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yodave

Nov 16, 2011, 1:07 PM

Post #1 of 12 (2161 views)

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Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Does anyone know the obligation for some one flying into the US with "controlled" prescription drugs such as valium and aprazolam? Are you supposed to outright declare them or wait until asked by customs if you have any medications to declare, OR does the declaration form automatically cover medications? Also, if you have copies of the Dr.'s prescription and the receipt from the Farmacia does that carry any weight?

I did a search on all forums for "prescription drugs" and only got one hit-very surprised.

My Dr. in the US prescribes aprazolam and I have empty bottles and am only bringing in a box of 30 so I don't think there will be a problem with that, but am wondering about the Valium....

Thanks in advance for any help.

yodave

tonyburton

Nov 16, 2011, 2:30 PM

Post #2 of 12 (2134 views)

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Re: [yodave] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Don't know the answer to your queries, but there are 171 hits for prescription drugs on the forums:
[link should give search results page]
Hope you find what you need! Tony

YucaLandia

Nov 16, 2011, 3:51 PM

Post #3 of 12 (2116 views)

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Re: [yodave] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Our experiences with Aduana is that they sometimes notice prescription meds and sometimes not.
Will you be bringing in only personal meds and only meds in quantities for reasonable personal use?

If they notice your meds, they sometimes only check the bottle to see what med, and if it has an official looking pharmacy label.

Sometimes when checking the label, the look to see what quantities of each type of pill your are importing. If you are importing a large number - like 10 bottles - of each med, they may question your intentions.

Sometimes when inspecting your meds, they decide that they want to see signed Doctor's prescriptions for key meds.

Sometimes when inspecting your meds, they decide that they want to see signed Doctor's prescriptions for every bottle and every med.

If they don't like your answer to each or every item listed above, then they are permitted to confiscate your meds.

It is up to them as to what combination of the above actions they choose to take.

If you want to guarantee that you can bring in every bottle and every med, then have the meds only in official original prescription bottles, and bring individual prescriptions for every med - signed by your doctor - to cover every base.
Happy Trails,
steve
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Read-on MacDuff
E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

Rolly

Nov 16, 2011, 4:30 PM

Post #4 of 12 (2100 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Steve dear lad, the question was taking meds FROM México TO the USA.

Rolly Pirate

mazbook1

Nov 16, 2011, 4:36 PM

Post #5 of 12 (2095 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Rolly is correct. I have had some experience in bringing prescription drugs into the U.S. from México and can tell you that if you have a U.S. doctor's prescription and not over a 90 day supply of the medicine, there is no hassle at all. Without that U.S. prescription, it's a crapshoot. All depends on the mood of the U.S. Customs agent that day, although I would doubt that they would let you bring in over a 90 day supply regardless of the mood they're in.

AlanMexicali

Nov 16, 2011, 4:56 PM

Post #6 of 12 (2088 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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I was coming back from TJ with a friend recently who always filled his US prescription there to save money as I had been with him many times before. Always you have to declare any medicines you purchase whether asked or not and there is a 90 day supply limit. This last time the officer asked to see the prescription for his anti convulsion medicine, not just the boxes of medicine. His prescription was 2 years old. The officer told us we could pass this time but a current US prescription is needed and not a Mexican Dr.'s prescription was needed. I went to the US State Depts. website and could find no where there were it stated that for non narcotic medicines was only a US Dr.'s prescription necessary. I have ISSSTE health care in Mexico and when I cross the border with any prescriptions I always declare them and have the bag with them and the Mexican Dr.'s prescription handy and they just peek inside and hand them back to me.

(This post was edited by AlanMexicali on Nov 16, 2011, 5:23 PM)

YucaLandia

Nov 17, 2011, 7:06 AM

Post #7 of 12 (2033 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Um.... Forget what I wrote. Only the title and the text of the post say "from Mexico to the US".

Like the Bambino, go big or go home. ;-)
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E-visit at http://yucalandia.com

yodave

Nov 17, 2011, 8:58 AM

Post #8 of 12 (2004 views)

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Re: [YucaLandia] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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Thanks YucaLandia, but I am concerned about US Customs, not Aduana. Do I need to declare anything I have-not much by the way less than 20 tabs of Valium and 30 of Aprazolam, both with original boxes and copies of the Mexican Dr.'s prescriptions as well as receipt from the licensed farmacia.

My big question is do I need to declare this stuff even if not asked if I have anything to declare-or only declare it if they ask me. My thinking is my safest bet is to declare up front what I have and let the chips fall where they may. I wouild think the worst thing that could happen in that case would be that they would take all the pills or maybe only the Valium-since I don't have a US Dr.'s prescription bottle for it like I do with the Apraz...-I ran out while in Mex and had to buy it there because I need it. I think they'll let me keep it and if I lose the Valium then so be it. I DO have the prescription for it so I don't think I am doing anything illegal(IF I declare it).

Be well!

Oh, by the way, my nightmare with my stolen car, the insurance co., aduana, etc continues. Nothing resolved 8 weeks after the theft. Driving me nuts and not helping me love Mexico right now.

Aaron+

Dec 1, 2011, 4:05 PM

Post #9 of 12 (1726 views)

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Re: [yodave] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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I read what the FDA says on the Homeland Security web page http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/clearing/restricted/medication_drugs.xml .

From my read, I would understand that you should have no problem with up to a 90 day supply. Your Mexican doctor´s Rx could indicate that you are under his/her care. Probably better not to mention a US doctor, unless you have proof that you are now a Mexican resident. A bit of a quirk is that the FDA bans the reimport of medicines made in the USA and exported abroad. If the medicine is made in Mexico or elsewhere other than the USA, that leapfrogs over that problem. If you are dealing with a reasonable CBP inspector at your port of entry, I would hope that this is not a problem for your 20 Valium pills. For that matter, your Mexican-purchased Valium may have been fabricated in a LaRoche plant outside the USA.

Or you may be able to find diazepam (the generic) in Mexico from another pharmaceutical firm. Alpharma labs formulates 2, 5, and 10 mg diazepam tablets.

You may find general info of value in the following site, which uses Valium as an example: http://www.peoplesguide.com/...questions-12-02.html with the caution that this is one person´s view from back in 2002.

Anonimo

Dec 2, 2011, 2:15 AM

Post #10 of 12 (1670 views)

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Re: [Aaron+] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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For some odd reason, both of those URLs go to the same People's Guide to Mexico web page.

But, this one goes to the right place!
http://www.cbp.gov/...medication_drugs.xml

"En Boca Cerrada No Entran Moscas."

Saludos,
Anonimo

AlanMexicali

Dec 2, 2011, 8:14 AM

Post #11 of 12 (1623 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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That web link just explains the import of NON - FDA approved drugs, not anything related to this discussion. Did you find anything else?

Anonimo

Dec 2, 2011, 4:14 PM

Post #12 of 12 (1580 views)

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Re: [AlanMexicali] Bringing prescription drugs from Mexico to US?

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In Reply To

That web link just explains the import of NON - FDA approved drugs, not anything related to this discussion. Did you find anything else?

Nothing of interest to me, anyway.

"En Boca Cerrada No Entran Moscas."

Saludos,
Anonimo