Bringing along OTC pills?

[EmersonsFoot 0]

I'm about to head out to Canada to give some moral support to my fiancee during the interview, and then we're off to a wedding in the states before heading back home. Quite litterally the least of our worries, but we're 'finally' to the bottom of our checklist of things to do, so here's my question. Would either the Canadian or US side of the border cause any commotion if I brought along some vitamins and supplements? I'm a vegitarian and like to keep up on what I might be missing out on in my normal eating. I'm a little paranoid about suddenly depriving my body of something it's used to getting on a daily basis. It'd be rather annoying to finally be on the town together again only to find that the sudden change to my diet gave me a headache. I've gone accross the border a million times over in a car with no problems carrying them along in a little travel pill case, but I've never crossed the US/Canadian border on a plane before.

[Chicken_Little 0]

I've never had a problem. So long as you're not having oodles of the same kind in your bag (like more then you would need -- one bottle of each should be fine) I doubt they'd even bat an eye. I always carry ibuprofen, aspirin, pepto-bismol and immodium in my purse and have never had them say a thing.

[jen&darcy 0]

I have never had a problem. I have been searched several times and was never questioned.

Good luck!

[neiks 19]

Generally, small personal amounts of vitamins and suplements are allowed. Less than 3 months supply. Some OTC in the US are not considered OTC in Canada. For example Aleve (Naproxen sodium) and large dosages of Vitamin K, DHEA can be refused entry into Canada. Worst case senario you are asked to abandon them - but are not in any trouble. Also avoid carry a lot of medicine that contains ephedrine or pysodoepehdrine. You should be fine with a few packs of allergy or cold meds just not pack and packs of it.

If you carry any prescription medicine - keep it in the bottle from the pharmacy so it is easily idetifiable and to confirm it does belong to you.

Edited April 5, 2006 by neiks

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Generally, small personal amounts of vitamins and suplements are allowed. Less than 3 months supply. Some OTC in the US are not considered OTC in Canada. For example Aleve (Naproxen sodium) and large dosages of Vitamin K, DHEA can be refused entry into Canada. Worst case senario you are asked to abandon them - but are not in any trouble. Also avoid carry a lot of medicine that contains ephedrine or pysodoepehdrine. You should be fine with a few packs of allergy or cold meds just not pack and packs of it.

If you carry any prescription medicine - keep it in the bottle from the pharmacy so it is easily idetifiable and to confirm it does belong to you.

On the OTC, the reverse is also true--that some OTC in Canada are NOT OTC in US (this used to be the case with Claritin, which I brazened through more than once into US).