taking pills on the plane?

Question

I am flying to Florida and would rather take my pills in a pill box rather than the pill bottles. Am I allowed to do this or will security stop me?

Answer 1

As long as its a plastic pill box it wont even register on the scanners. Pill boxes to my knowledge are not considered dangerous items. One thing to remember is keep your pill box in your purse, that way you have it with you on the airplane. Several of the airlines are using regional 30-70 seat air-crafts to take people on flights of less than 3 hrs. normal roller-board sized carry-on bags will not fit on these planes, so unless you know what size plane you're traveling on (which changes month to month), I would suggest a large purse or other smaller carry-on bag to hold anything valuable, or breakable. Also make sure you're not seated at a bulkhead as you will have to store your purse above your head for take off and landing. You can check with the gate agent prior to your flight and have them move you to an appropriate seat. Also let your flight attendant know if you will need any assistance at your destination, or if you have a fear of flying, or if you need to take medication at a certain time. This way we can make sure you have the water you need to take your pills and make sure the ground crew doesn't forget to assist you.

Answer 2

Last poster, what is she, completely helpless???....Sheesh

Technically you are required to carry prescription medications and controlled substances in the container that they were issued in.

It's not an issue of a pill box being a dangerous or a TSA requirement.

That being said, When I am at work with meds, going through security sometimes 5 times a day, I keep them in the script bottle. Many people prefer to use a container of their own choosing, and it doesn't pose a problem.

However, there are some militant TSA employees out there and you never know. They can do whatever they feel like doing. This is just how Rush Limbaugh got busted last week.

Take your chances with the box, you'll be fine.

Answer 3

I always fly with my medicine in my carry-on. Some of it is in it's original packaging, some of it isn't. Because I bring a lot of medication thoough (I travel from overseas into the US and stay for 3-6 months at a time) I bring a copy of the doctors prescription.

Just as a side note, the person above me said that TSA says all
meds must be in their original packaging with your name on it. In the country where I come from, they don't give out medication the way America does. They just give you the medication in the box it came on and that's it. No name on it, no doctors name on it, no nothing. And I've never had trouble going through security, even when I have been selected for a full search.

If you are going to bring your pills in a case other than their original packaging, you should bring a copy of your prescription just in case there are any descrepencies, or they choose to question you.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I've flown a couple hundred times and know that if you take them on carry on luggage, as long as they are in a bag, duffel or laptop case they shouldn't attract any attention. If, for the first time ever they took a closer look, they will simply ask what they are, tell them and you will be on your way. Not to mention the airlines don't want to risk a law suite by taking a persons medication away when it's possible to endanger their health.
Simply speaking, you should be just fine with a pill case.

Answer 5

According to the TSA your medications must be labeled. I too worked for an airline as a ticket/gate agent. It was always advised to us that your medication must be in the original prescription bottle that has your name on it. Otherwise you could have them confiscated. Yes people do get through with pill boxes, BUT should you be a selectee and have to have a full search it is advisable to travel with your meds in their prescription bottles to prevent any mishaps.

Answer 6

Take the original bottles, with the labels on them. Someone above wrote that they won't have time to check, and they might not, but you don't want your pills taken from you just in case. You should also have your prescription (or a copy of it).

Answer 7

If you're travelling within the U.S., then security is too busy looking for weapons, not prescriptions or over-the-counter meds. I just flew four times in the last two weeks and took probably a dozen different meds with me in my purse in only two different containers. No way could I fit all the different bottles with their original labeling in my suitcase, much less my purse! Assuming you are taking legitimate prescriptions or OTC meds, you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 8

They have to be in the original container with the prescription label on them.

Answer 9

VERY Unlikely on a domestic flight.