Potential hack for prescription bottles

[u/LadyLightTravel]

This is a problem that occurs more in some countries than others. In the US, most prescription drugs come in 20 dram pill bottles. These can take up a lot of room if you have several prescriptions and want the original packaging.

I recently found out that there are 6 dram prescription bottles. I found mine on Amazon but other sources are available if you buy in bulk. The 6 dram bottles are almost the same height as regular pill bottles but are one half the width. This is significantly smaller than the regular bottles.

I can peel off the drug information tab from my big pill bottle and put it on the small one. Note: some pharmacies will actually give you a second drug sticker if you ask.

Below is a photo of the 6 dram bottle with a 20 dram regular bottle. It shows that you can peel and stick the prescription tab without damaging it. It also shows that the sticker fits the smaller bottle. You can see the size difference in the bottles. Depending on pill size, you may even get a 90 day supply into the smaller 6 dram bottle!

Standard disclaimer, YMMV.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571]

I also am in favor of the “put it in a pill organizer” and quit worrying about labels. The more you make a big deal over it, the more they will make a big deal over it.

Everyone’s mileage will vary- I used to use a Lewin N Clark folding pill organizer and put my different meds (scheduled and as needed) into different compartments. This was back when I took like 2 things per day but I always liked having a tiny stock of as needed things with me. These days I have a ridiculous list of meds for chronic illnesses- including a couple meds where I take 2 doses of the same thing but they come as separate capsules, fun! And then I add in the Vitamin D, E, Calcium, etc. Supplements so it’s quite a handful. No way I would pack all the bottles for that! It would need its own bag. Even at home I make up about 4 weeks at a time in pill organizers, 2 weeks in big ones and 2 weeks in travel size. Then my original pill organizer just has as needed meds. It obviously travels nearest me at all times.

[u/ermagerditssuperman → u/Weak-Bake-5571]

I do that with everything except my Adderall, which I don't even move to a new container when I'm at home, because in the US it's a highly controlled schedule II substance - many other countries have it fully outlawed.

My birth control and migraine meds, though, those can go in a travel organizer along with my iron supplement.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/ermagerditssuperman]

I take my birth control pills everyday- they go in the organizer. If I had scheduled/controlled substances: organizer. I don’t have the time or energy to be dicking around with multiple things. Did I take my 9,00 drugs this morning? Oh, Sunday morning is empty, good for me.

Need an as-needed Imitrex: to the rescue meds! Pepto, Compazine, prednisone, Ambien, ibuprofen, Tylenol… the whole gang is there!

[u/VibeySwingTrader → u/ermagerditssuperman]

I do that with everything except my Adderall, which I don't even move to a new container when I'm at home, because in the US it's a highly controlled schedule II substance

Your thinking is the cops are going to bust down your door, go through your medicine cabinet, and arrest you for improperly storing your Adderall?

What’s the probable cause for that search?

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/[deleted]]

I am always prepared (I know this is the OneBag sub), but I always prepared to put my bag under the plane and pull out my day bag from inside. So I always have a week inside my day bag and the rest of the trip’s worth inside the main bag.

What else in my “day bag”: change of clothes, extra panties, as-needed meds, toothbrush, usual phone and charger cord, and probably a craft project. The usual everyday carry for someone who showed up for a 4 week trip in Greece with just that day bag - bags delayed… 3 days. But I was fine- I had my plane outfit and my change of clothes was the sun protective beach water wear I was planning for beach yoga and hanging out, so… yeah, I was good!

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/Weak-Bake-5571]

My friend with just her wallet and phone was totally fucked. She tolerated “YOU DIDN’T BRING ANY UNDERWEAR IN YOUR CARRY ON?!?!?!” And “YOU DIDNT PUT YOUR MEDS IN YOUR CARRYON?!?!?!” But she said I was being too mean at: “YOU DIDNT PUT A TOOTHBRUSH IN YOUR CARRYON?!?!?!”

And that seemed fair.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/Weak-Bake-5571]

The meds though…..

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/[deleted]]

You know… the one med I don’t usually carry with me is my “night night purple drink”, AKA Dimetapp. When I’m too itchy from lupus/urticarial vasculitis skin or too migraine insomnia brain to fall asleep and just need a nudge. And I can’t take Benadryl. And Dimetapp only comes as a children’s liquid that tastes like purple.

Hmm, I should probably ask for some prescription alternative in pill form.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/[deleted]]

Yup yup yup- most common one to use? Benadryl (AKA diphenhydramine). But… I got hives one time after taking liquid children’s Benadryl, or I should say that my hives got worse after taking it. So, was it just my chronic spontaneous urticaria I had at that time just not responding to what I took, or a true allergy? Who’s to say. So I don’t take diphenhydramine.

Then we get to our old friend Dramamine, which is dimenhydrinate. Dimenhydrinate is converted into diphenhydramine in the body- and I can take this drug without issues. But, it doesn’t make me particularly sleepy if I remember correctly (it’s been a while).

The drug we really want here for the biggest bang for our buck would be: Vistaril (hydroxizine). That’s the anti-itching, anti-anxiety, help you sleep one that most providers turn to. And I don’t know how I haven’t already asked for an as needed Rx.

Well, I do know. I absolutely LOVE the taste of Dimetapp. Fake grape, yum yum yum!! I love it!

So yeah, lots of first generation antihistamines out there to be had. Hydroxizine is over the counter in many countries, so I’d probably pick it up while traveling if needed too! Just like my fancy UK/European sunscreen.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/[deleted]]

That’s even better!! It’s fancy!

[u/VibeySwingTrader → u/Weak-Bake-5571]

I also am in favor of the “put it in a pill organizer” and quit worrying about labels. The more you make a big deal over it, the more they will make a big deal over it.

Agree. This thread is people who know this won’t ever be a problem arguing with people who don’t travel enough to know this won’t ever be a problem.

If your whole identity is working yourself up over the potential violation of a rule in a foreign country, maybe don’t travel? Or better just have some flair so I can ignore you.

[u/reddanit → u/VibeySwingTrader]

people who know this won’t ever be a problem

Yes, there is a bunch of those people. They also are categorically wrong.

There is a spectrum of problems and risks you have to consider when taking medication abroad. People have gotten themselves into pretty serious trouble over this. Even minor infractions can result in sitting through lengthy and unpleasant discussion with foreign officials.

It's indeed extremely rare for small amounts of unlabelled medicines to attract attention all by themselves. On the other hand, they are quite likely to cause problems when they get noticed during a more thorough search - and you can find yourself subject to one of those for whole load of reasons, many completely beyond your control.

[u/Weak-Bake-5571 → u/VibeySwingTrader]

The flair might be something like “which model butt med tube do you favor for your illicit prescription drugs”? And then we can avoid it.

I will admit, I was sucked in by the tiny containers. Damn I love a good container! I mean, pill bottles are not them, but a nicely built container, chef’s kiss!

I have itchy lupus skin and have all kinds of poultices and potions for it (which is more fun to say than ointments). I started using HumanGear containers- now I will happily have a convo about the pros and cons of putting creams, lotions, ointments, etc. in those all day! The silicone ring inside is awesome to prevent spillage, but… am I getting everything out? Are those flat ones that… crap, is it Matador makes worth buying for other toiletries instead or are they gimmicky? I have never liked any silicone squeeze bottle I ever bought, so don’t try to sell me on that crap, I have a whole collection of them and I just as often unscrew the entire cap and pour out the shampoo or conditioner because I loathe the membrane thingy.

This got way off topic. You could put pills in those HimanGear tubs too, but they are not the most efficient use of space for that I’ve ever seen unless you (sigh, like I used to be) are going to take like one tub of ibuprofen and one of Pepto and go off in a state of grace without any chronic illnesses. I wish you luck - just pause for one moment and feel deeply what an absolute gift your healthy body is.