First trip to Zim in Sept. My doc has me on 4 prescription meds (mainly for BP) and several supplements. I have traveled out of country several times in the last number of years carrying my meds in plastic "weekly med boxes) with dividers for each day, am and pm. Even went to Sudan 2 years ago on a mission trip, traveling through Brussels going over and through Amsterdam returning with no problems. Only time I have been questioned, believe it or not, was in Montreal on a caribou hunt a few years ago. Am I likely to have any trouble going through Joberg/Harare? It would be a royal PITA to have to take each med in an original container, as I many of the supplements in bulk bottles. Thanks for any advice.

Don't take a chance. All prescription drugs should be in their respective prescription bottles. Take the weekly box and fill it in camp after you complete your air travel. And be sure to take MORE medication than needed to cover you should something unusual occur and you spend more time away than planned, including your malaria meds. All should be in your carry-on bag.

All it takes is one asshole customs agent in any country to screw up your trip.

drj

Do as LionHunter recommends. On the supplements go to the pharmacy and buy the smallest bottle for each one. It will cost you a couple of bucks but the peace of mind will be worth it.

Mark

Take some of the small zip lock "pill" bags, there are a couple of sizes, to your local pharmacy and have them put your meds in these and apply the labels to the bags instead of the regular bottles. My place had no problem doing this and commented about it being a great idea. Just let them know what your plans are, traveling, and should be no problem. These are a lot easier to carry than bottles and take up a lot less space. The are also waterproof, dustproof and the like. Works for me.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Good idea Larry, thanks.

Oh for the freakign love of 8 pound 7 ounce NASCAR Baby Jesus.

They are pills for a couple weeks. We are nto talking a 2 year supply here.

Get yoru Dr/ to give you a script in a small quantity and pack them in the original container and have at yoru safari. Same goes for suppliments. I Mean for fracks sake this stuff is nto ricker surgery here.

There are plenty of nooks and crannies in yoru stuff that they will all fit in there and you will never notice the extra bulk.

I took 4 prescriptions and 5 suppliments with me last month to SA and they didn't even look twice. Neither did Customs coming home.

There the mountain has been reduced to it's normal molehill.

Carry on.

Have the pharmacist "blister pack" the various meds, and put a prescription label on it and go hunt.

I take quite a few meds and am a Type II diabetic on insulin so I have a better than usual bunch of meds to transport. Plus insulin test strips and syringes. I last usually went to Zimbabwe for 2 months at a time. I carried my meds in the original containers and in my carry on luggage. I also carried spare prescriptions for each med assuming I would have no trouble having a local Dr issue local fillable prescriptions from them should it be necessary. Had no trouble in 8 trips there doing it this way.

I take my BP meds set up in 2 or 3 of those 7-day divided boxes, also take my own Cipro (penicillin allergic), usually some percoset in case something sprains or breaks, and at least a couple of types of sleeping pills. And a ton of OTC stuff just in case (Benadryl, tylenol, prevacid, immodium, etc,)

Five trips, never even been asked about it.

It never ceases to amaze me the (non)problems that can be generated out of thin air on here.

Like zimbabwe I am a diabetic and have to take my insulin, syringes and some other medications. All ways carried them in my carry on and have never been questioned about them. But for safety sake I carry them in the container that has the prescription sticker on them with my name. Also, I have a letter from my doctor explaining that I am a diabetic and I need these things.

I have an extensive medical arsenal containing anti-epileptics, painkillers (osteoarthritis) etc. I´ve been travelling to Africa yearly the last 10 years and no one has ever checked my meds. But the advice given on this thread is good, you can never be too sure.

Have a good trip!

Most North Americans are spoiled they forget that in most of the 3rd an 4th world countries if you can pay for medications you walk into a pharmacy and buy them.
I carry all my personal meds in a normal weekly "pill box" whenever or wherever I travel with no problems.

The only addendum is that anything that is a narcotic can be a big issue. If you don't have a prescription bottle with the script on you for that and the drug sniffing dog picks up on it, it can get "interesting" quickly. When I went to Zambia, they told me that narcotic pain meds were pretty much hospital use only there, so don't assume that people play by the same rules there that they do here either.

They probably (operative word here) won't hassle travelers with a small amount of prescribed meds, but someone who takes some of the nastier stuff (oxycontin, etc.) should check with the US embassy before just hauling it along.

Don't be an ugly American and assume our way or the highway.

only time I have seen a problem, after traveling all over the place, was a friend got put in handcuffs and got into trouble comming in to canada for having a few 15 or so vicodins in a diferent package, he had to contact his pharmacist and get them to fax a copy of his prescription from houston, it was a huge pain in the but and he was told that unless he produced a prescription he would be grtting charged.

i have also heard of people coming into the us getting in trouble for bringing large amounts of pills like viagra with no prescription.

That being said, I have not heard of anyone getting in trouble elsewhere in the world.

I have crossed borders professionally thousands of times. I carry meds consolidated in a big Zip Loc in my carry-on. Never once have had a problem. If you're on a maintenance dose of something, it's a good idea to have your doctor enter in into your Yellow Book in case you get injured and have to seek medical attention.