Hello from Croatia

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Yoso1000

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Hello. I am contacting you from Croatia. My name is Josip. Currently i am using Lamictal for my epilepsy, class lamotriginum, produced by GlaxoSmithKline company. In a few days i will be traveling to USA and be there for 6-8 months. I use Lamictal every day. I think i will not be able to take the quantity of that medication required for the time i will be there, because of the international airport restrictions. I was wondering, is there a medication that is similar to the one im using in american drugstores (every drugstore), how much does it cost and what do i need from my doctor (what medical documents) to buy it there?
 
Hello! I work in a pharmacy and I can't recall exactly off hand how much brand Lamictal costs, but I think..it's at least a couple of hundred dollars a bottle here. I'm sure the generic is cheaper, but that too is still relatively expensive if I recall correctly. I wasn't aware of a restriction like that cause I have people come in all the time with the appropriate overrides from their insurance company for 4 months worth (their current script + 3 additional fills) when they were traveling to Europe, but I'm not entirely sure.

Edit: As for the documents you would need, I've never seen a prescription dispensed without a prescription written, called in, or faxed by a doctor. We give pills occasionally as a courtesy to customers who ran out, but they're usually on file with us and we have a medication history for them. This is another reason why I would hate to hear that airports do this to people. I can understand strict limits on narcotics/controlled substances.
 
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Hello! I work in a pharmacy and I can't recall exactly off hand how much brand Lamictal costs, but I think..it's at least a couple of hundred dollars a bottle here. I'm sure the generic is cheaper, but that too is still relatively expensive if I recall correctly. I wasn't aware of a restriction like that cause I have people come in all the time with the appropriate overrides from their insurance company for 4 months worth (their current script + 3 additional fills) when they were traveling to Europe, but I'm not entirely sure.

Edit: As for the documents you would need, I've never seen a prescription dispensed without a prescription written, called in, or faxed by a doctor. We give pills occasionally as a courtesy to customers who ran out, but they're usually on file with us and we have a medication history for them. This is another reason why I would hate to hear that airports do this to people. I can understand strict limits on narcotics/controlled substances.

Wow! A couple of hundred dollars? Well this is is what im taking and it comes in tablets not bottles but nevertheless it costs like 5 dolllars per box with about 50 pills......would a illnes history from my neurologist be enough to buy it for my self? Im not sure a croatian perscription would work in the US


edit-cant post a picture of my medication, sorry, forum restrictions
 
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Hi,this was posted on the lonely planet page.The guy that posted it then went on to say that he was never once questioned about his meds???? I think it's just really important to have a letter from your dr,a prescription and make sure all the labels are on the boxes/bottles.

Travelling into USA with prescription drugs
Current U.S. Customs regulations:
Quote
Medication

Narcotics and certain other drugs with a high potential for abuse—Rohypnol, GHB, and Fen-Phen, to name a few — may not be brought into the United States, and there are severe penalties for trying to do so. If you need medicines that contain potentially addictive drugs or narcotics (e.g., some cough medicines, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, antidepressants, or stimulants), do the following:

Declare all drugs, medicinals, and similar products to the appropriate CBP official.
Carry such substances in their original containers.

Carry only the quantity of such substances that a person with that condition (e.g., chronic pain) would normally carry for his/her personal use.

Carry a prescription or written statement from your physician that the substances are being used under a doctor's supervision and that they are necessary for your physical well being while traveling.

U.S. residents entering the United States at international land borders, who are carrying a validly obtained controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD), are subject to certain additional requirements. If a U.S. resident wants to bring in a controlled substance (other than narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or LSD) but does not have a prescription for the substance issued by a U.S.-licensed practitioner (e.g., physician, dentist, etc.) who is registered with, and authorized by, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe the medication, the individual may not import more than 50 dosage units of the medication into the United States. If the U.S. resident has a prescription for the controlled substance issued by a DEA registrant, more than 50 dosage units may be imported by that person, provided all other legal requirements are met.

Please note that only medications that can be legally prescribed in the United States may be imported for personal use. Be aware that possession of certain substances may also violate state laws. As a general rule, the FDA does not allow the importation of prescription drugs that were purchased outside the United States. Please see their Website for information about the enforcement policy for personal use quantities.

Warning: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits the importation, by mail or in person, of fraudulent prescription and nonprescription drugs and medical devices. These include unorthodox “cures” for such medical conditions as cancer, AIDS, arthritis, or multiple sclerosis. Although such drugs or devices may be legal elsewhere, if the FDA has not approved them for use in the United States, they may not legally enter the country and will be confiscated, even if they were obtained under a foreign physician’s prescription.

For specifics about importing controlled substances, call (202) 307-9932. For additional information about traveling with medication, contact your nearest FDA office or write to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Division of Import Operations and Policy, Room 12-8 (HFC-170), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857.
 
Also this......
As a general rule, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)*does not allow prescription medications to be mailed to the U.S. However, if you are here temporarily and need to be sent your prescription medication, there are a couple of things you should do. Ask your physician to write a letter explaining that you are under their care, and that they have prescribed the drugs for your use. The letter should also explain the circumstances for sending the drugs to you, including that you are a citizen of (whatever) country, that you are temporarily in the U.S. (for travel, study, etc.) and have either run out of your medications, lost them, etc. The letter should accompany the package and be addressed to a CBP Officer or broker. We strongly recommend that it be in English. If the medicine is sent through the mail, it could be informally detained by CBP until an FDA Inspector is available to examine it. This can take as long as a month. It is very important that the outside package be marked with a statement that the package contains a physician's letter so that the CBP Officer will be more proactive in bringing it to the FDA's attention. A better option is to send the package by a courier service. Ask the courier service how best to flag the package so that their U.S. Customs broker will be able to tell the FDA about the special circumstances for sending the package. For more information please contact the FDA Import/Export Team at (301) 827-8930.
 
Ok, so if i understand correctly, i CAN carry the large amount of medication and they wont bother me at the airport? BUT i should report it and show some kind of doctor documentation (illness history perhaps) to them? Sorrry IF i missunderstood all that text, english is not my native language :)
 
Most people on the lonely planet were saying they were taking up to 4-5 months.How many boxes would you need for your trip???
Definatly have a letter from your dr and make sure all meds have the original printed labels on them with your name.
They also said on the site to carry it all in your hand luggage as a lot of things get stolen out of your other luggage so have it with you at all times.
 
Most people on the lonely planet were saying they were taking up to 4-5 months.How many boxes would you need for your trip???
Definatly have a letter from your dr and make sure all meds have the original printed labels on them with your name.
They also said on the site to carry it all in your hand luggage as a lot of things get stolen out of your other luggage so have it with you at all times.

Thanks alot! Not calculated howmany exactly, but it wouldnt be a small number thats for sure! :) Ill call the airport first thing tommorrow and ask a few Q's. I have never flew a airplane, do they "scann" the medication there for sure? Or do u think i should report it my self?
 
Yeah the airport might be able to help but I honestly think that as long as you have the letter etc to prove you need it you won't get into trouble.
The worst that would happen is they say you have too many and they would take some off you (but they would look like jerks!!!!!!)
If that happened then you could get some sent over with a letter from your dr-but that could take over a month.
 
Yeah the airport might be able to help but I honestly think that as long as you have the letter etc to prove you need it you won't get into trouble.
The worst that would happen is they say you have too many and they would take some off you (but they would look like jerks!!!!!!)
If that happened then you could get some sent over with a letter from your dr-but that could take over a month.

Well i just talked to the lady at the croatian airport and she told me what you told me, need some kind of document/confirmation from the doctor that im taking those medications and should probably take them in the carry on luggage. Im not sure how would it work on US airports, i think US guys are much more strict about these kinda things, especially after september 11th, correct me if im wrong?
 
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i on 250mg of it twice a day,you be fine i took that into states with me..they can not say that.Enough americans take it.your name is on the meds bottle,they not going to refuse you it equal to stopping insulin...lamical not a happy drug for recreation....they keep medication book at customs and they check it...they got be orepared give you free health care if you refused your medicatin and they wont do that....my god they be in hell alot of trouble if they refused let people in without those meds...i also had morphine tabs with me they were ok it was for pain.just take proof like phamacy note.they rooted through my bag was not a problem.....in australia the drug dog stopped at my case it smelt my meds customs took my bag no let me have it untill next day but quatus paid dr to prescribe until my bags came back to me..it was not a problem they could see a scrip npte
 
stopped me at customs last week gave me small bag put tooth paste and all other liquids in.do it b4 you go put on top pf clothes dont need root around then
 
Yoso, Welcome to CWE. I noticed you are from Croatia - my brother-in-law's family is originally from Dubrovnik. His dad still has a home there. My sister has visited twice and just loves Croatia! I wish you well in your travels to the US.
 
Yoso, Welcome to CWE. I noticed you are from Croatia - my brother-in-law's family is originally from Dubrovnik. His dad still has a home there. My sister has visited twice and just loves Croatia! I wish you well in your travels to the US.

Hehe thannks! I gotta admit, im scaerd to hell! Ive never flew anywhere, let alone across the ocean haha
 
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