Travelling to Japan / question about meds & customs?!


Question: I'm taking a trip to Japan in April and will be there for 11 days. I've never been before so I have some questions regarding my medications (mainly psychiatric). I'm prescribed the following meds:

Psychiatric drugs
* Lexapro
* Adderall (amphetamine) - the one I worry about the most
* Xanax
* Trazodone
* Restoril

Non-psych. drugs
* Zyrtec-D (has pseudoephedrine)
* Rhinocort nasal spray
* Advair diskus
* MaxAir inhaler
* Bentyl

aghem, yes, that's quite a list.

I just want to know what I need to do to prepare for being able to bring all my meds with me, and not get detained or anything when I go through customs.

If more details are needed (quantity / doses) to answer, let me know.


Answers: I'm taking a trip to Japan in April and will be there for 11 days. I've never been before so I have some questions regarding my medications (mainly psychiatric). I'm prescribed the following meds:

Psychiatric drugs
* Lexapro
* Adderall (amphetamine) - the one I worry about the most
* Xanax
* Trazodone
* Restoril

Non-psych. drugs
* Zyrtec-D (has pseudoephedrine)
* Rhinocort nasal spray
* Advair diskus
* MaxAir inhaler
* Bentyl

aghem, yes, that's quite a list.

I just want to know what I need to do to prepare for being able to bring all my meds with me, and not get detained or anything when I go through customs.

If more details are needed (quantity / doses) to answer, let me know.

Bring them in your prescription bottles. A note from your doctor on his/her stationary might not be a bad idea, either. Customs is used to ppl bringing medication thru. They are looking for suspicious large quantities. It's highly unlikely you'll have any problems. If you do, it's much more apt to simply be that you are the random one to get looked over more closely than others. Last, Japanese take psych and medical prescriptions, too. :)

I agree that you should take all your prescriptions in your bottles. In the states, The Transportation Security Administration does not require, but they recommend that medications be labeled to assist with the screening process. (Check out the TSA website www.tsa.gov- special needs) It also might be wise to have your doctors write on their stationery the reason you take a specific prescription, since some of the names of the ones you listed are potent drugs. In addition, it would not hurt to get a short term prescription from your doctor for the meds you just cannot do without. I traveled to Japan and was there for 12 days. I gave 7 concerts in 7 cities, so I traveled throughout Japan. At my last concert I discovered I had left my meds in the hotel at the previous city, Kagashima. (It was 4 hours away) You DO NOT want to have to try to get medications while you are there! I tried to reach my doctor in the states, but with the time difference and language barriers, it was impossible. Besides that, we were ready to leave Japan and my flight was scheduled to leave in a few hours. I was fortunate that the clinic at the airport gave me enough pills for me to get home, but it was really a hassle. I am sure you will love Japan. It is a beautiful country and the people were very kind and hospitable.
www.lisaann hammond.com





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