The Legality of Bringing Prescription Drugs Into the U.S. From Mexico (2024)

FAQs

The Legality of Bringing Prescription Drugs Into the U.S. From Mexico? ›

In most circ*mstances, it is illegal for individuals to import drugs or devices into the U.S. for personal use because these products purchased from other countries often have not been approved by the FDA for use and sale in the U.S. If a drug is approved for use in another country but is an unapproved new drug in the ...

If you're prescribed medication abroad, review U.S. Customs & Border Patrol's list of restricted and prohibited items to certify that medication obtained abroad may be brought back into the country. Declare all medication and associated items at customs. Carry medication obtained abroad in its original container.

You can buy most drugs and medications in Mexico Over the Counter (OTC), without a prescription, as long as they are not included in the list of “Controlled Medications, group I and group II”. In addition, you will need a prescription to buy antibiotics.

Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. Ensure that they are clearly labeled with your full name, health care provider's name, generic and brand name, and exact dosage. Bring copies of all written prescriptions, including the generic names for medicines.

It is recommended that medication be clearly labeled to facilitate the screening process. You may bring medically necessary liquids, medications and creams in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings.

Customs inspectors use giant X-ray machines to search for contraband inside a truck. Customs agencies also use drug-sniffing and bomb-sniffing dogs to stop smugglers. These animals go through an intense training process that teaches them to recognize and locate particular odors in exchange for some play time.

Quality, Safety, Legality of Prescription Drugs Bought in Mexico. Some people may be concerned about the quality of prescription drugs they can buy in Mexico. In general, it's perfectly safe and legal to purchase prescription drugs in Mexican pharmacies and bring them back into the United States for personal use.

U.S. 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.

In most circ*mstances, it is illegal for individuals to import FDA-approved drugs from other countries for personal use. However, based on changes enacted by the MMA, personal importation of prescription drugs that have not been approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. is permitted on a case-by-case basis.

The content uniformity for the amoxicillin capsules was found to be 15.4 +/- 2.4% and 99.4 +/- 9.3%, for Mexican and U.S. capsules, respectively. The percent relative standard deviation (% RSD) for weight variation was found to be 8.7% and 1.5% for capsules obtained from Mexico and the United States, respectively.

What medications can I not bring back from Mexico? ›

However, you can't buy nor bring back stronger antibiotics such as Cipro. These are part of pharmacy meds under the controlled substance list. Even if you have a prescription from a US or Mexico doctor, the border agents won't let you cross back those meds across the border.

You can bring your medication in pill or solid form in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened. You can travel with your medication in both carry-on and checked baggage. It's highly recommended you place these items in your carry-on in the event that you need immediate access.

You should not attempt to travel with illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia of any kind to avoid airport arrest. If illegal drugs are discovered on your person, in your carry-on luggage, or concealed in your checked baggage, you will immediately be arrested.

DON'T ... Combine different medications in one bottle. While consolidating your meds may save space, it also can lead to mistakenly taking the wrong pill or confusion over what's what. Some medications may even react with others negatively when kept in the same container.

You can take prescription medications on a plane. They can be placed in a clear plastic bag for screening or in your checked-in luggage. But you may have to undergo additional security checks and you should be prepared for these.

While these drugs or devices may be legal somewhere else, if the FDA has not approved them for use in the United States, they may not legally enter the country and will be confiscated, even if they are prescribed by a foreign physician.

Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a passenger does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for a visual inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.

Also, anything you bring back that you did not have when you left the United States must be "declared." For example, you would declare alterations made in a foreign country to a suit you already owned, and any gifts you acquired outside the United States.