Can I take Co-Codamol tablets to the USA?

Question

I am travelling to Florida on holiday and need to take some medication with me for pain relief. I have been advised that tablets containing codeine are banned in the USA. Isthis corect?

Answer 1

we did. Speak to your travel agent. i had to ring usa ambassdor to get clearence, your insurance company should talk you through it, and give you contact numbers. I would put them in your suitcase rather than hand luggage. We went in march and they werent to bothered with searching cases!
It is very nice there hope you enjoy your holiday.

Answer 2

Well, yes a drug misuse service can help you with this. I have treated people with this problem - but not normally when a Doctor has prescribed them. Methadone and other drugs can be used in these circumstances to deal with the addiction to codeine - but you still need to deal with the back-pain! There are other ways. Replacing a co-codamol tablet with a lower dose Co-codamol initially, and then a paractemol (acetominophen) tablet once a day and finding which is the most comfortable and maintaining this for one to two weeks before reducing another one may help. Some people have tried this. However you should still be supervised by your Doctor or Substance Misuse Nurse. Don't just try it without any psycho-social support. Seeing another Doctor would be your best bet - s/he may have caused your problem by prescribing opiate analgesics rather than anti-inflammatories, and not advising you of the potential risks. Tramadol is similar to opiates but is not an opiate as such and is becoming very popular where anti-inflammatories alone are not working. For nerve pain Gabapentin is often used. However these are just some ideas, you need to see a Doctor - fast. Your headaches may well be a side-effect of taking the pain-killers on a long term basis. You need to have the back pain addressed because you may get rid of the addiction and the headaches but you should be able to live a pain-free life. You should not exceed 4g paracetamol (aceteminophen) a day - hence you should not be exceed ing Co-codamol 30/500mg or Co-codamol 8/500mg daily. My advice would be get a new General Practitioner - get a referral to a Pain Nurse (Clinical Nurse Specialist) or a Pain Relief Clinic, and explore what a non-residential substance misuse programme can offer you. Look forward to a comfortable life. EDIT - 13/02/07 - As you can see from the news treatment in a clinic or programme for addiction to prescription medication is not that unusual. Hopefully you will find this encouraging.

Answer 3

I'm Canadian/American and in Canada you can buy codeine over the counter in c-2's or 222's like a bottle of Tylenol 3's 100 count and still have in your pocket crossing the border. Any prescribed drugs as long as labels intact and not more then the amount on the prescription you are fine. I've flown with my prescription of Oxcycodones and those highly more addictive. Paralyzed after a car accident 32 years ago so I've been on and travelled with almost all pain meds only red up on the Co-Codamol but sounds about same as a Tylenol 3 or 4 hope this helps a little.
oLzPittBullGrip,Donnie

Answer 4

I agree with Dr. Frank as to the efficacy of Co-Codamol, however, as far as bringing codeine into the US, as long as you are bringing an amount in the original container which is in an amount suitable for your personal use for the duration of your trip, you may bring them to the US. It would be best to have a copy of the prescription from your GP.

Answer 5

I am on a lot of medication for a back problem, one of the tablets prescribed is Co -Codamol from the doctor. What I do is take my repeat prescription with me so if asked I can proove that it is prescribed by my doctor..........

Answer 6

I wouldn't take them anywhere and had not prescribed them for years. They are only 5% more potent than paracetamol, but are addictive, cause constipation, headache and abdominal pain. Stick to paracetamol. Most people that take regular co-codamol do so more because they feel edgy without them, due to mild withdrawal effects, rather than because they are a good pain killer!

Answer 7

I did, but the tablets had to be still sealed in, and none out of wrapping,if you are not sure ask travel agent or dr's enjoy holiday

Answer 8

Codeine is not banned in the US. It is available only by prescription.

I spent some time working for the FDA in imports.

When you bring your drug into this country, the people who may see it will be Customs. Customs does not make decisons about drugs it is suspicious of, but refers them to FDA or the Drug Enforcement Administration. Codeine is regulated by both; FDA for safety and effectiveness, and DEA because it is subject to abuse. I can't tell you what Customs will do, but they must see people bring in their own drugs in their luggage all day every day, and they didn't refer to FDA any drugs they took from travelers any more than a couple of times a year, and that was usually because it was a whole suitcase full.

I checked the Customs website, and found this statement for incoming travelers: "Prescription medications should be in their original containers, it is advised that you travel with no more than personal use quantities, a rule of thumb is no more than a 60 day supply. If medications or devices are not in their original containers, you should have a copy of your prescription with you."

I assume this is not a prescription drug where you are. Thus it is best brought in in its original container, in reasonable amounts.

I can't speak for customs, but I can see no problem whatsoever with bringing your own drugs for your own use here.

Addition: I found the DEA regulation! Now you have it in writing.

"Any individual who has in his/her possession a controlled substance listed in schedules II, III, IV, or V, which he/she has lawfully obtained for his/her personal medical use, or for administration to an animal accompanying him/her, may enter or depart the United States with such substance notwithstanding sections 1002-1005 of the Act (21 U.S.C. 952-955), provided the following conditions are met:

(a) The controlled substance is in the original container in which it was dispensed to the individual; and
(b) The individual makes a declaration to an appropriate official of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection stating:
(1) That the controlled substance is possessed for his/her personal use, or for an animal accompanying him/her; and
(2) The trade or chemical name and the symbol designating the schedule of the controlled substance if it appears on the container label, or, if such name does not appear on the label, the name and address of the pharmacy or practitioner who dispensed the substance and the prescription number.
(c) In addition to (and not in lieu of) the foregoing requirements of this section, a United States resident may import into the United States no more than 50 dosage units combined of all such controlled substances in the individual's possession that were obtained abroad for personal medical use. (For purposes of this section, a United States resident is a person whose residence (i.e., place of general abode-- meaning one's principal, actual dwelling place in fact, without regard to intent) is in the United States.) This 50 dosage unit limitation does not apply to controlled substances lawfully obtained in the United States pursuant to a prescription issued by a DEA registrant."

Answer 9

check with your pharmacist, your GP/Practioner nurse. or possibly the US embassy,

its quite possible the formulation may be banned from being sold in the US, but I'd be surprised if there was a ban on you taking you own personal medical tablets

Answer 10

Well, you know, they have better over-the-counter painkillers in the US than we do!