I'm on a medication for a chronic condition which is in remission for 2 1/2 years...as long as I stay on this medication. The specific formulation I am on is not available in the U.S., although other forms of the specific drug are. Just not the formulation and dosage on which I am stable. I have been spoken to at the border twice now about the fact that I had more than a 3 month supply with me, but they let it go. The second time, I was advised to make other arrangements in the future, and told I had plenty of time to figure out how to do that. I would imagine these people keep notes, and I suspect I'm not going to get another warning. I know there have to be thousands of Canadians on prescription medications crossing into the U.S. for the winter each year. How are you dealing with this? Seeing a doctor in the U.S. and getting a prescription? Having your pharmacy ship from Canada? And if so, how is that going? Does it take a long time, is customs hanging onto it for a long time? Did you get a letter from your physician, does your pharmacy enclose that and clearly label the package?I get my prescriptions from a small town pharmacy and I don't know just yet if they have any experience sending medications to snowbirds and if they would be sure to package it in such a way that it would make it through customs with no problems. Do any of you deal with online pharmacies from Canada who ship to the U.S....how reputable are they? Would they arrange to have my prescription transferred from my current pharmacy? Mine gets written for a year at a time, so there's already a current one with my current pharmacy.

Just a minor point, I generally get my 90 day prescriptions in a sizable container. Is it possible you could simply merge two 90 day supplies into one container? I'd think it highly unlikely border agents are going to count people's prescription drugs.....

Does it contain an opiod?Is it available in Mexico?Where are you headed?How long will you be in one spot?What province are you coming from?7

Ed_Gee wrote:Just a minor point, I generally get my 90 day prescriptions in a sizable container. Is it possible you could simply merge two 90 day supplies into one container? I'd think it highly unlikely border agents are going to count people's prescription drugs.....Not sure if that would work, the pills are kind of large. In the past, the pharmacy has used stock bottles and put a Rx label on them, and I don't remember how much space was remaining in each bottle.

Here's a link that includes the following tip:Fda.govIf you’re staying longer than 90 days, you may have additional medication sent to you by mail or courier. Include documentation showing that the medication is being sent for your own use while visiting the United States. This documentation may include: a copy of your visa and passport, a letter from your doctor, and a copy of your prescription (in English).

darsben1 wrote:Does it contain an opiod?Is it available in Mexico?Where are you headed?How long will you be in one spot?What province are you coming from?7It's not an opioid. Now that you mention it, Mexico is a possibility. We intended to spend some time in Yuma and go into Mexico for one or two day trips anyway. I had checked at a pharmacy when we were there last winter, and they would be able to get it, although they would have to order it. It was exactly the same brand I am using, so no quality issue there. (Not sure how long the wait would be.) Are there border issues THERE from that end?My experience did make me wonder what other snowbirds are doing, or do border agents not make an issue of this too often? We are from Saskatchewan, heading for southern Nevada. We'll be in one spot for a couple of months at least.

Prescription medications 90 day rule: What to do?

Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Aug 12, 2017
Just a minor point, I generally get my 90 day prescriptions in a sizable container. Is it possible you could simply merge two 90 day supplies into one container? I'd think it highly unlikely border agents are going to count people's prescription drugs.....
darsben1
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
Does it contain an opiod?
Is it available in Mexico?
Where are you headed?
How long will you be in one spot?
What province are you coming from?7
MamaGoose
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
Ed_Gee wrote:
Just a minor point, I generally get my 90 day prescriptions in a sizable container. Is it possible you could simply merge two 90 day supplies into one container? I'd think it highly unlikely border agents are going to count people's prescription drugs.....

Not sure if that would work, the pills are kind of large. In the past, the pharmacy has used stock bottles and put a Rx label on them, and I don't remember how much space was remaining in each bottle.
toedtoes
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2017
Here's a link that includes the following tip:

Fda.gov

If you’re staying longer than 90 days, you may have additional medication sent to you by mail or courier. Include documentation showing that the medication is being sent for your own use while visiting the United States. This documentation may include: a copy of your visa and passport, a letter from your doctor, and a copy of your prescription (in English).
MamaGoose
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
darsben1 wrote:
Does it contain an opiod?
Is it available in Mexico?
Where are you headed?
How long will you be in one spot?
What province are you coming from?7

It's not an opioid. Now that you mention it, Mexico is a possibility. We intended to spend some time in Yuma and go into Mexico for one or two day trips anyway. I had checked at a pharmacy when we were there last winter, and they would be able to get it, although they would have to order it. It was exactly the same brand I am using, so no quality issue there. (Not sure how long the wait would be.) Are there border issues THERE from that end?
My experience did make me wonder what other snowbirds are doing, or do border agents not make an issue of this too often?
We are from Saskatchewan, heading for southern Nevada. We'll be in one spot for a couple of months at least.
MamaGoose
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
toedtoes wrote:
Here's a link that includes the following tip:

Fda.gov

If you’re staying longer than 90 days, you may have additional medication sent to you by mail or courier. Include documentation showing that the medication is being sent for your own use while visiting the United States. This documentation may include: a copy of your visa and passport, a letter from your doctor, and a copy of your prescription (in English).

Hmm...not a fan of "copy of passport" being out of my supervision...not anymore than an American would want their SSN floating around out there.

A reputable online pharmacy is a consideration, and that seems to be OK by U.S. rules.
MamaGoose
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
Or a doctor in Mexico could write a prescription and that should satisfy border requirements. :)
Fizz
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
Ooops
DustyR
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
MamaGoose wrote:
darsben1 wrote:
Does it contain an opiod?
Is it available in Mexico?
Where are you headed?
How long will you be in one spot?
What province are you coming from?7

It's not an opioid. Now that you mention it, Mexico is a possibility. We intended to spend some time in Yuma and go into Mexico for one or two day trips anyway. I had checked at a pharmacy when we were there last winter, and they would be able to get it, although they would have to order it. It was exactly the same brand I am using, so no quality issue there. (Not sure how long the wait would be.) Are there border issues THERE from that end?
My experience did make me wonder what other snowbirds are doing, or do border agents not make an issue of this too often?
We are from Saskatchewan, heading for southern Nevada. We'll be in one spot for a couple of months at least.

I spent four winters in the RGV and purchased meds every year in Progresso Mexico. I simply told the border security guards I had picked up Meds and never had a problem.
darsben1
Explorer
Aug 12, 2017
If it is not a controlled substance then you each can bring back a 90 day supply from Mexico and so can the people you cross the border with.
As no prescription is needed for the drug in Mexico then all is well as far as 2,3, or 4 more people bringing the RX back.
Did you go to Los Algodones and were told it had to be ordered?

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