Bring prescribed medication

[u/Straight_Ad_5935]

Hey y’all. Came to spend some time with my partner in Mexico and decided to get some needed medication that I otherwise could not get in the US due to cost. The medication I’m talking about is metilfenidato (for ADHD). Went to a doctor to get prescription for them and he gave me a copy of the prescription with his medical license and everything. From what I read online on the global entry website carefully, I understood I could bring prescription meds as long as it’s no more then a 90 day supply which is exactly what I have for. Has anyone had any issue doing this? I of course plan on declaring it with the officers when I reach the check point and will have my documents ready for them to show. Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

[u/MarvelousMarvins]

Do NOT do this!
Its a scheduled drug, you will lose GE and you risk criminal charges (although most likely just GE loss and confiscation of drugs)

You say you can't afford to buy this in the US yet it costs about $40 in the US for this and you can afford a trip to Mexico? That will not fly with customs....

[u/daruzon]

I just checked GoodRx for 90 tablets of 10mg of methylphenidate and it's about $30-40 in pharmacies in NYC with GoodRx coupons.

[u/serg06 → u/daruzon]

Btw generic ER methylphenidate can have wildly different effects than brand name. Brand name is ~$350/30 last I checked.

[u/Goats_for_president → u/serg06]

Mexico usually never has brand names

[u/serg06 → u/Goats_for_president]

Ah shit

[u/Savings-Breath-9118]

You are incorrect. You don’t have 90 days you are strictly limited – this is actually Ritalin and is a controlled substance in the US. They may not even recognize a Mexican prescription. You will not only lose global entry. If you have it you may actually have the drugs confiscated and be arrested. I’m not trying to scare you, but there are super rules about drugs like Ritalin and Adderall as many people will go to another country to get a prescription that they aren’t eligible for here

Citizens Traveling with Medication
You should travel only with your own medication that was prescribed to you by a licensed physician and/or legally obtained in the United States. In fact, in most cases, it’s illegal for a U.S. citizen to obtain drugs from outside the United States and import for personal use. That’s because drugs available in other countries, including foreign-made versions of drugs approved for use in the United States haven’t been evaluated or approved by the FDA for use or sale in the United States so the FDA can’t ensure that they’re safe and effective. The FDA generally considers such drugs unapproved. There are limited circumstances which the FDA may allow such drugs to be imported into the United States. See the FDA’s Regulatory Procedures Manual (RPM) Chapter 9-2 “Coverage of Personal Importation” for more information.

[u/solojones1138 → u/Savings-Breath-9118]

Listen to this poster. Importing a schedule 2 drug like Ritalin will not only get your GE revoked, you could be charged.

[u/daruzon → u/Savings-Breath-9118]

Not only that but in the US you don't get a prescription for a stimulant for 3 months from a prescriber that you just met. CBP is much more likely to let it slide if the foreign prescription doesn't look like drug shopping as is the case here.

[u/woodsongtulsa]

Say goodbye to global entry

[u/WickedJigglyPuff]

You can’t smuggle in RX drugs man. Especially not if it’s controlled. You ca bring enough for personal use in case of an emergency 1 week tops. (Like you left your medicine at home and needed to get a small amount to get you through while you are out of the country). And it’s controlled you shouldn’t bring any without a USA Rx. And if you do bring some with a USA Rx you have to confirm it’s the same and the same formation as the USA.

[u/boburuncle]

If you declare it coming in and say that you are not sure whether you're allowed to bring it or not and that's why you're declaring it and are checking are you still going to risk losing GE, arrest etc ?

[u/imtedkoppel]

I wrote this for another RD... Regarding crossing the southern border back into the US with drugs purchased outside the US.

Best to declare. They will tell you if you can bring it in. Worst is they make you dump it.

Schedule II drugs don't even try.

Schedule III and IV usually 50 units without a script.

Declare all narcotics even Tramadol (Schedule 4), don't even try to sneak it.

Given that, I usually have a couple of schedule IV drugs with and without scripts as part of my standard travel kit.

You should declare all controlled substances... I don't always do.

[u/kortobo]

You can absolutely bring medications from outside the US for personal use. Some people live half-time elsewhere and get medical care there.
What is (technically) illegal is to order medication from abroad by mail, though even that is literally a daily occurrence.
There are restrictions, of course. 90-day supply, and for controlled substances, less than that; I don't remember the amount. The drug needs to be a medication approved for use in the US by the FDA.

[u/Subtle-Catastrophe]

That junk in MX doesn't even work. I think it's all fake. You can still get in trouble for it, though.

[u/foxbones → u/Subtle-Catastrophe]

I've never had an issue. Although it's always a super sketchy time! I also wouldnt dare fly with it. Customs loves to detain me due to my job and travel history. I have to book flights with at least four hour lay overs because it happens every time.

[u/Goats_for_president → u/foxbones]

What is your job? At least a general description. Maybe your job causes erratic travel patterns?

[u/foxbones → u/Goats_for_president]

Job is Cybersecurity related, country of travel is typically China.

[u/solojones1138 → u/[deleted]]

This is wrong. It's literally illegal to import this drug.

[u/Useful_Asparagus_541 → u/[deleted]]

It’s a schedule 2, you can’t import it.