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Dr. Kim Mulvihill ReportingHalf of all Americans take at least one prescription drug. So what happens if you need to take that drug on a flight? The rules have changed and if you need your medication, pay attention to these changes before you even leave for airport.
Before passengers boarded today at SFO, they dumped water bottles, sun tan lotion, even lip gloss. But what if you can't dump your medicine?
Tom O'Keefe, Diabetic: "I travel with two types of insulin, as well as blood pressure medicine."
If your medicine comes in a pill, tablet or patch, bring 'em on board. but if the drug is in a gel or liquid, like insulin, not so fast.
If the prescription label on your liquid medication matches the name on your boarding pass, then you're set. But if the label is on the box and you don't have it, like an epipen for allergic emergencies, you may have a problem.
A problem is what Tom O'Keefe has.
Tom O'Keefe: "I didn't have the insulin prescription on me and I didn't think it would be a big deal this time.
Tom's insulin come in a box of five pens. only the box shows the prescription, not the pens, and he doesn't have the box. But Tom has a smart wife back home.
Tom O'Keefe: "My wife luckily already contacted the doctor in Rhode Island and she had given my wife a fax. And when I got here I had to go down to the health clinic to get a copy of the prescription."
A letter from your doctor might also do the trick. You will need to present your prescription drugs for inspection before you board. If you need to bring essential non-prescription medicines on board, tell security inspectors they are essential.
