Just Cruisen' Posted May 17, 2006 #1 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Our documents say to bring all perscription drugs in the orginal container. Is this really necessary? My bottles are those chunky 3 month bottles, very big and bulky. I was planning on using a 7 day pill organizer.:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valentine's Mom Posted May 17, 2006 #2 Share Posted May 17, 2006 I have yet to cruise with HAL, my 1st HAL cruise will be in November, but I have never brought my drugs in the original bottles. I also use a daily dispenser. However I always take at least 4 or 5 additional days worth of medicine with me just in case something were to prolong my trip. You never know. It is a good idea to have everything written down as to what the drug is and is dosage and placed in your luggage though so it can speak if you can't. I guess to be sure you should check with CS but I really don't know how they would know if you carried medicine.:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseygirl3 Posted May 17, 2006 #3 Share Posted May 17, 2006 I think one of the reasons they request this is that if there were a medical emergency, it would be easy for medical staff to know what meds/dosages the patients was on. My husband takes a few meds, and he always packs his in those weekly dispenser containers. But he always packs one extra week's worth in a separate container in case something were to happen to the other one. And always keep it on your person in a carry-on; don't ever put your meds in checked luggage in case your luggage is lost. It's also a good idea to write down all your meds with the correct strength and dosing information and keep it in your wallet. You'd be surprised how many people don't know the name of their med or what the strength is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jemima Posted May 17, 2006 #4 Share Posted May 17, 2006 We take prescription medicine in the original container. I think laws in some places may require this. Also, if the medicine is in the original container it will have information on the label that might be needed in an emergency. We also make it a practice when traveling to carry over-the-counter medicines in the original container. You might check with a pharmacist on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carolcp Posted May 17, 2006 #5 Share Posted May 17, 2006 if you get your drugs at a local pharmacy, they should be able to supply you with a small bottle with an offical label. Carol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsot Posted May 17, 2006 #6 Share Posted May 17, 2006 I have heard this caution for different types of international travel and assumed it was related to border-crossings and customs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frogs Posted May 17, 2006 #7 Share Posted May 17, 2006 It's also critical if the drug you are taking is one that can be abused and sold on the black market. Having the original bottles proves that you can legally posses the drugs. We always carry our original bottles. Can you possibly cut the labels off the bottles? I'm not sure but that may be an alternative. Even a statement from your doctor may suffice. Enjoy your cruise! Blessings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 17, 2006 #8 Share Posted May 17, 2006 I always bring our Rx drugs in pharmacy bottles. My pharmacist provides manageable size bottles for us. Perhaps yours will put yours in small bottles for travel? I bring our daily/weekly pill holders and fill them when we arrive on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeOhMy Posted May 17, 2006 #9 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Since I too get my meds in 3 month increments by mail and some of them are very valuable on the street, I do not care to carry that large a supply. By my calculations I will have a fresh 3 month supply just before I sail. My doctors have agreed to give me a letter on their letter heads with a statement that these are my legitimately prescribed meds. Takes up much less space. My insurance has a strong incentive to go through the mail process. One month supply of one med from my local pharmacy with "discounts" is $64. By mail it is $35 for 3 months. I can take a hint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted May 17, 2006 #10 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Since I too get my meds in 3 month increments by mail and some of them are very valuable on the street, This is why the cops like to see prescription medicine in the original container. It's hard to tell what some of the pills are without looking at the pills in the bottle, just a letter won't do that. Virgil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Cruisen' Posted May 17, 2006 Author #11 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Since I too get my meds in 3 month increments by mail and some of them are very valuable on the street, I do not care to carry that large a supply. By my calculations I will have a fresh 3 month supply just before I sail. My doctors have agreed to give me a letter on their letter heads with a statement that these are my legitimately prescribed meds. Takes up much less space. My insurance has a strong incentive to go through the mail process. One month supply of one med from my local pharmacy with "discounts" is $64. By mail it is $35 for 3 months. I can take a hint. This is exactly the same with me. That's the reason I don't want to carry those big bottles!!! I will try to get a letter from my doctor. The advice about taking extra is good. I never thought of that!! The mail phatmacy would not send small bottles and probably doesn't even have them since they only dispense in 3 month quantities. Thanks for all the advice!!! It's just two more weeks and I am getting excited!!! Haven't cruised since 1999!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 17, 2006 #12 Share Posted May 17, 2006 DH has many prescriptions. We also get 90 day supplies (soon to change) and I always have the drug store put them in several small bottles - they know we travel a lot. It has never been a problem getting the smaller bottles. It is always wise to keep your prescriptions in their original bottles just incase anyone questions what the pills are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudgesmom Posted May 17, 2006 #13 Share Posted May 17, 2006 We must receive our meds in those 3 months bottles by mail. We cannot use the local pharmacy for recurring perscriptions on our insurance. I'll bet you can contact the pharmacy by phone or email and ask them to send or FAX you a printout (Official -:) ) of all your perscriptions. That might alleviate any questions as well as eliminating the need to carry all those giant bottles. Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhannah Posted May 17, 2006 #14 Share Posted May 17, 2006 It is always the best practice to have your prescriptions in their original containers. That way there's little question if they are examined for any reason. One alternative would be to have your physician give you a new script to take with you. We always take our vision prescriptions with us because should something happen to our glasses it would make it much easier/faster to get them replaced. Maybe if you had the Rx from your doctor that would satisfy the authorities. I don't know ... just a thought. But if something happened to your meds (like you dropped them in the bath water) having a script might facilitate getting them replaced while you're away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudgesmom Posted May 17, 2006 #15 Share Posted May 17, 2006 Jim, That's a good idea about the optical perscription. I do that, too. If the pharmaceutical perscription is a controlled substance, it may be impossible to get a second 'script. If the medicine is that controlled, I myself would probably suck it up and haul the big three-month bottle. It is interesting that there is no way to look in the bottle and confirm that the contents match the label! Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 17, 2006 #16 Share Posted May 17, 2006 I am sure authorities that would be apt to be checking to be certain you are carrying the drug you claim it to be by Dr. Rx have access to PDR (Physician Desk Reference) and certainly internet sites and other books which picture exactly what a particular drug in whatever strength looks like. If this is what they do, they know what many of the controlled substances look like without needing reference materials. Personally, in all of our (loades) of travel, I have never yet heard of anyone having difficulty traveling with their legitimately prescribed meds. It is always best for the reasons given to use the original bottles whenever possible. Don't worry about it too much. The chance of your having a difficulty traveling with your prescribed meds is teeny, teeny tiny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 17, 2006 #17 Share Posted May 17, 2006 As others above have said, ALWAYS travel with more days of meds than you plan on needing. Too many variables can occur which may necessitate your having extra. When we leave the ship in port, I always bring a small pill case in my purse that holds 2 days worth of our absolutely necessary meds. Who knows what could happen ashore that would make us not get back to the ship. (Remember the pax in the Falkland Islands who had to stay ashore overnight due to seas being too rough to bring them back on tenders?) That is a time when I would have no Rx or original packaging to show authorities but none of them are controlled substances so I don't worry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bala girl Posted May 17, 2006 #18 Share Posted May 17, 2006 For those with 90 day mail order plans, you always get a sheet with counseling on taking the drug. This sheet usually has your name, name and dosage of drug, directions for taking drug, Dr's name, and refills remaining. Take a copy of this sheet with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kakalina Posted May 17, 2006 #19 Share Posted May 17, 2006 For those with 90 day mail order plans, you always get a sheet with counseling on taking the drug. This sheet usually has your name, name and dosage of drug, directions for taking drug, Dr's name, and refills remaining. Take a copy of this sheet with you. I get my meds from VA in 90 day supply and large bottles, but the VA supplys a copy of the lable and a info sheet per script, I take all 3 with me. I don't wish to get stopped in some podunk checkpoint for any amount of time while it is checked out. better safe(and quick) than sorry. Virgil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msraye Posted May 17, 2006 #20 Share Posted May 17, 2006 ALWAYS, ALWAYS take prescripton meds in the original bottles. I have traveled all over the world and I HAVE seen folk stopped because they did NOT have the medicine in original containers. Many of the countries have periodic "crackdowns on drugs" and YOU could make someone's quota. The least you will lose is your time while you are detained. You COULD end up in jail (in some unfortunate places) WITHOUT the medicine you need. Imagine what would happen if they just confiscate the drugs and send you on you way. Yes, it probably won't happen to you---but, what if it does? Even 3 month supplies do not take that much space!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlp20 Posted June 27, 2006 #21 Share Posted June 27, 2006 O.K. an example to close the subject. Today, 6/26/2006, talk show host Rush Limbaugh was detained today at Miami airport for having prescription drugs in his luggage. Limbaugh was carrying the drugs in a bottle without his name and after further investigation; it was found he had no prescription for the drug. Although these were arrest able offensives, Limbaugh was let go after a three hour hold. __________________ Anything that doesn't kill you, just hurts a hell of a lot Sea Princess Star Princess Carnival Pride Diamond Princess Sapphire Princess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croman02 Posted June 27, 2006 #22 Share Posted June 27, 2006 What good ideas on this post! One more thought--when we travel we each carry a supply of the really essential meds--"just in case". I have never thought to bring a couple of days' supply on shore excursions but what a great idea!! Here,I always keep a couple of pills for my husband in my purse in case we are away from home at dose time but never thought about bringing them on shore ex that were scheduled to get back in time to take them. Thanks for the hints!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croman02 Posted June 27, 2006 #23 Share Posted June 27, 2006 I think I just wrote a reply and forgot to submit it. if it's a duplicate, I apologise. Wonderful ideas in these posts. One more thought---my husband and I each carry a supply of the essential meds when we travel--just in case... Thanks for all the good ideas!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sueseb Posted June 27, 2006 #24 Share Posted June 27, 2006 We also have a mail in pharmacy that sends a 90 day supply. I called them and asked if they would please send labeled, smaller bottle for travel. They did not , but sent duplicate labeled bottles so that I could at least carry a smaller number of pills than a 90 day supply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted June 27, 2006 #25 Share Posted June 27, 2006 If you use such things as the seven day pill holders, I would feel safe putting your pills into those holders as long as you BRING THOSE LABELS you received from your 90 supply pharmacy. If you have the labels with you, it is proof they have been prescribed for you. The authorities are well aware that a great many people get their prescribed meds in 90 day supplies and that it is impractical to travel with such large bottles. They know (can easily find out) what most of the common meds look like. The internet has loads of sites that picture and describe each tablet,capsule etc Bring the pharmacy labels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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