A new bill was recently passed by Congress that amends a portion of the Controlled Substances Act (21USC956(a)). This amendment allows a United States resident to import up to 50 dosage units of a controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border. These medications must be declared upon arrival, be for your own personal use and in their original container. However, travelers should be aware that drug products which are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may not be acceptable for such importation. FDA warns that such drugs are often of unknown quality and discourages buying drugs sold in foreign countries. Please go to http://www.fda.gov/ora/import/purchasing_medications.htm for further information.
LLFO
S

I am currently researching the legality of bringing prescription medication into the US from Mexico. I've been the the FDA, DEA and the Customs' web sites (.gov) - but am still having a hard time getting specific information.

I will post what I find here, but does anyone know the exact laws regarding bringing medication into the US? The above post about "controlled medication" is vague, and so is the rest of the document on the FDA's website. It doesn't say what "controlled" is, exactly. It also doesn't go into what class of drugs you can bring over - Schedule II, Schedule III, etc (DEA lingo).

I'll keep working on it, but I'd apprecaite any hints or specific info.

Thanks, MrBill

The below is taken from the US Customs web site (regarding the FDA info above).

FDA's guidance is not, however, a license for individuals to import unapproved (and therefore illegal) drugs for personal use into the U.S. Even if all of the factors noted in the guidance are present, the drugs remain illegal and FDA may decide that such drugs should be refused entry or seized. The guidance represents FDA’s current thinking regarding the issues of personal importation and is intended only to provide operating guidance for FDA personnel. The guidance does not create any legally enforceable rights for the public; nor does it operate to bind FDA or the public.

The above of course refers only to illicit and experimental drugs that are unapproved for prescription in this country. The apparent liberalization of the law referred to in Shorts's post refers to medications that can be legally prescribed in the U.S.

Keep in mind that you will still be in violation of Mexican law if you are walking around with drugs that legally require prescription in Mexico, including Viagra -- even if you could legally bring such drugs across the U.S. border. U.S. border agents aren't going to enforce Mexican prescription regulations, but you'll be fodder for the Mexican authorities if your haul is discovered down there...keep some mordida money handy.

I hope to look at this further myself since I have no prescription coverage and get all my meds south of the border.

I got stopped bringing in 100 Hydrocontin (Vicodin). I even had a prescription from a Mexican doctor.

The customs guys told me the following:

- Prescriptions from Mexican doctors used to be acceptable, but not any more.

- You can only bring back a 3 month supply of prescription medication.

- The catch all is that the medication has to be FDA approved. Some Mexican versions are not FDA approved despite the fact that they are the exact same drug.

The bottom line is the customs officials decide whether or not they'll let you bring it across. They have a pamphlet they hand out, but even that is open for interpretation.

Obviously you should not try to sneak a Class I drug in, or you will go to jail. I'm not sure on Class II drugs. Class III drugs are fine.

My advice is to not say anything about it, because if you get searched it's no big deal. Also, get the prescription from a Mexican doctor, just in case you get stopped by the cops in Mexico. It's very easy and well worth it. I imagine you could write your own prescription if you really wanted to. It's not like customs is going to check the script.

In my case, the customs guys told me I could go back and get a refund from the doctor. I certainly did that instead of hiding the medication in my sock and walking across the border without incident, because that would have been wrong.

-Superman-

I'm going fucking NUTS trying to find a clear answer to this question. I have been on FDA, DEA, Customs, WebMD, Google, Yahoo - etc - all fucking day and I can't find a straight answer. Every last source I check refuses to elaborate on what is "controlled". I have the DEA's list of "Scheduled" meds, but no one will say if this is the same thing as "controlled".

So far, there seem to be three *general* guidelines:

1) you can bring in 3 month's supply of a non-controlled, FDA-approved medication if you have a prescription

>> what's "non-controlled" ??? - DEA Schedule II, III, ???

2) you can bring in 50 units of a controlled, FDA-approved medication WITHOUT a prescription

>> what's "controlled" - again, Schedule II, III ???

3) non-FDA approved (experimental or "off-brand") medication *may* be imported, subject to FDA approval

>> this vague "rule" is actually the clearest of the bunch - if in question, there are FDA guidelines and it's ultimately the FDA's call. Customs may call the FDA for an on-the-spot judgement, or they may confiscate it until the FDA ultimately decides your "case"

So... in regards to 1) and 2) -- what is the LEGAL (Customs - the are the controlling authority, as far as I can discern) definition of a "controlled medication" ???

Cocaine, meth and opium are DEA Schedule II drugs. Can I bring 50 of those in w/o a script? So is Ritalin (sched. II) - is it okay to give 12-year-olds ritalin by the fucking grade-school nurse, but you can't bring it across the border?

Okay, as soon as I find a legal definition of what a "controlled medication" (this is the government's own language) -- I will post it here. Anyone a lawyer?

Frustrated... MrBill

PS - Superman - Vicodin is a Sched II drug. Maybe that was the reason? If the drug is the same brand and made by the same mfgr, it is supposed to be okay, unless it's "controlled". But even so, this "new law" is supposed to allow even that. If the problem was the Mexican doctor, that's news to me... The bottom line is (supposed to be) that Customs does NOT interpret the laws - supposedly they can "impound" the drugs for review by the FDA et al, but I'm not sure if they can just fuck you outright. I'm going into it informed - if that's a hassle for the ignoramuses at Customs, too bad...

Superman said, "I certainly did that instead of hiding the medication in my sock and walking across the border without incident, because that would have been wrong."

>> was that "tongue-in-cheek"? ;-)

Some clarification, but no definition of a "controlled medication/substance".

http://www.house.gov/judiciary/3055.htm

======================================

Statement of Wesley S. Windle

U.S. Customs Service

Before the

Crime Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee

March 26, 1998

Good morning, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee. It is my pleasure to appear before you today.


Thank you for this opportunity to respond to your concerns and questions regarding the importation of prescription drugs from Mexico.


The U.S. Customs Service mission is to prevent and deter smuggling of goods and narcotics; protect the American public against the entry of contraband and prohibited goods; regulate people, carriers, and goods that cross the U.S. borders; and assess and collect duties, taxes, and fees on imports. To accomplish this mission we enforce laws and regulations of many different federal agencies. In this particular situation, the U.S. Customs Service enforces laws and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) governing the importation of prescription medicine.


For DEA, the Customs Service enforces the laws and regulations governing the importation and exportation of prescription drugs that contain narcotics and controlled substances into and out of the United States.


For FDA, the Customs Service enforces those laws pertaining to the importation of prescription medicine, including those pertaining to mislabeled, adulterated and prohibited drugs, which do not meet FDA approval, from being imported into the United States.


The efforts and capabilities of the Customs Service can be seen in the seizures and/or refusals of admission of various types of non-narcotic pharmaceuticals governed by FDA and DEA laws and regulations. Reasons for these seizures range from lack of FDA approval of a drug, to misbranding or labeling a product, to false or unsubstantiated medical claims. These discoveries and seizures encompass various types of medications, from exotic remedies to Rohypnol - the so-called date rape drug.


Concerns have been raised regarding the possibly contradictory interpretations regarding the importation of prescription drugs for personal use without a valid United States prescription. Concerns have also been raised regarding allegedly inconsistent and contradictory directives from Washington, D.C., which make it difficult for officers in the field to consistently enforce the law and combat this problem.


On December 12, 1996, in an effort to assist our inspectors, the U.S. Customs Service issued as a memorandum a Prescription Medicine Process Reminder. This reminder directly addresses the importation of prescription drugs for personal use, including prescription requirements and personal import amounts. Similar information is also available to the general public on the Customs web site at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov.


Subject to FDA approval, if an individual has a prescription (foreign or domestic) for medication approved for use in the United States, and he presents himself and declares the medication for entry, and if it is in a personal use quantity, he is allowed to bring the controlled medication into the United States.


As stated in the reminder, Customs advice to inspectors in the field is that the totality of circumstances, including, but not limited to, resident or non-resident status, drug type and length of stay, must guide the inspector in determining a legitimate personal use amount. When drug type, amount, or various drug combinations arouse suspicions, our inspectors contact the nearest FDA office for advice and final determination.


In the real world, there is some latitude in our inspectors' determinations of a legitimate personal use amount for different types of prescription drugs. Over several years it has become accepted that for some types of medications a 30-day supply was considered a "reasonable amount," and for others it became a 90-day supply. These quantities are generally supported by the FDA when our inspectors telephone their offices for advice and final determination.


Customs recognizes the enforcement difficulties regarding the personal importation of prescription medications. Solutions have been discussed internally within the Passenger Operations Division of the Office of Field Operations, as well as externally with DEA and FDA. Officers from the Headquarters level of all three agencies have discussed this issue since the unified effort and ban on Rohypnol in early 1996.


In May 1996, Customs' McAllen Intelligence Collection Analytical Team conducted a survey of imported prescription medications. Partially in response to this survey, and partially in the knowledge that some of the issues were readily apparent, Customs prepared and issued the Prescription Drug Process Reminder and began developing a prescription medicine identification system.


The U.S. Customs Service is supportive of efforts to further improve policy regarding the personal importation of prescription drugs. Any practice or legal ambiguity that weakens our war in drugs and the purpose of prescription requirements by allowing dangerous drugs into our country without sufficient controls is a concern.


I would like to express my thanks to the committee for the opportunity to identify U.S. Customs issues regarding the importation of prescription medication.


This concludes my statement.

Okay, I think I found it: a "controlled" medication/substance is ANY drug on the DEAs list of five "Schedule of Controlled Substances". (Plus, apparently, Customs can prevent non-controlled substances like Viagra...)

Here's the link for a PDF of "controlled medications" --

http://www.dea.gov/pubs/schedule.pdf

Here's the scoop:

http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/06072001Hearing267/deKieffer407.htm

PS - I'm only obsessed with this because I might get laid-off soon and lose my insurance (due in part to the WTC tragedy) - and I will have to pay out-of-pocket for two "controlled substances" that I have to take.

====================================

The Committee on Energy and Commerce
W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, Chairman

Continuing Concerns Over Imported Pharmaceuticals
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
June 7, 2001
10:00 AM
2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Drug Classifications

Controlled substances are classified into five different schedules. The schedules are distinguished from each other based on the potential for drug abuse. Schedule I identifies substances with a high potential for abuse that do not currently have an accepted medical treatment use in the United States, such as heroin and marijuana. Schedules II through V are controlled substances with legitimate medical purposes, such as Ritalin and Valium. Schedules II through V also include "lifestyle drugs." These substances, such as Viagra, target disorders affecting the quality of life rather than specific diseases. Lifestyle drugs are commonly abused prescription substances. Additional controlled substances, such as OxyContin, which are not lifestyle drugs, are also abused.

Current Regulations and Laws Regarding Drug Importation

The federal government has jurisdiction to control pharmaceutical importation into the United States. The FDA, DEA and U.S. Customs are the federal agencies primarily responsible for overseeing drug import regulation.

The law effectively prohibits the importation of any drugs, including foreign made versions of U.S. approved drugs, that have not received FDA approval to demonstrate they meet the federal requirements for safety and effectiveness. 3 FDA approved drugs can only re-enter the country if they are being shipped directly back to the manufacturer. When customs officials receive a shipment that contains non-approved pharmaceuticals intended for commercial distribution they notify the local FDA district, and the FDA assumes responsibility for deciding whether or not to seize the goods. FDA personnel are also responsible for monitoring mail importation. Customs officers from the customs mail division will examine a parcel and set it aside if it appears to contain a drug that the FDA has specifically requested be held or an FDA-regulated article that appears to represent a health fraud or an unknown risk to health.

The rules governing personal importation of approved drugs from foreign countries vary slightly. Congress recently stipulated that a United States resident may import up to fifty dosage units of a controlled medication without a valid prescription at an international land border. 4 Medications must be declared on arrival, be for own personal use, and be in their original container. The FDA has the ability to exercise discretion in the enforcement of this law and may permit the entry of unapproved drugs under extenuating circumstances, such as the continued treatment by a foreign doctor. However, this policy does not apply to foreign-made chemical versions of drugs available in the U.S. The FDA cannot assure that such products have been properly manufactured and are effective. Their use would present an unreasonable risk. Additionally, the FDA reserves the right to refuse entry or seize any drug it considers unapproved and, therefore, illegal. 5

The DEA has recently contributed additional regulations designed to help control pharmaceutical imports from foreign markets. According to the DEA, consumers must have valid prescriptions to legally obtain controlled substances. Consumers cannot legally purchase controlled substances from foreign Internet sites and have them shipped to the U.S. unless the consumer is registered with DEA as a controlled substance importer and acts in compliance with DEA requirements. 6

Finally, here's a blurb about Mexican laws regarding pharmacuticals from the Mexican Consulate, American State Department. (Good source for all things Mexican, actually - except pussy, of course.)

http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html

===================================

DRUG PENALTIES AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS: Penalties for drug offenses are strict, and convicted offenders can expect large fines and jail sentences up to 25 years. As in the United States, the purchase of controlled medication requires a doctor's prescription. The Mexican list of controlled medication differs from that of the United States, and Mexican public health laws concerning controlled medication are unclear and often enforced selectively.

The U.S. Embassy recommends that U.S. citizens not travel to Mexico for the sole purpose of buying prescription drugs. U.S. citizens have been arrested, and their medicines have been confiscated by the Mexican authorities, even though their prescriptions were written by a physician and filled by a licensed Mexican pharmacist. Moreover, the importation of prescription drugs into the United States can be illegal in certain circumstances. Further information on bringing prescription drugs into the United States is available from the U.S. Customs Service at http://www.customs.ustreas.gov.

Also, the U.S. Embassy cautions that possession of any amount of prescription medicine brought from the United States, including medications to treat HIV and psychotropic drugs, such as valium, can result in arrest if Mexican authorities suspect abuse or if the quantity of the prescription medicine exceeds the amount required for several days' use. Individuals should consider carrying a copy of the prescription and a doctor's letter explaining that the quantity of medication is appropriate for their personal medical use. U.S. citizens who plan to go to Mexico to purchase medication or who may be in possession of medication prescribed in the United States should check with the nearest Mexican consulate before traveling to Mexico.

Anything that is a "scheduled" drug is a controlled substance. The level of control is inversely proportionate to the schedule #from I-V.
I.e. a schedule I is illegal under any circumstance, sched.II requires a DEA triplicate(morphine, amphetamines, etc. and are not refillable; Sched.III may be phoned in by an MD, and can be refilled (Vicodin, etc.) and so on.
If you have access to a PDR they always have a C with the appropriate Roman # inside next to the name of the drug which will tell you if its controlled.
pj

mrbill: Go on COBRA if you are laid off. This is an extention of your medical insurance. Also if you can get your dr to double the prescription you can save some up for when you have no insurance.

Mr.Bill, I'm positive Vicodin is Schedule III.

Here is some more info:

The DEA gives drugs Schedule Numbers according to their potential for abuse and the efficacy of their use. There are actually 6 schedule numbers. Schedules II-V are considered controlled substances.

Schedule I drugs have the highest dependency and have no clinical efficacy, therefore, it isn't legal to prescribe them. An example of a Schedule I drug would be cocaine.

Schedule II drugs have a high potential for abuse, but do have some benefits to the patient. Examples of this type of Drug would be Percocet, Morphine and Demerol. The DEA has very strict guidelines about the dispensing of these drugs. There are no refills allowed on these drugs and the prescription must be handwritten. Every pill must be accounted for. These are mostly prescribed for pain.

Schedule III drugs are rated less likely to be abused than Schedule II drugs. Examples would be Lorcet and Vicodin. A prescriber may telephone in a prescription for these drugs and they may be refilled a maximum of 5 times. Most of the drugs in this class are for pain.

Schedule IV drugs are less likely to be abused than Schedule III. Examples of these would be Xanax, Valium, and Adipex. These are mostly anti-anxiety agents and appetite suppressants.

Schedule V drugs are the least likely to be abused. Examples would be cough syrups with codeine.

-Superman-

PAY-DIRT !!!

Ream em' and weep, fuckers! (I'm addressing Customs here, not y'all) -- Or... read em' and PARTY!!

Like my dad always said, "If you want something done right, do it yourslef."

Gentlemen, here are the facts - directly from the source:

I have pasted (below) the relevant points from Title 21, Chapter 13 of US Code. This deals only with "controlled substances". To read the whole code, follow the links [author's] at the top of the document.

For a list of controlled substances, download PDF here: http://www.dea.gov/pubs/schedule.pdf (note, generic drug names only)

1) Non-FDA approved drugs are addressed (and defined) to a limited extent in posts above

2) Non-"controlled" drugs are also are not addressed here (not much of a problem anyway)

Couple questions for the board, first.

1) I assume since I downloaded this from the House's website, that it is current (i.e. no repeals or ammendments). Any lawyers out there?

2) If you read Section 956-A-(2) carefully, it looks like you can import 50 units of ANY class II-V drug, even without a presciption (which would include cocaine, PCP, methodone, methamphetamine, and opium). Maybe this is because it's very hard to get a script for these (although possibe) -- or am I missing something?

3) The definition of "practitioner" reads like it means "any old doctor, from any country". Am I mis-reading this?

Anyway, without further BS from me, here's the facts, ma'am.

MrBill - Attourney at Panocha

======================================

TITLE 21 - FOOD AND DRUGS - Chapter 13. Drug Abuse Prevention and Control


http://uscode.house.gov/DOWNLOAD/21C13.DOC - The law itself (from Congress)

http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/21/ch13.html - More readable format, Cornell University

Sec. 952. Importation of controlled substances
· (a) Controlled substances in schedule I or II and narcotic drugs in
schedule III, IV, or V; exceptions
It shall be unlawful to import into the customs territory of the United States from any place outside thereof (but within the United States), or to import into the United States from any place outside thereof, any controlled substance in schedule I or II of subchapter I of this chapter, or any narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V of subchapter I of this chapter, except that -
o (1) such amounts of crude opium, poppy straw, concentrate of
poppy straw, and coca leaves as the Attorney General finds to be
necessary to provide for medical, scientific, or other legitimate
purposes, and
(2) such amounts of any controlled substance in schedule I or
II or any narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V that the
Attorney General finds to be necessary to provide for the
medical, scientific, or other legitimate needs of the United
States -
§ (A) during an emergency in which domestic supplies of such
substance or drug are found by the Attorney General to be
inadequate,
§ (B) in any case in which the Attorney General finds that
competition among domestic manufacturers of the controlled
substance is inadequate and will not be rendered adequate by
the registration of additional manufacturers under section 823
of this title, or
§ (C) in any case in which the Attorney General finds that such
controlled substance is in limited quantities exclusively for
scientific, analytical, or research uses, may be so imported under such regulations as the Attorney General shall prescribe. No crude opium may be so imported for the purpose of manufacturing heroin or smoking opium.
· (b) Nonnarcotic controlled substances in schedule III, IV, or V
It shall be unlawful to import into the customs territory of the United States from any place outside thereof (but within the United States), or to import into the United States from any place outside thereof, any nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule III, IV, or V, unless such nonnarcotic controlled substance -
o (1) is imported for medical, scientific, or other legitimate
uses, and
(2) is imported pursuant to such notification, or declaration,
or in the case of any nonnarcotic controlled substance in
schedule III, such import permit, notification, or declaration,
as the Attorney General may by regulation prescribe, except that
if a nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule IV or V is also
listed in schedule I or II of the Convention on Psychotropic
Substances it shall be imported pursuant to such import permit
requirements, prescribed by regulation of the Attorney General,
as are required by the Convention.
· (c) Coca leaves
In addition to the amount of coca leaves authorized to be imported into the United States under subsection (a) of this section, the Attorney General may permit the importation of additional amounts of coca leaves. All cocaine and ecgonine (and all salts, derivatives, and preparations from which cocaine or ecgonine may be synthesized or made) contained in such additional amounts of coca leaves imported under this subsection shall be destroyed under the supervision of an authorized representative of the Attorney General.
Sec. 956. Exemption authority
· (a) Individual possessing controlled substance
o (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the Attorney General may by regulation exempt from sections 952(a) and (b), 953, 954, and 955 of this title any individual who has a controlled substance (except a substance in schedule I) in his possession for his personal medical use, or for administration to an animal accompanying him, if he lawfully obtained such substance and he makes such declaration (or gives such other notification) as the Attorney General may by regulation require.
o (2) Notwithstanding any exemption under paragraph (1), a United States resident who enters the United States through an international land border with a controlled substance (except a substance in schedule I) for which the individual does not possess a valid prescription issued by a practitioner (as defined in section 802 of this title) in accordance with applicable Federal and State law (or documentation that verifies the issuance of such a prescription to that individual) may not import the controlled substance into the United States in an amount that exceeds 50 dosage units of the controlled substance.
· (b) Compound, mixture, or preparation
The Attorney General may by regulation except any compound, mixture, or preparation containing any depressant or stimulant substance listed in paragraph (a) or (b) of schedule III or in schedule IV or V from the application of all or any part of this subchapter if (1) the compound, mixture, or preparation contains one or more active medicinal ingredients not having a depressant or stimulant effect on the central nervous system, and (2) such ingredients are included therein in such combinations, quantity, proportion, or concentration as to vitiate the potential for abuse of the substances which do have a depressant or stimulant effect on the central nervous system.

Sec. 802. Definitions
· (6) The term ''controlled substance'' means a drug or other substance, or immediate precursor, included in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V of part B of this subchapter. The term does not include distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, or tobacco, as those terms are defined or used in subtitle E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
· 17) The term ''narcotic drug'' means any of the following whether produced directly or indirectly by extraction from substances of vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis:
o (A) Opium, opiates, derivatives of opium and opiates, including
their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers,
esters, and ethers, whenever the existence of such isomers,
esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific
chemical designation. Such term does not include the
isoquinoline alkaloids of opium.
o (B) Poppy straw and concentrate of poppy straw.
o (C) Coca leaves, except coca leaves and extracts of coca leaves
from which cocaine, ecgonine, and derivatives of ecgonine or
their salts have been removed.
o (D) Cocaine, its salts, optical and geometric isomers, and
salts of isomers.
o (E) Ecgonine, its derivatives, their salts, isomers, and salts
of isomers.
o (F) Any compound, mixture, or preparation which contains any
quantity of any of the substances referred to in subparagraphs
(A) through (E).
· (21) The term ''practitioner'' means a physician, dentist, veterinarian, scientific investigator, pharmacy, hospital, or other person licensed, registered, or otherwise permitted, by the United States or the jurisdiction in which he practices or does research, to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to, administer, or use in teaching or chemical analysis, a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research.

Superman - you're right. Vicodin is Schedule III. Party-on!

MrBill - bored, pussy-less, drug-free...

Mr. Bill. My experience with customs and immigration issues: every agent will give you a different story. Call three times, get three answers. Call ten times, get ten answers. These are grey areas in law enforcement, where little has been done in the way of test-cases and general public uproar to actually ensure a set of civil liberties for the average citizen. At least, in terms relative to the "normal" court systems of the United States. Therefore, in general, the best knowledge to bring with you is not so much a set of specific recommendations and rules; but rather, a bit of human skill, at understanding what the motivations and attitudes of a specific officer will be.

This is, of course, just a blanket generalization. But my suggestion is, that if you're determined to get some sort of medication from Mexico to the USA, then what you do is whatever has succeeded for others recently and does not seem to threaten the status quo. That is to say, "go with the flow rather than making waves." I'm not sure that's very helpful ... but I thought I'd fling it out there anyway.

I personally have had whole lifetimes of frustration with customs and immigration people over similar issues, although I've never been involved in the subject of medication with them. Automobiles, personal effects, changed passport numbers -- some agents look for any excuse to make your life easier, some look for any excuse to make it harder. There's not much solid ground out there.

All of this depends on the interpretation of the customs agent.

BG and 694ME, I'm sure you're both right. I'm sure customs can screw you, or at least make life difficult for you. But if I have to resort to shopping for my medicine (prescribed by my Dr) in Mexico, I ain't giving up w/o a fight!

"Subject to FDA approval, if an individual has a prescription (foreign or domestic) for medication approved for use in the United States, and he presents himself and declares the medication for entry, and if it is in a personal use quantity, he is allowed to bring the controlled medication into the United States."

>> End of story, right?

"As stated in the reminder, Customs advice to inspectors in the field is that the totality of circumstances, including, but not limited to, resident or non-resident status, drug type and length of stay, must guide the inspector in determining a legitimate personal use amount. When drug type, amount, or various drug combinations arouse suspicions, our inspectors contact the nearest FDA office for advice and final determination."

>> This means they're supposed to follow the letter of the law, but not really...

MrBillO^™-

Suggestion, don't know if it's worthwhile: get an American prescription (and also a Mexican one?), then buy in bulk in Mexico, but transport bit by bit, week after week. In other words, look into getting a lockbox in Tijuana.

Get a US prescription filled, empty the container, refill in Mexico, take it home and repeat. Do not declare since it is US. Hope the INS do not have the PDR memorized.

Where can you rent one of those lockers you are talking about. I hate hauling all my shit back and forth...vcr...camera, towels, sheets and shit

How 'bout penicillin? Rules & risks?