OTC med question

[donnad]

First of all……thank all of you for helping me with all my questions ahead of this trip! I usually bring some DayQuil and NyQuil tablets with me when traveling just in case it’s needed. We will be at multiple locations and a good chunk of time on a liveaboard so I like to be prepared. But for example , DayQuil/nyquil has dextromethorphan in it and so I thought it might be prohibited but couldn’t find specific info. Also what about products like guafinisin decongestant , Sudafed type products , OTC allergy pills,etc? If you have these in your carryon and they don’t like it for example , will they just confiscate it? Or will you get arrested???

 

[judyjaymd]

First of all……thank all of you for helping me with all my questions ahead of this trip! I usually bring some DayQuil and NyQuil tablets with me when traveling just in case it’s needed. We will be at multiple locations and a good chunk of time on a liveaboard so I like to be prepared. But for example , DayQuil/nyquil has dextromethorphan in it and so I thought it might be prohibited but couldn’t find specific info. Also what about products like guafinisin decongestant , Sudafed type products , OTC allergy pills,etc? If you have these in your carryon and they don’t like it for example , will they just confiscate it? Or will you get arrested???

I have traveled all over the world with a pharmacopeia of medication and never had any confiscated. If paranoid, rule of thumb is keep meds in unopened container from store. None of the items you've mentioned are controlled substances (tho pseudoephedrine-Sudafed-can be used to make some). By the way, don't bother with the "Quils." Phenylephrine has been shown to be totally ineffective as a decongestant when taken orally. Go with pseudoephedrine if you're not hypertensive.

 

[GF99/99]

First of all……thank all of you for helping me with all my questions ahead of this trip! I usually bring some DayQuil and NyQuil tablets with me when traveling just in case it’s needed. We will be at multiple locations and a good chunk of time on a liveaboard so I like to be prepared. But for example , DayQuil/nyquil has dextromethorphan in it and so I thought it might be prohibited but couldn’t find specific info. Also what about products like guafinisin decongestant , Sudafed type products , OTC allergy pills,etc? If you have these in your carryon and they don’t like it for example , will they just confiscate it? Or will you get arrested???

You will have no issues in Indonesia. I lived there for many years and now travel in and out of there multiple times a year. Never had any issues with meds.

All the product you described above are OTC as well in Indonesia. Actually I do just the opposite of what your doing, I usually buy them in Indonesia and not bring them. They are much much cheaper. The only thing is you just need to be careful about what you buy there and bring back to the US or EU. You can pretty much buy anything in Indonesia with out prescription.

My go to Indonesian decongestant is a product call "Decolsin" and the other one is "procold" you can find this pretty much in any shop or pharmacy in Indonesia.

Quick check on Tokopedia and it looks like its about IDR 3,000 (about USD $0.19) for 4 pills.

 

[donnad]

I have traveled all over the world with a pharmacopeia of medication and never had any confiscated. If paranoid, rule of thumb is keep meds in unopened container from store. None of the items you've mentioned are controlled substances (tho pseudoephedrine-Sudafed-can be used to make some). By the way, don't bother with the "Quils." Phenylephrine has been shown to be totally ineffective as a decongestant when taken orally. Go with pseudoephedrine if you're not hypertensive.

Thank you so much!