Bringing Prescription Medicine into the US

[Mike E 11,741]

2 hours ago, Cathi said:

I travel with narcotics every time I travel, which is often, and I have never done this, didn't even know it was a thing. I have on many occasions had more then 50 and never once have I been questioned about it, let alone had them taken away

So?

 

I go over the speed limit at times and haven’t been cited since the 1990s.

 

Speaking of citations, I did cite CBP policy. 

 

I’ve known of this policy and have rigorously adhered to it for decades, even after (or especially because) I had Global Entry. I enjoy my codeine.    
 

Also on this thread there seems to be massive confusion between TSA and CBP.

Edited May 23, 2023 by Mike E

[Vickys_Mom 230]

10 hours ago, Sha-Lee88 said:

One of the meds she has is a Schedule IV opioid, Tramadol. Her prescription for a 90 day supply would entail over 300 of these pills. As you can imagine, I am deeply concerned that showing up with that many Schedule IV pills may lead Customs to not allow her into the country.

It's not so much a Customs issue as it is a DEA issue.   

 

You want to find United States Code, Title 21, Part 1301.26.  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-II/part-1301/subject-group-ECFRa5bd18e3d01cd02/section-1301.26

 

I got to this after bouncing off several other links through CBP and the FDA.  I also see the reference to the "50 dosage units" in this item.

 

Note that she *must* declare her medications on arrival. 

 

I don't think they would prevent her from entering the country.  I would expect her to be brought into secondary to discuss the medications.  (It's a *lot* of medication.)  She needs to have all of her documentation with her.  She should repeatedly explain that it's all for personal use, it's so many pills because she has is a 90-day supply, etc. 

 

If the point of entry is *not* her final destination make sure she doesn't have a quick connection to another flight.  

 

I'd be more concerned that they might seize the entire supply while they get more information.  (I think she'd get it back but it might take some time.)

 

Regards,
Vicky's Mom

[JeanneAdil 6,581]

16 hours ago, SalishSea said:

No doctor in the US would ever prescribe that many Tramadol.

 

The only patients who can get long-term PO narcotics are cancer patients, and even then it would likely not be Tramadol, which is general used in the short-term for surgical pain.

crrect  mayo clinic says

Tramadol is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain, including pain after surgery. The extended-release capsules or tablets are used for chronic ongoing pain.

 

Tramadol belongs to the group of medicines called opioid analgesics. It acts in the central nervous system (CNS) to relieve pain.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/tramadol-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20068050

 

and CBP

Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Convicted Sex Offender ... in Boston seized a shipment from Thailand containing 196 grams of the opioid drug Tramadol.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/tags/archive-media-releases?page=61

 

 

[Calicolom 266]

18 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

You sure about that? It has been a class IV since 2014.  It can be addictive.  @SalishSea, your thoughts?  I would make sure I had COMPLETE documentation before bringing 300 tablets into the US.

we bring medication for the whole family, without prescription. We declare it at costumes every time. Problem comes in. when you not declare something.

[SalishSea 17,970]

1 hour ago, Calicolom said:

we bring medication for the whole family, without prescription. We declare it at costumes every time. Problem comes in. when you not declare something.

The problem is when you bring in amounts of scheduled medications (narcotics) that are greater than normal for personal use.   That’s the gist of this thread.

[Cathi 5,771]

Flew to and from Florida for a week and no one even looked at my scripts, they were in my purse and went thru the xray machine There was an officer with a dog sniffing carry-ons, purses and such, coming home from Florida, and the dog never flinched. I carry them in the original script bottles and keep them all together in a plastic bag. Again, I travel all over the world all of the time and I have never once been questioned a single time about my meds and what I have, is far stronger than Tramadol. 

[lisaouerfelli 0]

Have her bring her script of all her meds with her. I'm American and I need it to travel with my narcotics.

[flicks1998 1,044]

On 6/2/2023 at 9:26 PM, Cathi said:

Flew to and from Florida for a week and no one even looked at my scripts, they were in my purse and went thru the xray machine There was an officer with a dog sniffing carry-ons, purses and such, coming home from Florida, and the dog never flinched. I carry them in the original script bottles and keep them all together in a plastic bag. Again, I travel all over the world all of the time and I have never once been questioned a single time about my meds and what I have, is far stronger than Tramadol. 

Normally you will find US Customs more strict on prescription drugs with flights from either Mexico or Canada, or even more strict on overland arrivals from Mexico.  Both countries are "getaway" countries for US citizens/PRs to find affordable prescription drugs.  I understand that some people have conditions that require them to take certain drugs, but the US leads the world (by far) on the amount of prescription drugs that are consumed.  Over 70% take at least one prescription drug daily, while 50% take 2 or more on a daily basis.  I work in a large health system that has locations in the US and overseas.  Its amazing to see the first line of defense in the US is to throw prescription drugs at someone.  I believe Americans spend almost $700 billion a year just on this.  There is alot of information on how the US prescription drug industry works and its all quite ugly.  The US drug industry tries to scare Americans from seeking out drugs overseas telling them that they are tainted or inferior, but in reality, if someone goes to a reputable health clinic, the chances of tainted drugs is small.

[quesofat 1]

On 5/22/2023 at 7:16 PM, W199 said:

Practically every doctor I have gone too, including the most famous ones, have all said they have learned from me.  I even developed my own cure for something that doesn't have a cure (and saved my life literaly).  This was written up in JAMA, the most widely read and respected peer reviewed journal that doctors read.

 

So while I'm not a health care professional, in the areas that I have studied, I know more in many ways, else I'd be dead.

 

The same way you know more about certain immigration topics than lawyers do.

Link me?