Taking supplements to Italy?

[Kitten44]

hi all, just wondering if any of you know if it is ok to take my massive array of supplements with me on a forthcoming trip to Italy?

I'll take levo in it's box, but the rest of the supplements I'm decanting to zip lock bags. Way too many to take in original packaging. Also it is two weeks, so too long to think i should go without them. (usual stuff, iron, vit b, d, k2, c, enzymes, probiotics, fish oil, adrenal stuff, guggul....).

I hope they don't think I'm smuggling anything illegal!

any advice welcome, please!

thanks!!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kitten

If you have them in zip lock bags and customs want to know what they are, you have no proof. You will be far better off finding room to keep them in their original packaging.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Absolutely!

[Valleycat]

Here is what I do. Any Rx that is written by a Doctor I leave in the Rx bottle or package with Rx written on it. The supplements I do baggie up like you. I do write on them with a sharper pen, the contents, along with the strength, count and expiration date. Sometimes I write on masking tape, then put on baggie. If I remember, I also take a picture of the bottle (package) front and back. I would only bring what I'll be needing and a little extra. Have fun in Italy.

[Kitten44 in reply to Valleycat]

Thanks Valleycat and SeasideSue.

i may do half and half. Don't have much room in the suitcase but I'm checking it in, so at least it's not like I'll take it on the carry on bag (save for levo!)

Does anyone know if I'd be able to buy more levo without prescription? (to stuck up in case i am refused an increase next time).

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kitten44]

Just remember that everything goes through an x-ray machine so whether in your suitcase or carry on luggage the tablets/capsules will show up and you may be asked about them.

[Kitten44 in reply to SeasideSusie]

thanks SeasideSusie. This condition makes life so complicated!! 😡

How i long for days gone by when i didn't need to over-plan everything and be made to feel like I'm doing something devious when all i am trying to do is have a healthy life! 😕

[Valleycat]

I would only carry on my medicine.. . What happens if you luggage is misplaced? I was only asked once, getting back in USA and that was many years ago. Check with your airlines about exceptions for medical related items. Might have to get a letter from your Doctor. I never did. I carry a purse, a carryon full of meds and a Cpap machine. They never have stopped me with carryon issues.

[Barrett582]

I take my supplements to Italy and back to US in small baggies. I have never had a problem. You can buy thyroid meds in Italy. First you need to know that Italy doesn’ t have generics, so you need Italy’s brand names for what you take. I take tirosint and Italy has tirosint. In the US tirosint is a gel cap, in Italy it is a tablet or liquid. My first time I just put my tirosint box on the counter ( with my prescription label on it) and the pharmacist sold me 50 tablets for €2.40. At the next pharmacy I wrote down on paper tirosint 50 mcg. There I bought 50 tablets and 30 liquid vials (vials €8.40). I have tried to get t3 by calling it t3 and liothyronine and have had no luck. You have to know the brand name in Italy. You need to be very polite, speak a little Italian, pay cash, and get one box at each pharmacy. You can pop into every pharmacy you can find and buy a years worth. To pack I consolidate boxes and spread them out in bags. It is legal to bring back for personal use. I have flown back to US through UK, no problem.

[Hidden]

Just a thought. I would suggest somehow labelling them Lots of work but how much money to replace if confiscated? I'm probably more wary as I live in the US and customers here currently don't seem to have very much understanding from our airlines or TSA security force. Almost weekly there is a story about a passenger being treated badly by airline personnel-sometimes with serious injuries. I don't travel overseas as much as I used to when healthier but even then I always flew on a foreign airline when possible. Much nicer treatment, respect. Flying our 'friendly skies' is not what it was years ago. It often seems to depend on the luck of the draw-who you get, personal power trips, and what side of the bed they got up on that morning. Sometimes you breeze through security and sometimes you're treated badly and dismissively. Hopefully things are better across the pond.

[Kitten44]

Dear Hidden , Valleycat , Barrett582 and SeasideSusie , just a quick update.

In the end, there was a mad rush and didn't have the time to re-pack the suitcase, so took all the supplement in little ziplock bags as initially mentioned. I did, however, take pics of all the bottles' labels and printed them just in case. No one checked a thing.

As for buying Levo there, first chemist i tried, the pharmacist spoke fluent English and said I needed a prescription, so I showed one of my UK boxes and with the typical named label attached to it she said that was ok, as that constitutes a prescription and happily sold me a box. I tried a few other chemists and not a single one asked for anything, so I became bolder and started getting stronger doses and even the liquid type. Prices ranged from about 2.45 to 2.80 Euros the most expensive, and 11ish for the liquid ones. So now I've plenty to keep me going for some time.

Funnily enough, I needed to get some ibuprofen, a box of 12 was 3.50 euros!!!

Thanks again to you all for your responses!

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kitten44]

Thanks for the update Kitten, some useful information there

I'm glad you didn't have to explain your little bags of pills

[Hidden in reply to Kitten44]

Hi Kitten. Very happy it worked out so well. Sometimes the Universe really comes thru for us. Renews hope!. Take care. xx irina 🐱

[Evyb]

Yes I did, however I wasn't asked anything. Best to have everything labelled I think. Good luck.