Flying abroad with medicines? What travellers need to know before packing prescription drugs

Packing medicine is almost natural for most travellers. Painkillers, allergy medications, sleeping pills, or even routine prescriptions of thyroid, blood pressure, diabetes, or anti-anxiety pills can easily find their way into a traveller’s luggage. However, many international tourists do not realize that medicines which are common in one country might not be allowed in other nations.Whether it is Japan and its restrictions on stimulants or the UAE and its laws related to controlled medications, travellers from all over the world have found themselves subjected to interrogations and having to provide evidence of being medically qualified to carry certain medicine, not to mention having to give up their medicine at the customs.The problem has grown increasingly relevant as the issue of regulating prescription and controlled medicine across international borders has become more common.Every country has its own drug-control laws. Medicines sold freely over the counter in one nation may be classified as controlled substances elsewhere. Even certain cold and flu tablets, sleeping pills, or strong painkillers can trigger scrutiny at international airports. For instance, while traveling to Japan, caution is advised regarding the importation of medicinal drugs with stimulants or narcotics. There exist many everyday drugs and some decongestants that are legal in other nations but highly controlled in Japan, or even prohibited outright. The amount of the imported medication in such circumstances should also not exceed certain limits. On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates has strict restrictions on any medicines containing narcotic or psychotropic drugs. Travellers carrying certain prescription medicines may need supporting medical documents, prescriptions, or prior approvals depending on the drug category.One of the most common travel misconceptions online is that carrying more than a 30-day supply of medicine is universally illegal. That is not entirely accurate.It is crucial to remember that there are great variations in the regulations concerning the amount of drugs a tourist is permitted to import. However, many nations have established the limit of the quantity of drugs one may legally bring into the country. For instance, in Japan, one is permitted to import medications with no further documents required up to the amount of one-month supply based on prescriptions. Other countries could allow bringing a bigger amount of prescription drugs in case of appropriate documentation. The main lesson to learn here is that one cannot make any assumptions about the policies on the import of medicine.The latter is very relevant for those who suffer from such diseases as diabetes, hypertension, problems with thyroids, epilepsy, psychological problems, and heart conditions.It is also useful to mention generic drug names.The most common mistake that travellers tend to do is pack medicine in an unlabeled pill box or Ziploc bag. Although this makes life easier, it can cause unnecessary difficulties in passing through customs.The second mistake that travellers usually make when travelling abroad is considering that all over-the-counter medicine is legal. Certain cough syrup, powerful painkillers, sedatives, and anti-anxiety drugs may have substances that are banned in other countries.It is recommended to consult government embassies or health ministries instead of using social media information on travel.With the constant growth in international trips, drug testing at airports becomes more prevalent around the world. The majority of travellers who are taking prescribed medicines will have no trouble passing through the airport customs by following local laws and carrying required documents. However, not consulting the necessary regulations ahead of time can quickly result in a traveller's nightmare.For those travelling internationally in the upcoming summer, one of the most sensible things to check before a flight may not be passport validity or luggage allowance, but the legality of the medicine carried on board.