Re: Flying with Compounded medications

[Guest guest]

K, May I ask how much T 3 you take?I am up to 87mgc with Dr. Spurlock..You sound like it works for you! My compounded T 3 has a identifying label,From Abrams, so I am sure your ok if that is where you purchasedYour T3…Are you saying the “T3” isn’t enough identifying name?Example: Cytomel or Levothyroxine? Am I wrong ? From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of KSent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 3:09 PMTo: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Subject: Flying with Compounded medications My family might be traveling to Europe this Spring. Does anyone know if there are any issues with TSA or Customs regarding compounded medications? I asked Royal Abrams Pharmacy if they knew of any, and they didn't. I am assuming I will just carry what I need in my carry-on and in the original bottle. My fear is that as the capsules are not marked in any way, this could cause concern. I looked at the TSA website and they seemed to indicate you are allowed to carry prescription medications and homeopathic medications, but they must be inspected. I would think pharmaceutical drugs would have some identifying mark on them, but obviously not-so with compounded capsules.I'm just remembering having my shampoo taken away from me several years ago. If they took away my compounded timed-release T-3 I'm not sure what I'd do!I haven't flown in many years, so I'm not sure what to expect. Anyone have any thoughts or advice? Thank you,K

[Guest guest]

I fly all the time for work and pleasure (100,000+ miles last year) and have

never had any issues whatsoever with any of my medications - I've traveled all

over Europe and Asia. My Rx meds have never been examined at all - I carry them

in a clear cosmetic case. The only concern ever raised is that in the U.S. I

was once told that my liquid medications/supplements - e.g., vitamin b12, etc

should be in a separate 1 qt bag from my other liquids. I rarely check my bags,

so I almost always have two bags of liquids. I just put them in separate bins

going through security as I did have a problem one time transferring at London

Heathrow because the security guy saw two baggies of liquids in a single bin.

You just have to make sure that everything is in a bottle of 3oz or less -

that's probably why they took your shampoo.

So, I would not be at all worried about your compounded meds. I've even put Rx

meds in small baggies to condense things - I just peel off the label and put it

on the baggie. I also take *tons* of supplements and have never (knock on wood)

had any problems with those even though they're divided into separate baggies

for each day and I actually put my Rx meds in those baggies - although I always

carry the original bottle in case I am challenged.

If you are worried, I suggest you carry a couple bottles and place them in

separate locations in your carry on bags - keeping one in a coat pocket would

work well. I always opt out of the backscatter/body imaging xray machines, so

my bags are always searched in that case (along with the lovely pat down for

which I've never had the bad experiences others have reported), but they've only

once searched my coat and I have one of the -e-vest oodles of pockets

jackets. It actually might be best to have someone that you are traveling with

carry your backups.

The most important thing is to just calmly go about your business going through

security and customs and not provide any information unless you are explicitly

asked and not do anything that would bring attention to yourself. Also, being

polite throughout the process also helps. The worst custom agents are those when

you return to the U.S. In all other countries customs is a piece of cake - even

China. You just have to make sure to follow the " Nothing to Declare " signs in

most European airports - you don't even encounter a person in those cases versus

the U.S. where you always have to be interrogated by customs.

Have fun.

B.

>

> My family might be traveling to Europe this Spring. Does anyone know if there

are any issues with TSA or Customs regarding compounded medications?

>

> I asked Royal Abrams Pharmacy if they knew of any, and they didn't. I am

assuming I will just carry what I need in my carry-on and in the original

bottle. My fear is that as the capsules are not marked in any way, this could

cause concern.

>

> I looked at the TSA website and they seemed to indicate you are allowed to

carry prescription medications and homeopathic medications, but they must be

inspected. I would think pharmaceutical drugs would have some identifying mark

on them, but obviously not-so with compounded capsules.

>

> I'm just remembering having my shampoo taken away from me several years ago.

If they took away my compounded timed-release T-3 I'm not sure what I'd do!

>

> I haven't flown in many years, so I'm not sure what to expect. Anyone have any

thoughts or advice?

>

> Thank you,

> K

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much, , for your kind reply. That is very, very helpful

information.

I appreciate you taking the time to respond. It is hard to know what to

anticipate on an over-seas trip, and it helps to hear from someone who has

experience.

I'm looking forward to traveling with my husband and children, but not really to

the flying/TSA-pat-down portion of the trip. Knowing what to expect in advance

is very helpful.

Thanks again!,

K

>

> I fly all the time for work and pleasure (100,000+ miles last year) and have

never had any issues whatsoever with any of my medications - I've traveled all

over Europe and Asia. My Rx meds have never been examined at all - I carry them

in a clear cosmetic case. The only concern ever raised is that in the U.S. I

was once told that my liquid medications/supplements - e.g., vitamin b12, etc

should be in a separate 1 qt bag from my other liquids. I rarely check my bags,

so I almost always have two bags of liquids. I just put them in separate bins

going through security as I did have a problem one time transferring at London

Heathrow because the security guy saw two baggies of liquids in a single bin.

You just have to make sure that everything is in a bottle of 3oz or less -

that's probably why they took your shampoo.

[Guest guest]

Hi, .

I take 87.5 mcg T3 timed release, too. I did wonder if the label was enough by

way of identification, but mostly that the pill itself is clear with a white

powder inside. Regular prescription pills or capsules are usually stamped with

some sort of identification number on them.

I know I'm probably being over cautious, but if there was something I needed to

do in advance to make things easier, I thought I'd better know now.

As far as how I'm doing on the TR T3, it depends. My Free T4 is way under range,

but doctor is not concerned, but I am. I do pretty well, but sometimes I think

it is not being compounded properly, as some days I feel fine, others hypo,

other days hyper with heart palps and slightly elevated pulse.

But, I had heart palps when I was hypo...that surprised me when I was told it

could be a symptom of too little T3.

So, the bottom line is, I don't want to be without my TR-T3 on my trip, but I

wish I could be better regulated on it. When I was on low levels of Cytomel

generic, it made my blood pressure shoot up, hence the Timed Release, which

allows my b/p to stay nearly perfect.

How are you doing on your TR-T3? How is your FT4?

K

>

> K,

>

>

>

> May I ask how much T 3 you take?

>

> I am up to 87mgc with Dr. Spurlock..

>

> You sound like it works for you!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I will be doing lab work with Spurlock and will have those answers by Feb. 16th…The jump from 75mcg to 87mcg can be noticed!!! I started on Thyroid back in July, had to stop increases for treatment of a couple of viral and bacterial infections, but restarted once those wereAddressed, and I do see how thyroid does things that we are not even aware of!I trust what it does.I do a time released progesterone 200 mg in the am, as it has stopped anxiety I was having in the day time…I don’t need progesterone at bedtime we figured out…I need it during the day, so time released keeps it from making me sleepy… I went through such a hard time when all the sudden last year, in April, I began having hot flashes, no sleep, anxiety,And had an idea it was menopause.It was.Spurlock got me on track, but it takes awhile to get better…you have to be patient..I lost 40 lbs, that has helped a lot, So I have good experience with thyroid, bioidentical hormones, (I take estrogen too)…Thank you for your time, From: Texas_Thyroid_Groups [mailto:Texas_Thyroid_Groups ] On Behalf Of KSent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 4:56 PMTo: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Subject: Re: Flying with Compounded medications Hi, .I take 87.5 mcg T3 timed release, too. I did wonder if the label was enough by way of identification, but mostly that the pill itself is clear with a white powder inside. Regular prescription pills or capsules are usually stamped with some sort of identification number on them. I know I'm probably being over cautious, but if there was something I needed to do in advance to make things easier, I thought I'd better know now.As far as how I'm doing on the TR T3, it depends. My Free T4 is way under range, but doctor is not concerned, but I am. I do pretty well, but sometimes I think it is not being compounded properly, as some days I feel fine, others hypo, other days hyper with heart palps and slightly elevated pulse.But, I had heart palps when I was hypo...that surprised me when I was told it could be a symptom of too little T3. So, the bottom line is, I don't want to be without my TR-T3 on my trip, but I wish I could be better regulated on it. When I was on low levels of Cytomel generic, it made my blood pressure shoot up, hence the Timed Release, which allows my b/p to stay nearly perfect.How are you doing on your TR-T3? How is your FT4? K>> K,> > > > May I ask how much T 3 you take?> > I am up to 87mgc with Dr. Spurlock..> > You sound like it works for you!> > >

[Guest guest]

It might not hurt to carry a copy of the prescription.

>> My family might be traveling to Europe this Spring. Does anyone know if there are any issues with TSA or Customs regarding compounded medications? > > I asked Royal Abrams Pharmacy if they knew of any, and they didn't. I am assuming I will just carry what I need in my carry-on and in the original bottle. My fear is that as the capsules are not marked in any way, this could cause concern. > > I looked at the TSA website and they seemed to indicate you are allowed to carry prescription medications and homeopathic medications, but they must be inspected. I would think pharmaceutical drugs would have some identifying mark on them, but obviously not-so with compounded capsules.> > I'm just remembering having my shampoo taken away from me several years ago. If they took away my compounded timed-release T-3 I'm not sure what I'd do!> > I haven't flown in many years, so I'm not sure what to expect. Anyone have any thoughts or advice? > > Thank you,> K>

[Guest guest]

You can also ask for a letter from your doctor to carry with you. I did this years ago when I was flying a great deal and I was worried about carrying pain medication.Subject: Re: Flying with Compounded medicationsTo: Texas_Thyroid_Groups Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012, 6:50 PM

It might not hurt to carry a copy of the prescription.

>> My family might be traveling to Europe this Spring. Does anyone know if there are any issues with TSA or Customs regarding compounded medications? > > I asked Royal Abrams Pharmacy if they knew of any, and they didn't. I am assuming I will just carry what I need in my carry-on and in the original bottle. My fear is that as the capsules are not marked in any way, this could cause concern. > > I looked at the TSA website and they seemed to indicate you are allowed to carry prescription medications and homeopathic medications, but they must be inspected. I would think pharmaceutical drugs would have some identifying mark on them, but obviously not-so with compounded capsules.> > I'm just remembering having my shampoo taken away from me several years ago. If they

took away my compounded timed-release T-3 I'm not sure what I'd do!> > I haven't flown in many years, so I'm not sure what to expect. Anyone have any thoughts or advice? > > Thank you,> K>

[Guest guest]

I thought of that, but of course I turned the prescription to the pharmacy. I

called the pharmacy to see if they had anyone call and ask for a copy for flying

overseas, and they said they never had, as far as they knew.

Come to think of it, why don't I make photocopies of my prescriptions I turn in?

Never think to, I just drive to the pharmacy as soon as I get it and turn it in.

Live and learn!

I will take B.'s advice and have a back up, pack meds in clear bag, stay

calm, etc., but, come to think of it, my husband is on the same medication I am!

Oh...and I forgot until Susie mentioned it, I'm on compounded progesterone, too.

I'm pretty dangerous without my T3 and Progesterone (for anxiety and sleep),

that if they took it away, they would have to raise the terror alert to a RED or

High alert! until I got medicated. Just kidding. Sort of!

I'm sure everything will be fine.

Thanks for your help!

>

>

> It might not hurt to carry a copy of the prescription.

>

>