Traveling With Over-the-Counter Meds

Summary: Your common over-the-counter meds could be illegal abroad. This guide details which drugs are often restricted, where, and what steps you can take—like getting a doctor's note or permit—to avoid trouble while traveling.

The classes of medications that are banned, controlled, or monitored in foreign countries fall into several broad categories:

Narcotics: Codeine is the most commonly restricted, but also dextromethorphan, (which is found in Robitussin DM and many OTC cough medicines) is also controlled in some countries
CBD and its derivatives: Cannabidiol and related cannabis-based products are prohibited or tightly regulated in many regions.
Antihistamines: Generally diphenhydramine and pseudoephedrine, found in Sudafed and Benadryl

Areas most likely to control these substances are:

Asia: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and Indonesia mainly, but also China, South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia
Oceania: New Zealand and Australia have strict regulations on certain medications.
Middle East: The United Arab Emirates has some of the toughest rules, with severe penalties for possession of restricted substances.
North America: Mexico restricts certain medications, including pseudoephedrine.
Europe: Russia enforces controls on codeine and other narcotics.

And finally, there are three levels of control that might affect the importation of these substances:

Prohibited: Not allowed under any circumstances.
Restricted or controlled: Needs a permit for entry or is only allowed in limited quantities.
Prescription-only: Legal to carry if accompanied by a valid prescription.
Monitored: Quantities brought into and taken out of the country are watched and noted.

Over-the-counter medications with limited international portability typically fall somewhere within this matrix of categories.

That’s a lot to keep track of—so how can you stay organized? These tips can help.

Also Read: Grand Canyon with Kids: Top 6 Things to Do and See on Your Trip

doctor holding red stress ball in shape of a heart

Attach Red Flags to Certain Medications

You should know that CBD in any form is not permitted in many countries. Similarly, cough medicines often fall into the banned or restricted category, as do allergy medications and antihistamines. Now, it’s important to note that not every country on our list has an outright ban on these drugs. In some places, restrictions are quantity-based. For example, in Japan a small bottle of cough syrup is fine, but a two-liter bottle isn’t. Likewise, Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) is restricted in New Zealand and Thailand when carried in large quantities.

There are other instances where you can expect questions at customs- for example if you bring Benadryl into Singapore.

Finally, codeine without a prescription is prohibited in nearly all countries that restrict or ban over‑the‑counter medications. Get a prescription

The whole idea behind over‑the‑counter drugs is that you don’t need a prescription—but when traveling abroad, it’s wise to have one anyway. What does that look like? It can be a doctor’s note or formal prescription, provided in a format that clearly identifies it as an official medical document.

This will go a long way toward allowing you to bring certain medications into another country, though others may still be more difficult. Get a permit

Many situations require you to get a permit or some sort of official clearance from the government of the country you’re visiting.

For example, a permit is the only way to legally bring Robitussin DM (dextromethorphan) into Singapore, Benadryl (diphenhydramine) into Zambia, or Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) into Japan. How does the permitting process work? Varies by country; however, a good start is to review the country information put out by the State Department. It generally (but not always) has links to pages that discuss pharmaceutical imports, like this one for Japan.

If you have questions about a specific medication and a country you’re planning to visit, check the State Department pages for American travelers and the country’s pages for foreign visitors. Do not assume that a medication is permitted simply because the State Department does not mention it.

Ask AI

This is actually a perfect use case for AI, because its superpower is hoovering up information from across the internet and presenting it to you in a coherent fashion.

Take an AI tool, ask it a question like, “What should Americans be aware of when traveling to other countries with over-the-counter medications? What countries have regulations regarding these meds, and what are the regulations?”,

See what it produces, and then double‑check the sources of the results.

The last step is vital. AI has come a long way but is still prone to making stuff up. If you trust everything it says and get led down a false trail, that’s on you – not the AI tool.

Read our guide about using AI for Travel

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Ask Your Travel Protection Company

Assuming you have travel protection with an organization that offers highly rated Concierge Services, like Generali Global Assistance, you can ask them what the medication rules are for your specific destination before you leave.

How Generali Global Assistance Can Help with Medications

In addition to Concierge Services, Generali Global Assistance provides other services that can help when you are traveling with medications. Our 24-Hour Emergency Assistance Services can help replace a lost or stolen prescription or eyeglasses. While you may be responsible for the cost of the replacement, the assistance services can help you navigate the process.

Furthermore, some of Generali Global Assistance’s plans include Medical and Dental coverage, which may help cover certain unexpected medical costs while you are traveling. These benefits, along with their Concierge Services, make it easy to manage medication troubles you may encounter during your trip. The Telemedicine Service can even help you secure necessary prescriptions in a simpler way than finding an in-person provider.

Reliable Concierge Services are just one reason to choose travel insurance with assistance services from Generali Global Assistance.

We have plans that travel the world with you, and getting coverage is easy. It starts with a quote.