This is what has happened to me on occasion, not every single time. However, because of the periodical issues and the increase security measures by TSA when I leave the USA and the fact that most of my travel is INTERNATIONAL not domestic. I take precautions. What you decide to do, is up to you. 

I submitted a large part of the post below on a CruiseCritic.com thread...
While I'm writing about cruise travel, it is just as applicable to land travel


It is highly recommended by the CDC, TSA and IAMAT.org to carry your meds in the original container.

Especially if you are carrying them in your day pack into a foreign country when you go into port

Mexico and Canada both qualify

There are a number of reasons for this, the basic ones are...

1. drug smuggling.

2. if you become ill and your travel partner or you can NOT communicate what exactly your prescription is that you are taking ~ that could mean life or death.

3. if you need to refill your prescription it will contain the pharmaceutical name on it. What we call it in the United States is NOT always the same in the rest of the world. I know this to be true, as I've inquired to this in Croatia, France and Italy....not one pharmicist knew the term Vicodin but they read my bottle and said..you need to see a doctor for a prescription. The doctor in turn was able to read the letter from my doctor. While onboard a RCCL and Princess ship I asked if they could refill my prescription and they wanted to see a medical diagnosis, even though I had my prescription bottle.


I have severe chronic pain and travel with a lot of narcotics.
If I'm traveling for 3 weeks it does look suspicious.

I have been pulled aside and further physcially searched in

Paris, France
Riga, Latvia
Split, Croatia

I need to present a note from my doctor with his medical license indicating why I take this medicine.

DO NOT expect a TSA agent to understand what is a vitamin or a vicodin, what is cold medicine or codiene.

Do you really want to test your luck, just because someone
else never had a problem?

Times have changed and this is not something to mess with.
Do you have the extra time in your travel plans
if the TSA wants further explanation or a police officer decides to question you  for no apparent reason and finds NON LABELED meds in a baggie in your purse?

Also, anytime you are traveling to another country and you have any variation of narcotics check to see if they are allowed in the country

If you visited Dubai or Singapore and took cough medicine with codiene while prescribed by your doctor and it is in your system you can be arrested and thrown in jail...THIS IS A TRUE LIFE INCIDENT!

Just remember, Mexico, much of the Caribbean and Canada are foriegn countries...not just our friendly neighbors.

Also, you should not carry your travel companions meds unlabeled, they need to be in their bag.

We learned that the hard way in Riga, Latvia when my DH had my carryon and I had his.

Finally, LOCK YOUR MEDICINE UP...While onboard the Statendam in 2001 I kept it in a nightstand hidden or so I thought. Since, I'm on a monitored pain clinic plan, I have a certain allotment. I knew my prescription would carry me for a week after disembarkation..but upon post cruise travel I realized that I was short 3 days of my supply!


If you have any questions or want to discuss traveling with chronic pain, how I do it and how my mom and/or John assist me in have the best travel experience I'm capable of, send me an email!