. My mom is considering using one this yr for our trip. As she will be back down to 2 meds after she gets off her coumadin. Hopefully that therapy will be over before our trip. right now she is on the coumadin, something for nausea, plus 2 others she has been taking for yrs. We normally just put all meds in the carry on. My dad had so much that we couldn't even consider using a one week container, Its a consideration for us. It makes it alot easier instead of using the bigs bottles we have. The bottles my mom has r for 3 mth prescriptions. So the bottles r pretty big.

[mom2twingirlies]

In January, I read all the information and carried DH's and DD's in the original packaging - what we needed plus a few extra days.

DM carried her's in her day by day - weekly containers.

Neither way was questioned. Although, we didn't actually travel by plane internationally, since we drove to the Detroit airport and flew domestically, so maybe that made a difference.

[lesabrowning]

I use a week long pill container with no trouble while flying an have never even been asked. (of course when I was on injectables no one asked about that huge bag of vials and needles either) I would keep painkillers and ADHD meds in the original containers as they are controlled substances.