Medications / Drugs

[Scott65 27]

Not sure if this is the correct place, but since my fiance is from Ukraine thought it would be a good start. She is questioning which "medications" she can bring with her from Ukraine. I understand that there is not a strict control of substances AND also understand through others that these may include "home grown" types of remedies.

Does anyone have experience with this? Maybe brining in medications. I thought I read somewhere a post where someone said that every time he and his wife return to Ukraine.. They bring back her "home grown" remedies..

Thanks in advance!!

[misha_ 8]

Customs officers' approach is that you can bring a limited supply of medicine "for your personal use". If asked, argue this point. "Your personal use" concept is stretchable. You do not have to declare the medicine, so it is the customs job to find the medication and question you. Moreover, the worst they can do is ask you to throw it away. I had little trouble bringing packs of pain relievers that are not available in the US, fever relieving ointment, etc. If you are really concerned, bring a doctor's prescription or note.

Edited March 14, 2013 by misha_

[masha2012 2]

Not sure if this is the correct place, but since my fiance is from Ukraine thought it would be a good start. She is questioning which "medications" she can bring with her from Ukraine. I understand that there is not a strict control of substances AND also understand through others that these may include "home grown" types of remedies.

Does anyone have experience with this? Maybe brining in medications. I thought I read somewhere a post where someone said that every time he and his wife return to Ukraine.. They bring back her "home grown" remedies..

Thanks in advance!!

when i visited ukraine last year i brought a lot! it is small so i put all my medications inside my cloth and i was fine!! didn't have any problems

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Nothing can be brought into the United States that is not printed in English for ingredients. We were stopped for this ONCE entering from Canada but never from Ukraine. For some hand cream printed in Russian only. Alla had a box full of the stuff in her car that she was handing out as gifts to friends here, we went to Montreal for the day and got nabbed with it coming back. They were prepared to take it away from us but Alla offered to translate the ingredients for them. "We need an official interpreter for that" they said "I AM an official interpreter" They checked her out and waved us through and told her not to do it again.

Generally they do not make a big deal about this sort of thing (OTC pharmaceuticals) and Alla always brings back a crapload of the stuff. We never had a problem in checked baggage but be aware it could be confiscated

[baron555 934]

My wife always brings back a suitcase full of Russian medicines in her checked baggage.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My wife always brings back a suitcase full of Russian medicines in her checked baggage.

All "natural" of course!

Alla TAKES a suitcase full of clothes, shoes, electronics, etc. and returns with it full of "medicine", creams, lotions, potions, magical oils that cure arthritis and smell good, contact lenses, etc. Every time I get a *sniffle* she is digging in the bottom of the closet in her "medicine basket(s)" for the cure, it is in there!

This is not to mention the shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste ("Blend-a-med" is her favorite)sea salts, facial scrubs, all of which is "cheaper and better" than what we have here.

It is mostly subject to confiscation if checked but she doesn't worry about it and we have never had anything inspected in checked baggage

[misha_ 8]

All "natural" of course!

Alla TAKES a suitcase full of clothes, shoes, electronics, etc. and returns with it full of "medicine", creams, lotions, potions, magical oils that cure arthritis and smell good, contact lenses, etc. Every time I get a *sniffle* she is digging in the bottom of the closet in her "medicine basket(s)" for the cure, it is in there!

This is not to mention the shampoo, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste ("Blend-a-med" is her favorite)sea salts, facial scrubs, all of which is "cheaper and better" than what we have here.

It is mostly subject to confiscation if checked but she doesn't worry about it and we have never had anything inspected in checked baggage

Heh. Have you been treated with a soviet time cure-all balm called "zvezdochka" yet?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Heh. Have you been treated with a soviet time cure-all balm called "zvezdochka" yet?

Is this the smelly collar thing she made of cheesecloth and filled with foul smelling cooked stuff? It was from a NIGHTMARE! YES, she tried that. And I think after trying to strangle me with the thing, she ate it...after it sat on the kitchen counter for three days!

I swear, some of this is like Voodooo potions or witch's brew!

Edited March 16, 2013 by Gary and Alla

[misha_ 8]

Is this the smelly collar thing she made of cheesecloth and filled with foul smelling cooked stuff? It was from a NIGHTMARE! YES, she tried that. And I think after trying to strangle me with the thing, she ate it...after it sat on the kitchen counter for three days!

I swear, some of this is like Voodooo potions or witch's brew!

No, that's something else. Ask her what "zvezdochka" balm is. On the second thought, maybe it is safer not no know.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No, that's something else. Ask her what "zvezdochka" balm is. On the second thought, maybe it is safer not no know.

OH, she WILL know. I am afraid to ask. She will be awake early tomorrow morning making it!

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

We both brought back some medicines and cosmetic products from Russia with no problems. You don't have to declare medicines or hygiene/cosmetic products on your customs form as I remember. We never had our checked bags inspected by customs officers, but I had mine checked by TSA a couple of times. Nothing was ever removed, so I'm guessing the stuff I brought back wasn't something I wasn't supposed to bring with me.

With customs officers when checking in and giving them your declaration form, I'd say the best way to handle it is to relax, not be too nervous, and be honest about what you have with you if they ask. In my experience they mostly focused on asking me about food products. I always brought back some factory-sealed candies and snacks. They didn't care about those things. They just want to make sure you don't have meat, fruits or vegetables, seeds (could introduce non-native plant species to the environment) or things like this. They'll be chatty with you (at least they were with me, asking about where I was coming back from, what I did there, who I was visiting, what I brought home with me, etc.), so just relax and answer their questions openly. That's all you can do.

~ Amy

[Nick_Moscow 2]

Heh. Have you been treated with a soviet time cure-all balm called "zvezdochka" yet?

Yes!! Of course it heals everything from pulled muscles to pimples to warts Funny thing is, I think one of our Russian friends found "zvezdochka" in a local Indian shop - so I guess this is an international miracle remedy.

[Nick_Moscow 2]

Generally they do not make a big deal about this sort of thing (OTC pharmaceuticals) and Alla always brings back a crapload of the stuff. We never had a problem in checked baggage but be aware it could be confiscated

Of course if you haven't been to Eastern Europe yet, you probably don't know what "OTC pharmaceuticals" means over there! There's so much more that you can get without a prescription: antibiotics, suppositories, Viagra, etc. And strangely enough, there aren't prescription-drug addicts running around Russia - so I wonder what makes our prescription drug laws so strict -- fear of lawsuits, protection for patients from overdoses, increased profits... ? Actually, it's funny when you think about it - the Russians are surprised when they come here how much you can buy in a drugstore - food, drink, wine, beer, clothes, toys, etc. ...And Americans are surprised over in Russia that you can buy so many types of drugs without a prescription

[misha_ 8]

Yes!! Of course it heals everything from pulled muscles to pimples to warts Funny thing is, I think one of our Russian friends found "zvezdochka" in a local Indian shop - so I guess this is an international miracle remedy.

NY Times says it is of Chinese origin and it got to the soviet union by way of Vietnam. Anyhow, it is supposed to cure everything and yesterday's hangover.

[eekee 182]

Why bother with being addicted to prescription opiates when heroin is cheap? Also adderall/Ritalin are illegal.

Strong painkillers are by prescription only though, as far as I know.

Edited March 18, 2013 by eekee