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Ishi
Joined: 20 Feb 2010
Posts: 15
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 Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 4:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks for all the helpful advice! The medications I take are Citalipram for anxiety/depression, Trazodone to help me sleep because the Citalipram keeps me up, and Alprazolam for occasional use when the anxiety is more intense. |
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CarolinaBen
Joined: 22 Nov 2010
Posts: 78
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Since Citalipram (Celexa) is illegal in Japan, you might consider changing to Lexapro. The 2 drugs are very similar. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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| CarolinaBen wrote: |
| Since Citalipram (Celexa) is illegal in Japan, you might consider changing to Lexapro. The 2 drugs are very similar. |
It's illegal to bring in personally. You can import it, just not carry it in with you.
Buy it online if you can't get it shipped from your home country:
http://www.inhousepharmacy.biz/search.aspx?SearchTerm=Celexa |
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Ishi
Joined: 20 Feb 2010
Posts: 15
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Is it legal to import it, or just possible? Also, what about my other medications, Trazodone, and Alprazolam. Do any of you know if that is legal to carry in and/or possess? |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:32 pm Post subject: |
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I can't understand why if it's illegal to bring in personally, it could be legal to ship in.
Do you have an official link to support this? |
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ironclad80
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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That's why I'm more careful these days, one day I might run into trouble.
For example, I'm going to Japan tomorrow for 9 days, normally I would just bring all the pills in my bottle but that would raise eyebrows so now I just bring the amount of how long I'm staying and leave the rest at home.
| Glenski wrote: |
It's customs, not immigration, that will detain you with medication.
Be very sure you understand the regulations, too. You may never have been caught, but who is to say that they won't select you for a random thorough inspection? Then what will you say, especially with bags of unmarked drugs?
http://japan.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-medimport.html
Prescription Medications
Some U.S. prescription medications cannot be imported into Japan, even when accompanied by a customs declaration and a copy of the prescription. Japanese customs officials have detained travelers carrying prohibited items, sometimes for several weeks. Japanese customs officials do not make on-the-spot "humanitarian" exceptions for medicines that are prohibited in Japan.
Generally, up to one month's supply of allowable prescription medicine can be brought into Japan. Travelers must bring a copy of their doctor's prescription as well as a letter stating the purpose of the drug. Travelers who must carry more than one month's supply (except prohibited drugs and controlled drugs), or are carrying syringes (pumps), are required to obtain a so-called "Yakkan Shoumei", or an import certificate in advance, and show the "Yakkan Shoumei" certificate with your prescription medicines at the Customs.
For more information about bringing medicines into Japan and how to obtain a "Yakkan Shoumei" Certificate, please visit the website of the Kanto-Shinetsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare.
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/topics/import/index.html
http://ask.metafilter.com/169725/Psych-meds-in-Japan
http://factsanddetails.com/japan.php?itemid=835&catid=23&subcatid=151#15
http://www.japanpsychiatrist.com/Abstracts/TravelMed.pdf |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 3:16 am Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| I can't understand why if it's illegal to bring in personally, it could be legal to ship in. |
How long have you lived in Japan?! :D |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
How long have you lived in Japan?!  |
What would that have to do with it?
I ask because I have medications of a diffirent nature that aren't approved in Japan. I was specifically told not to ship it in; that I must bring it in on my person with the relavent paperwork and declare it. I then have to sit in an interview room so that they grill me to double check that it is actually mine and not somebody fraudlently using paperwork to obtain meds to sell on the black market.
If a drug is illegal in a country, then it means that they don't want it in circulation. If people are allowed to ship it in, then whats to stop criminal doing just that to sell.
Now if there was a precedent that allowed me to get things shipped, it would save me all kinds grief because my doctors are not supposed to prescribe it in large quantities and many pharmacies simply refuse to hand over the stuff when they see the prescription quantity. |
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David W
Joined: 17 Jan 2003
Posts: 457
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| Ishi wrote: |
| Thanks for all the helpful advice! The medications I take are Citalipram for anxiety/depression, Trazodone to help me sleep because the Citalipram keeps me up, and Alprazolam for occasional use when the anxiety is more intense. |
Xanax is called Solanax (ソラナックス) in Japan. Seems to be available in the 0.4mg and 0.8mg doses.
Trazodone is also available under the name Desyrel (デジレル) in the 25mg dose. In fact I just went to the doctor today to get a new prescription! I don't know about the other one sorry. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| G Cthulhu wrote: |
| How long have you lived in Japan?! :D |
What would that have to do with it?
I ask because I have medications of a diffirent nature that aren't approved in Japan. I was specifically told not to ship it in; that I must bring it in on my person |
Exactly that.
There are some things that are "illegal" to bring in personally, but you can have shipped. Others are illegal to ship but they allow you to bring in personally. There doesn't seem to be a lot of consistency or rationality on what is or isn't allowed. Ah, Japan: how we love your wonderful paper shufflers. :) |
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
There are some things that are "illegal" to bring in personally, but you can have shipped. Others are illegal to ship but they allow you to bring in personally. There doesn't seem to be a lot of consistency or rationality on what is or isn't allowed. Ah, Japan: how we love your wonderful paper shufflers.  |
You still didn't answer my question: Do you have any official links to support what you are saying?
No offense, but anyone who would start shipping in illegal meds based purely on what someone said on the internet would be rather stupid.
Besides, as I said before, a list of shippable controlled substances could prove useful to me. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
You still didn't answer my question: Do you have any official links to support what you are saying?
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You expect me to wade through Justice, Customs, Health, and Immigration websites to collate the info for you?!
What did your last slave die of?!
(I've seen a summary table somewhere. I actually think it was on the Health ministry website. I'll see if I can find it again, although to be honest my Jpns reading skills are shite these days so I may not even recognize it when I see it! Otherwise, you're fresh out of luck from me, sorry.) |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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seklarwia
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1546
Location: Monkey onsen, Nagano
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
You expect me to wade through Justice, Customs, Health, and Immigration websites to collate the info for you?!
What did your last slave die of?! Smile |
Not at all. I assume that since you made the claim that a known illegal substance could be imported that you might have some info to back up the claim. You know as well as anyone just how harsh Japanese drug laws are, so I imagined that you had access to some hard evidence to support what you are saying.
I have done much research on my meds in particular and have been told by officials never to try importing any illegal substances which completely contradicts what you are saying. Now I'm not saying you are wrong. We all know how bad the ministries are at making sure all their officials are in the know of all the up-to-date regulations. We only have to look at all the confusions over visa issuing; I saw posters and heard people being told in the Japanese embassy in London that you can only get work visas issued outside Japan or that you must obtain them before entering Japan... something that hasn't been true for many years.
I've tried speaking to the authorities in Japan about my predicament and was basically told, "Well what were told before? ... Well if that was said, it must be true." Um, thanks for not even checking!
Even officials who do know something, are often really bad at volunteering the fact. The only sure way to get a proper answer is to walk in with an official document in hand and ask, "Can this be applied to me?"
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| As I say, I know I've seen a list somewhere of what can be imported directly/personally and what can be mailed and the lists aren't the same, but I can't find it off hand, sorry. |
I do not challenge that. Across the world, it's not just meds that are subject to different transportation restrictions. For example, ornamental weapons/armour/etc; it is normally fine to purchase and ship them home (depending on laws in the receiving country), but try taking a sword (or a suit of chainmail) on the plane...  |
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Glenski
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN
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| Posted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| seklarwia wrote: |
| it is normally fine to purchase and ship them home (depending on laws in the receiving country), but try taking a sword (or a suit of chainmail) on the plane... |
Actually, you can do that, too, but such items must be properly packaged and stowed, plus you may also need to provide certificates or other documentation. But it can be done. |
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