What States Require Medication to be in Prescription Bottles when Flying

Traveling can be stressful enough when you are well but if you have an illness it can obviously be much worse. So if need to take your prescription medication on a plane with you that can add to the stress if you are unsure if you will be able to fly with them.

I first thought about writing this article when my brother, who has some health issues, was coming to visit me from the UK and he wasn’t sure if he could bring all of his medication with him. Fortunately for me, as I am very healthy I had no experience with this, so I had to do some extensive research. This is the result of that research.

I will go into the TSA medication rules and regulations in more detail below. If you want to check the official guidelines you will find links at the bottom of the article to assist you.

What states require medication to be in prescription bottles when flying?

The following states require medication to be in prescription bottles when flying:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida,
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Texas.

This can be subject to change of course.

You should note that while the TSA does not require medication to be in prescription bottles, some states have their own laws, so it is best to check the state laws of your destination before traveling.

However, having medications in their original containers can be helpful for identification purposes, not only when flying but also to ensure you do not take the wrong medicine.

Flying with prescription medications

Can you take prescription drugs on a plane?

It would be rather dangerous in some circumstances, particularly where the medication is for a life-threatening condition, if prescription drugs were not permitted on a plane. In fact, it would mean that many people couldn’t travel anywhere by air as they could not live without their prescription medications.

So, fortunately, the answer is yes, you can take prescription drugs on a plane with you.

You should read below for any restrictions or special procedures you may need to take into account.

Do you have to declare prescription drugs at the airport?

Within the US, the Transportation Security Administration medication rules 2021 state that you do not normally need to declare to the security agent under the current regulations that you are carrying prescription medications except in the following circumstances:

• If you are carrying medically necessary liquids in original prescription bottles, and the bottles are larger than the normal 3.4oz/100ml liquid limit, then you will be able to take them with you as they are considered medically necessary liquids. Ideally, they should be in the original prescription bottles or you should at least have a copy of the prescription to show, just to be on the safe side.
• You should tell the security agent you have the liquid medication before it goes through the X-ray machine and it will then be screened separately. You may be asked to open the container for further security screening. The liquid medication does not need to go in your quart sized liquids bag.
• If you have medication in the form of a gel or aerosol spray that is larger than 3.4oz/100ml then you should also bring these to the attention of the security officer before security screening.
• If for some reason, you do not want your medication x-rayed then you may ask the security agent for it to be checked visually instead. Obviously, you need to make this clear before the items go through the security screening machine.

How do I pack medication for a flight?

You are best to keep your medication in your carry on bags, but this of course means that you have to personally take it through the security screening process.

You do not need to keep all of your medications together but it makes sense to, perhaps in a separate plastic bag from your liquids. That way you can remove them all to show them to the security officer, without having to rummage for them and ask their advice on what needs to be screened separately, if anything.

Any liquid medication larger than 3.4 ounces (100 ml) will need to undergo additional screening separately in any case, which could include any gel-type medication too.

Should you keep prescription medication in carry on luggage or checked luggage?

I think the most important piece of advice is that you should try to always keep vital prescription medications with you in your carry on bag when traveling, either on a plane or by any other method actually. Do not put pills or liquid medications in your checked bags.

Since flying can be quite stressful, and things like time changes and lower air pressure can affect certain ailments, you might need immediate access to your medication. If it is in your checked baggage that is of no use to you

Also, it is not that unusual for checked baggage to go missing, or at least be delayed. If this happened you could be left in the difficult position of arriving at your destination, perhaps overseas, with no medication and then need to find a doctor to prescribe you some replacements urgently. This can be difficult and costly.

Also, your flight itself may be delayed so you may need to take some of your medication due to your medication schedule before you arrive at your destination, so keeping it with you in your carry on bag at all times makes definite sense.

Also read: Can you take needles and syringes when flying

Do you need a doctor’s note to travel with medication?

When traveling within the US, bringing a doctor’s note or your prescriptions with you is not required.

If you are traveling abroad, whilst it may not be a requirement for the country or countries you will be visiting, it may be. So to be on the safe side I would advise taking these with you, if you can, to try and eliminate the possibility of having problems.

Irrespective of whether you will be flying domestically or internationally, it is probably a good thing to take these with you in case you need to replenish your supply for some reason (theft, loss or just running out) while you are away from your own doctor. If you have to visit a local doctor to obtain a prescription for these, being able to show the doctor your existing prescriptions will make things easier.

Can I carry prescribed medicines on international flights?

Yes, you can carry medications when embarking on international travel in the vast majority of cases. However, it makes absolute sense to have them in their original bottles/containers they were supplied in as well as taking the original prescriptions and doctor’s letters. They don’t take up much space and you may be glad to have them with you if you meet any problems.

There are some exceptions as some medications may be allowed in the US but not in other countries. An obvious example is marijuana, whether prescribed or not, which is considered a controlled substance and completely illegal in some countries.

If you are traveling abroad from the UK then this advice is available from the NHS – Can I take my medicine abroad?

You may wish to read the IAMAT’s (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers) advice on traveling with medications written by Professor Larry Goodyer.

Do you have to declare prescription drugs at customs?

Obviously, this rather depends on which country you are entering. Customs rules vary from country to country.

US Customs

The FDA website says “You should have with you a valid prescription or doctor’s note—written in English—to bring medication to the U.S. The medication should be in its original container with the doctor’s instructions printed on the bottle. This applies whether the medications are in pill or solid form or they are liquid medications.

If you don’t have the original prescription bottles, bring a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor explaining your condition and why you need this medication. Travel with no more than you need for your personal use during your stay.

A rule of thumb: Bring no more than a 90-day supply of medication.

UK Customs

This article on the UK government website gives advice about Traveling with medicine containing a controlled drug.

Other countries

This article cannot go into the regulations relating to taking prescribed medication into every country in the world, obviously. If you have any doubt you should contact the relevant countries Embassy in your home country. You can find the contact details of Embassies here.

Do prescription drugs have to be in original containers?

If you are traveling within the US then generally your medications do not need to be in their original containers although some states can have slightly different rules.

If you are traveling overseas this may be different, depending on which country or countries you are traveling to. To be on the safe side I would always advise taking them in their original containers and also take whatever prescriptions and doctor’s letters you may have too. It is better to be safe than sorry.

How can I take medication that needs to be kept cool?

There are certain types of prescribed medication that need to be kept cool, usually in a refrigerator, in order that they do not start to break down and become unusable. This includes things such as Insulin, some eye and ear drops, certain antibiotics etc.

You are permitted to bring ice packs with you to keep medications and any other form of liquid medical items cold. But you must declare the ice packs to the security officer before they travel through the X-ray machine. The ice packs must be fully frozen otherwise they will be treated as liquids.

Non-prescribed over the counter medication

Can I take non-prescription pills on a plane?

Within the US this is not normally a problem in reasonable quantities unless there are local laws in place in the state you are traveling to or from which means you cannot. This also applies to taking vitamins on a plane too.

If traveling internationally then just make sure you take them in their original packaging rather than just loose in your bag.

Can I bring Ibuprofen on a plane?

Yes, as these are my preferred pain remedy, I have taken them with me in my carry on bags all over the world without the slightest problem. I usually leave them in the box they come in to make sure they are more easily identifiable but that has never been an issue. Read the full details about flying with Ibuprofen.

Can I take medical marijuana on a plane?

The TSA advice regarding medical marijuana states that marijuana and certain cannabis-infused products, including some Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, remain illegal under federal law.

Airport security officers’ roles are primarily to ensure that nothing dangerous to a flight, or the passengers on a flight, are taken on board. They are not Customs officers so do not look specifically for this kind of illegal substance. However, if it is found during the normal screening process then they will refer the matter to a law enforcement officer.

If you live in a state which allows the use of medical marijuana and you are flying to another then I would thoroughly research the law in the state you are traveling to before risking taking it with you. Don’t forget, due to weather etc your flight may be diverted and you may find yourself in a state where it is not allowed.

Although marijuana may be allowable with a prescription in some countries of the world, it certainly isn’t in many others where cannabis-based products are controlled substances. The UK is an example where it is not legal in any form.

TSA video about traveling with medication

Official information sources

You can check the latest rules regarding taking medication in hand luggage on the relevant government websites.

• For the USA – tsa.gov
• For the UK – www.gov.uk
• For Canada – travel.gc.ca
• For Australia – tga.gov.au

Summary

TSA Medication Guidelines allow you to carry medication on a plane with you in both a carry on bag or in checked bags. If they are in the form of liquid medications then they will be exempt from the usual liquids rules.

Other airport security articles

If you found this article on Traveling with medication on a plane useful you may wish to read some of my others:

Can you bring protein powder on a plane?

Can you bring lithium batteries on a plane?

Can you bring bottled water in carry on?

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