Bringing basic medicines to the states

[HopeFaithLove 13]

Hi everybody! Wanna know if I could bring some medicines (check-in baggage) for my kids who will come with me to the states. The medicines are very basic such as cough and cold syrups (bisolvon and neozep), paracetamol (tempra and calpol), antibiotics (cepalexin & amoxicillin). I just wanna be prepared for my kids use just in case they get sick. These are over the counter medicines which I usually give to my kids.

Please share your thoughts and experiences. Are these medicines allowed ? Thank you very much to all.

[L+T 71]

Hi everybody! Wanna know if I could bring some medicines (check-in baggage) for my kids who will come with me to the states. The medicines are very basic such as cough and cold syrups (bisolvon and neozep), paracetamol (tempra and calpol), antibiotics (cepalexin & amoxicillin). I just wanna be prepared for my kids use just in case they get sick. These are over the counter medicines which I usually give to my kids.

Please share your thoughts and experiences. Are these medicines allowed ? Thank you very much to all.

Antibiotics are "by prescription only" in the USA. Not sure about the others. Regardless, here are the guidelines:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/restricted/medication_drugs.xml

Medication/Drugs

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) prohibits persons from importing into the United States any prescription drug that has not been approved for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or which is adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the Act. Moreover, in those instances where a United States manufacturer makes an FDA-approved prescription drug and sends it abroad, the Act also prohibits any person other than the original manufacturer from importing the drug back into the United States. Thus, in virtually all instances, individual citizens are prohibited from importing prescription drugs into the United States.FDA Enforcement Policy Regarding the Personal Importation of Violative Drugs

The FDA has developed guidance entitled “Coverage of Personal Importations” which sets forth the FDA enforcement priorities with respect to the personal importation of unapproved new drugs by individuals for their personal use. Under this guidance, as an exercise of enforcement discretion, FDA may allow an individual entering the United States to import a three month supply of an unapproved drug if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The intended use of the drug is for a serious condition for which effective treatment may not be available domestically;
2. The drug will not be distributed commercially by the importer;
3. The product is considered not to represent an unreasonable risk;
4. The individual seeking to import the product affirms in writing that the drug is for the patient’s own use and provides the name and address of the doctor licensed in the United States responsible for his or her treatment with the product, or provides evidence that the product is for the continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country.

The FDA is responsible for pharmaceutical admissibility determinations. If you have any questions as to whether a specific pharmaceutical may be imported into the United States, please contact the FDA, Division of Import Operations and Policy, at (301) 796-0356.

If you have any questions regarding the importation of a controlled substance into the United States, please contact the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control, International Drug Unit, at (202) 305-8800.

[kattze 0]

Hi everybody! Wanna know if I could bring some medicines (check-in baggage) for my kids who will come with me to the states. The medicines are very basic such as cough and cold syrups (bisolvon and neozep), paracetamol (tempra and calpol), antibiotics (cepalexin & amoxicillin). I just wanna be prepared for my kids use just in case they get sick. These are over the counter medicines which I usually give to my kids.

Please share your thoughts and experiences. Are these medicines allowed ? Thank you very much to all.

I take nyquil with me all the time when flying. Helps me sleep! You will be fine with the syrups and paracetamol. You will need to bring an up to date prescription for the antibiotics.

With that said if you're at all concerned.. cold syrup and paracetamol is cheap at pharmacies in the US!

[HopeFaithLove 13]

Antibiotics are "by prescription only" in the USA. Not sure about the others. Regardless, here are the guidelines:

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/restricted/medication_drugs.xml

Medication/Drugs

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) prohibits persons from importing into the United States any prescription drug that has not been approved for sale by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or which is adulterated or misbranded within the meaning of the Act. Moreover, in those instances where a United States manufacturer makes an FDA-approved prescription drug and sends it abroad, the Act also prohibits any person other than the original manufacturer from importing the drug back into the United States. Thus, in virtually all instances, individual citizens are prohibited from importing prescription drugs into the United States.FDA Enforcement Policy Regarding the Personal Importation of Violative Drugs

The FDA has developed guidance entitled “Coverage of Personal Importations” which sets forth the FDA enforcement priorities with respect to the personal importation of unapproved new drugs by individuals for their personal use. Under this guidance, as an exercise of enforcement discretion, FDA may allow an individual entering the United States to import a three month supply of an unapproved drug if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The intended use of the drug is for a serious condition for which effective treatment may not be available domestically;
2. The drug will not be distributed commercially by the importer;
3. The product is considered not to represent an unreasonable risk;
4. The individual seeking to import the product affirms in writing that the drug is for the patient’s own use and provides the name and address of the doctor licensed in the United States responsible for his or her treatment with the product, or provides evidence that the product is for the continuation of a treatment begun in a foreign country.

The FDA is responsible for pharmaceutical admissibility determinations. If you have any questions as to whether a specific pharmaceutical may be imported into the United States, please contact the FDA, Division of Import Operations and Policy, at (301) 796-0356.

If you have any questions regarding the importation of a controlled substance into the United States, please contact the Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control, International Drug Unit, at (202) 305-8800.

Thank you for this information.

I take nyquil with me all the time when flying. Helps me sleep! You will be fine with the syrups and paracetamol. You will need to bring an up to date prescription for the antibiotics.

With that said if you're at all concerned.. cold syrup and paracetamol is cheap at pharmacies in the US!

Thank you for sharing. I will surely bring cold and cough syrups.

[Leatherneck 693]

Are you worried you might not find cold medicine and cough syrup? No worries, the U.S. is a pretty advanced country, there is plenty of cold medicine and cough syrup here. Between Wal Mart, Target, Walgreens, Sav-on, CVS, Kroger, Rite-Aid, Eckerd and Longs Drugs, it won't be hard to find cold medicine and cough syrup.

Save that room in your luggage for an extra pair of shoes.

Edited March 18, 2012 by Leatherneck

[inyong 0]

Hi everybody! Wanna know if I could bring some medicines (check-in baggage) for my kids who will come with me to the states. The medicines are very basic such as cough and cold syrups (bisolvon and neozep), paracetamol (tempra and calpol), antibiotics (cepalexin & amoxicillin). I just wanna be prepared for my kids use just in case they get sick. These are over the counter medicines which I usually give to my kids.

Please share your thoughts and experiences. Are these medicines allowed ? Thank you very much to all.

Hi I had done that, unless you have to put them inside your luggage that's it, hmmm medicine in the US are

just too expensive and you need prescriptions before you can buy if not over the counter medicines, and when I have to get my prescription for anti biotics as it not over the counter I have to pay the doctor 150 usd for prescription of not over the counter medicine. So maybe you have to bring them. Good Luck!

[Leatherneck 693]

Hi I had done that, unless you have to put them inside your luggage that's it, hmmm medicine in the US are

just too expensive and you need prescriptions before you can buy if not over the counter medicines, and when I have to get my prescription for anti biotics as it not over the counter I have to pay the doctor 150 usd for prescription of not over the counter medicine. So maybe you have to bring them. Good Luck!

Careful if you're advising the OP it is okay to import cephalexin and amoxicillin by putting it in her luggage. Both drugs require a prescription for use in the U.S., customs would probably only confiscate the drugs and send the OP on her way -- but that is no way to start off in one's new country.

You managed to get away with it, the OP might not do so. One never knows the attitude, mood or demeanor of any customs officer until you're in that line and they're staring back at you. My experience is most of them get out of bed in a pissy mood or get a pissy attitude while dealing with the public.