How do you deal with carrying your hormone vials and needles on air flights? I suspect I'm going to travel by Amtrak instead of flying but wanted to ask anyway just in case. :P
In general, in your hand luggage (carry on) and take your prescription with you, on you in your wallet whatever. And obviously keep everything capped and safe.
Taking hormones is no different to any other medication. If you are travelling OS get advice from your embassy (you are USA?) on the requirements of the country you are travelling to.
Some countries, particularly Asian, have SEVERE penalties - death - for importing illicit drugs so just make sure you have full documentation, including a letter from your medics.
daynejule, take a look at this:
http://blog.tsa.gov/2011/08/traveling-with-medication.html (http://blog.tsa.gov/2011/08/traveling-with-medication.html)
There should be no issues from a TSA perspective. Contrary to popular belief, TSA screeners are not malicious idiots and perverts with a single-minded mission to make travelers' lives miserable, nor are the screening rules and regulations deliberately difficult to navigate.
If you need the meds on the flight, you will be able to take them on the flight. If you have more than is allowable in terms of liquid volume, or if you don't actually need it on the flight with you, just pack your meds in a suitcase and check them instead of carrying them onboard.
And as Cindy stated, check with the country you're going to for their regulations on what documentation you need, although it's unlikely to be an issue if you are carrying the medication legally and it's in its original container with your name on it. But carrying a copy of your prescription and your doctor's contact info along with your passport would be advisable.
But yes, needles on a plane are not a problem if they are medically necessary.
Brennan is right. When I came back from Thailand post srs op, I brought a lot of medication on board. Many of them are in liquid form. Way more amount than TSA allowed. There were no problem in any airport because they are medical neccessity. It was more convenient even because I was in wheelchair and I didn't have to wait in line. In your case, as long as the medication label has your name on you should be fine.
I for one would be surprised if the next :o air security incident was caused by someone wielding a syringe full of hormones.
"If you don't do what I say I'll . . . er . . . I'll give you a nice pair of tits."
Since this has come up, I've heard the same with T-cream or Androgel, etc. I actually think that if someone prescribed the medication it wouldn't matter if you were a drug addict as the TSA doesn't care.
I have carried a lot of prescriptions not in their original bottles-- just in packs with the days on them. Never had an issue. Though something like injectables and T are regulated at a different level.
--Jay
I always put needles in my checked bag and tape a note from my doctor on the bag holding the needles just in case they search my luggage. Then put testosterone in my carry on in my zip lock bag holding other small amounts of liquids. I know it's possible to bring needles on a plane if it's medication but just seems like more hassle than it's worth since I won't need it while flying.
Quote from: Chamillion on June 10, 2013, 06:16:54 PM
I always put needles in my checked bag and tape a note from my doctor on the bag holding the needles just in case they search my luggage.
Chamillion, excellent point. From a law enforcement standpoint, needle sticks are something that cops really try to avoid during a search. I imagine that TSA screeners also worry about those kinds of issues as they probably frisk dozens of times more strangers than cops do each day. Please make sure your syringes are capped, in a transparent bag in your carry on, and not in your pockets! A surefire way to piss off a screener is to have loose syringes in your bag or for him or her feel a syringe in your pocket.