Nimco

Quick question that i cant seem to find definitive answer to on internet.Looking for some advice re air / sea freight shipping/ customs restrictions: Are you allowed to take British medicines in either sea or air shipments ? If so, does it matter if they are over the counter eg calpol, Panadol etc or prescription? Or tablets or liquids ? Also what about health supplements - tablets or liquids? Thanks!

WEBlue

Some people have been able to and some haven't. Our removals company in the UK (Pickfords) said no liquids and no "organic substances", which for some reason included tablets and pills. We were told this by the moving company rep, who said either item in the shipment could trigger a secondary, intensive inspection of the contents of our shipment. We would have to pay the bill for this intensive inspection too, as well as having the hassle of the holdup while they searched for whatever they suspected.

So we didn't include any items like this in our shipment of household goods. We didn't even pack British teabags, for fear they'd be too "organic" .

However I've heard that other people making the move did include some sealed liquids and foodstuffs in their shipments with no problem.

Jerseygirl

You cannot bring anything containing codeine...even though it's OTC in the UK...unless you have a doctor's prescription. Even then there are limitations. More info here:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-oxygen-tanks

MsElui

we have brought stuff like calpol and lemsip over her LOTs of times in our luggage with no issues. Cant remember about shipping any as it was so long ago but i would have assumed the then current OTC content of the medicine cabinet came with our shipping?

Leah326

I packed my inhalers, painkillers and vitamins etc in mine so I will let you know if it comes through ok.

civilservant

I've bought at least 36 Neurofen Plus into the US every time I've visited.

Oooops!

Nimco

Thanks all for your advice! Think I will try take everything in my luggage rather than shipment to be on safe side. Assuming they will have a US equivalent of whatever I need when it runs out!

Jerseygirl

Prescription meds should be kept in your hand luggage...just in case your checked bags go astray.

Pulaski

FYI some of the OTC drugs are the same BUT the names are different, just about everything except for aspirin and Nurofen/ibuprofen has a different name and/or a different brand name. I take very little medication, but finding OTC medication was one of my biggest irritations when I moved over here.

kins

But liquids may be thrown away, even if you have a prescription and letter from the doctor to say why you are carrying them. They're not supposed to throw them away, but they did throw away my daughter's Benadryl but allowed her to carry on board her Epipen.

WEBlue

I agree! I recommend making a list of the "real" names (not the brand names) of key medication ingredients you and your family require regularly. Then you can search more easily for the American equivalents.

American pharmacies can be pretty bewildering--too much choice!

Pulaski

Sometimes even the "real" name is different e.g. paracetamol = acetaminophen.

WEBlue

True! That one baffled me for a while.

I had to look up several items on an international medication equivalency site--I think it was this one:
http://www.drugs.com/international/

Nothing like Lemsip powder/packets to be found in America, though, sadly.

dlake02

That is a very big and possibly wrong assumption. Many medication that you'd find OTC in most of Europe these days is prescription only, and requires you to see a doctor - yes DOCTOR as only they can sign prescriptions. That will cost you - in our case we have a company medical surgery that charges $80/10 minute consultation. Ouch.

Also, what little is OTC is vastly more expensive than in the UK. For example, 12 Aspirin from Boots at Heathrow - 39p. 12 Aspirin from Safeways - $4.00.

In particular, we've found anything soluble (Aspirin, Lemsip, Paracetamol) very hard to find. Other vitals for us such as Beconase steroid nasal spray for allergies (OTC in France and UK, prescription here), Opticrom eye drops (same). Luckily Zirtek (Zyrtek) is OTC, but roughly 5 times the price it is in the UK.

The lack of a functioning comprehensive health system and the money-grabbing nature of the doctors and insurance companies make being ill potentially bankrupting in this country.

Jerseygirl

I can understand that as Benadryl is not on prescription but Epipen is. My daughter carries an Epipen and has ever had a problem.