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luckbox
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Posts: 180
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 Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:51 am Post subject: Bringing medicine into Japan: legalities |
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Having been to Japan before, I'm somewhat familiar with the rules on medications, but how serious a violation is it to be caught with a small bottle of Tylenol (which I presume, along with Aspirin, is still illegal in Japan). Anyone ever had such medicines confiscated? I'm soon to arrive in Japan, and I was recently prescribed some Tylenol-3's (with codeine), which I suspect are completely out of the question in Japan, even with a note from my doctor. So wondering if I could get away with bringing in a supply of the regular Tylenol.
If anyone knows a link to a site containing a list of medicines/drugs permitted to bring into Japan, please point me to it. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:56 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for starting this thread. This will also be helpful for me because I also have a sh-itload of medicine to bring with me (exaggerating). |
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wintersweet
Joined: 18 Jan 2005
Posts: 345
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:43 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks. I think I printed out a thread on this topic, but I'm not sure if it's the same one. I'll have a look. |
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luckbox
Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Posts: 180
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Very useful, thanks. The one guy in this thread really did his homework on the topic.
I'm still curious about one thing: if the prescription I'm bringing into Japan is legal in Japan, but sold under a different brand name or generic, do I still need to obtain a license for more than 1-month supply?
The first time I came to Japan, I had meds with a doctor's note, and at the airport I handed them the note with the meds, the customs official glanced at the letter, obviously couldn't read English well enough to make sense of it, giggled a bit, then gave it back and waved me through. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| Hmmmmm...the thread didn't seem to cover birth control pills. Anyone know anything about how many month's worth I can bring with me? Can I just bring a year's supply with the rest of my stuff? Or do I need to have some of it sent over? Other stuff I need to bring are contact lenses (soft) & solution (I already know how I should proceed with this...it's gonna be a pain in the arse), nasal spray and medicinal cream (for the odd eczema flare up). |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:04 pm Post subject: |
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Also, products containing ephedrine, norephedrine, pseudoephedrine, etc (which means many over-the-counter antihistamines or hay fever/allergy medication) are illegal in Japan.
For birth control pills, do a search as this has been discussed a few times and I'm pretty sure the answer is archived in one of the old threads. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| JimDunlop2 wrote: |
| For birth control pills, do a search as this has been discussed a few times and I'm pretty sure the answer is archived in one of the old threads. |
You're right, Jim. Come to think of it, I actually do remember a thread on birth control pills. I even printed it out. Guess I'll just have to hunt it down...  . |
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sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:42 am Post subject: |
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as far as i know you can bring a large supply of birth control pills as long as you have a prescription.
contact lenses and contact lens solution don't seem worth the bother: they are very, very easily obtainable here. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
as far as i know you can bring a large supply of birth control pills as long as you have a prescription.
contact lenses and contact lens solution don't seem worth the bother: they are very, very easily obtainable here. |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've heard it's mainly hard lenses they have in Japan; I use soft lenses. Of course, I'll have my prescription with me when I come. |
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sallycat
Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 303
Location: behind you. BOO!
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| they have a lot of disposable lenses here. i assume they also have non-disposable soft lenses. |
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Jazz1975
Joined: 14 Feb 2006
Posts: 301
Location: Zama, Kanagawa
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 3:52 am Post subject: |
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| sallycat wrote: |
| i assume they also have non-disposable soft lenses. |
I hope so. Nevertheless, I will bring some disposable soft lenses to tide me over and one pair of non-disposables. Thanks for the tip  . |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:05 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Of course, I'll have my prescription with me when I come. |
Not sure what good that'll do, because Japanese eyeglass prescriptions are not on the same system. Perfect vision here, for example, is not called 20-20. I think it's 1.0-1.0 |
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maryknight
Joined: 12 Oct 2005
Posts: 83
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| Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:25 pm Post subject: medicine |
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| after long delays and much checking on the part of my health insurance i found out that it is legal to bring a year supply of medicine into any country as long as it is in the perscription bottles. it isn't legal to send medicine, but to bring your own medicine when you travel is perfectly legal. |
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