Prescriptions & Pills

gozer · Oct 3rd, 2003, 03:52

Can somebody please tell me how diligent airlines are now about passengers carrying a written presciption for the meds they carry? What I am trying ask, is do I need a written prescription for Mefloquine, Cipro, etc. or can I just bring the pills? And do vitamins and/or prescription drugs need to be in their "original" containers, w/ labels? I usually just break them down into daily packets in little plastic bags. If it matters, I am flying from Los Angeles through Hong Kong, to Nepal (for a week!!!), and then on to Delhi (for 2 weeks!!!).

Also, a quickie question on earings and nose piercing - mine haven't been out of my ears or nose for over ten years. However, I've been reading that ALL jewelery should come off prior to traveling to India. Is it really that big of a deal? They are not flashy, or gold....... but I feel like they are part of me and don't want to take them out, unless........

Thank you..............

SitaParityaga · Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:16

I've never had trouble with bringing medications into India, and I too put them into all sorts of containers...not the pill bottle with name, etc. on it. There is potential for customs, coming back into the US, to take issue with "unidentified pills" in your possession...but then again, I have never had US customs question me on that one either. I am bringing my own supplies of antibiotics, analgesics, inhalers and so forth on my next trip, and there won't be labels on them either.

gozer · Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:19

I would prefer it that way - I have zero interest in carrying around anything I don't have too - even paper! I wouldn't even care about leaving them w/ US customs once back. Just want to be sure they travel w/ me there. Thank you.

wonderwomanusa · Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:29

I can't think of any reason to leave your normal, modest earrings and nose stud at home.

-m2- · Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:34

I've never had my bags looked at entering India; I always bring my regular vitamins and a couple of supplements -- I also break seals to combine bottles so as to get the trip supply of each into one bottle, so i'm prepared for a quiz one day.

As far as appearances and adornment goes, remember you are no longer in California. While piercings and tatoos and all that are not uncommon amongst Indian travellers, you are risking drawing unwanted attention to yourself by officials and police as there is a sort of stereotype involved that is not particularly helpful. Just for the hell of it, I'd recommend you take off the jewelry for the flight and formalities, but I'm a careful SOB.

m2

gozer · Oct 3rd, 2003, 09:16

Good grief! ( to quote Charlie Brown) 2 contradicting opinions from Senior Members. I think I'll leave them in, as in truth, I was seriously looking for reinforced approval of what I wanted to do...

gozer · Oct 3rd, 2003, 11:13

m2 - any supplements in particular that you'd suggest for india in particular?

-m2- · Oct 3rd, 2003, 23:37

not really, especially since you are on a relatively short trip -- you might as well continue with your regular regimen. Personally, I take a daily 'stresstab' year-round (B complex +C + minerals) and it is likely a waste of money as I eat lots of fruit and vegetables anyway; the supplements I bring are to help build up some creaky joints. If you don't eat curd (yoghurt), then some acidophilus tabs might be a good idea to bring along to keep your gastro system happy particularly if you take, or are taking, any antibiotics.

gozer · Oct 4th, 2003, 01:59

The pharmacy I'm bringing:
vitamin c
immodium ad
peptobismo tablets
cipro
multi vitamin
garlic pills - mosquito deterrant, hopefully
acidopholus + plenty of curd
mefloquine
benedryl
tylenol/aspirin
liquid band aid (i.e. superglue)
& i don't need the creaky joint stuff yet! (glucosimine and chondroitin?)

i think that's about it.......
am i forgeting?

bijapuri · Oct 4th, 2003, 02:04

everything, beside possibly the cipro. but that too, I suspect, can be had for a tiny fraction in cost in almost any pharmacy in India. Oh, the garlic for skeeters? hehehe, fuggeddabahtit!
Yoghurt is in every village in India, the better quality in the North.

bijapuri · Oct 4th, 2003, 02:05

maybe not melfloquine

Tomi · Oct 4th, 2003, 02:19

Yes, mefloquine and cipro can be had for a fraction of the cost in India. Imodium is the only thing you really really need, since you are not always next door to a pharmacy, if you get what I mean...

Cipro was easy to find, and I bought some extra to have for other trips, biological warfare, etc. The expiration date on it is usually overly conservative, according to my research.
For mefloquine, I searched for a while in Trivandrum before I found it, but then again it was dirt cheap.
This is covered in other threads; do a search, gozer, and you'll get other opinions, including even further disagreement (but not cat fights, of course) among "senior" members.

gozer · Oct 4th, 2003, 02:19

garlic doesn't help??????

WHAT does? they love me...... i mean TRUE LOVE. that's actually the reason I am even taking the anti malarials, is because i get chewed up. i heard rumors about garlic, vitamin b, lemonade, etc.

we will be in nepal, and rajastan and will be eating the wonderful kurd daily. the cipro is for special occasion only - if needed.

gozer · Oct 4th, 2003, 02:23

believe it or not kaiser (health insurance services) has the BEST travel department. not only is your visit free, but so are ALL of your shots! and most of my prescriptions were only $10. obviously, i bought my friends meflquine for her, since i've heard it's expensive.... i think we also lucked out w/ our flight cost, and every other thing attached to this trip...... it's besheret. meant to be. kismet. (did i spell wrong?)

wonderwomanusa · Oct 4th, 2003, 05:15

Quote:

garlic doesn't help??????
What does?

If you have REI (or a good fishing store) nearby, you can buy Cutter's in STICK form -- I've used it before and will be taking some with me this time. It's got enough DEET to keep the mossies from biting you.... so long as you apply it every single afternoon before dusk, and again at bedtime.

You should also sleep with the fan on -- mossies can't land in the breeze.

Pepto-Bismol and Immodium are both "corks." I prefer Immodium; I don't think you need both unless Pepto Bismol works on some other complaint that I've never experienced. Pepto does contain salicylic acid, and can make your stomach bleed.

Oct 3rd, 2003, 03:52	#1
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	Prescriptions & Pills Can somebody please tell me how diligent airlines are now about passengers carrying a written presciption for the meds they carry? What I am trying ask, is do I need a written prescription for Mefloquine, Cipro, etc. or can I just bring the pills? And do vitamins and/or prescription drugs need to be in their "original" containers, w/ labels? I usually just break them down into daily packets in little plastic bags. If it matters, I am flying from Los Angeles through Hong Kong, to Nepal (for a week!!!), and then on to Delhi (for 2 weeks!!!). Also, a quickie question on earings and nose piercing - mine haven't been out of my ears or nose for over ten years. However, I've been reading that ALL jewelery should come off prior to traveling to India. Is it really that big of a deal? They are not flashy, or gold....... but I feel like they are part of me and don't want to take them out, unless........ Thank you.............. __________________ If you want a friend, feed any animal.....

Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:29	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Dhaka Posts: 3,570	I can't think of any reason to leave your normal, modest earrings and nose stud at home. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Oct 4th, 2003, 02:04	#10
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,602	everything, beside possibly the cipro. but that too, I suspect, can be had for a tiny fraction in cost in almost any pharmacy in India. Oh, the garlic for skeeters? hehehe, fuggeddabahtit! Yoghurt is in every village in India, the better quality in the North. __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

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Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:16	#2
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 929	I've never had trouble with bringing medications into India, and I too put them into all sorts of containers...not the pill bottle with name, etc. on it. There is potential for customs, coming back into the US, to take issue with "unidentified pills" in your possession...but then again, I have never had US customs question me on that one either. I am bringing my own supplies of antibiotics, analgesics, inhalers and so forth on my next trip, and there won't be labels on them either.

Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:19	#3
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	I would prefer it that way - I have zero interest in carrying around anything I don't have too - even paper! I wouldn't even care about leaving them w/ US customs once back. Just want to be sure they travel w/ me there. Thank you.

Oct 3rd, 2003, 04:34	#5
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	I've never had my bags looked at entering India; I always bring my regular vitamins and a couple of supplements -- I also break seals to combine bottles so as to get the trip supply of each into one bottle, so i'm prepared for a quiz one day. As far as appearances and adornment goes, remember you are no longer in California. While piercings and tatoos and all that are not uncommon amongst Indian travellers, you are risking drawing unwanted attention to yourself by officials and police as there is a sort of stereotype involved that is not particularly helpful. Just for the hell of it, I'd recommend you take off the jewelry for the flight and formalities, but I'm a careful SOB. m2

Oct 3rd, 2003, 09:16	#6
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	Good grief! ( to quote Charlie Brown) 2 contradicting opinions from Senior Members. I think I'll leave them in, as in truth, I was seriously looking for reinforced approval of what I wanted to do...

Oct 3rd, 2003, 11:13	#7
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	m2 - any supplements in particular that you'd suggest for india in particular?

Oct 3rd, 2003, 23:37	#8
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	not really, especially since you are on a relatively short trip -- you might as well continue with your regular regimen. Personally, I take a daily 'stresstab' year-round (B complex +C + minerals) and it is likely a waste of money as I eat lots of fruit and vegetables anyway; the supplements I bring are to help build up some creaky joints. If you don't eat curd (yoghurt), then some acidophilus tabs might be a good idea to bring along to keep your gastro system happy particularly if you take, or are taking, any antibiotics.

Oct 4th, 2003, 01:59	#9
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	The pharmacy I'm bringing: vitamin c immodium ad peptobismo tablets cipro multi vitamin garlic pills - mosquito deterrant, hopefully acidopholus + plenty of curd mefloquine benedryl tylenol/aspirin liquid band aid (i.e. superglue) & i don't need the creaky joint stuff yet! (glucosimine and chondroitin?) i think that's about it....... am i forgeting?

Oct 4th, 2003, 02:05	#11
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,602	maybe not melfloquine

Oct 4th, 2003, 02:19	#12
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	Yes, mefloquine and cipro can be had for a fraction of the cost in India. Imodium is the only thing you really really need, since you are not always next door to a pharmacy, if you get what I mean... Cipro was easy to find, and I bought some extra to have for other trips, biological warfare, etc. The expiration date on it is usually overly conservative, according to my research. For mefloquine, I searched for a while in Trivandrum before I found it, but then again it was dirt cheap. This is covered in other threads; do a search, gozer, and you'll get other opinions, including even further disagreement (but not cat fights, of course) among "senior" members.

Oct 4th, 2003, 02:23	#14
gozer Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: LA Posts: 52	believe it or not kaiser (health insurance services) has the BEST travel department. not only is your visit free, but so are ALL of your shots! and most of my prescriptions were only $10. obviously, i bought my friends meflquine for her, since i've heard it's expensive.... i think we also lucked out w/ our flight cost, and every other thing attached to this trip...... it's besheret. meant to be. kismet. (did i spell wrong?)

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