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Original poster

Taking medication through security

31 replies

VanCleefArpels · 17/08/2022 14:12

Travelling hand luggage only for the first time - need to take my HRT gel through security but obviously this won’t comply with 100ml liquid limit. What do I need to do? How does it work - do I need to bring it to the attention of the staff before bags going through the scanner? Any insight welcome!

OP posts:
torquewench · 17/08/2022 15:33

It's fine as long as you take the prescription with you or show it on the NHS app. It's separate to liquids as it's classed as medicine. I've never had a problem with it in hand luggage but you need to take it out of your bag and put it in the tray. They may show an interest in it (lady security especially IME) but won't take it off you.

Also my Estrogel is in a large dispenser but is only 100ml. It may also help to take a fresh one in the box with the prescription label on.

Remmy123 · 17/08/2022 15:45

It's fine I do not take prescription and have never been asked

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 17/08/2022 16:03

@torquewench @Remmy123 thank you very much - I’ll get a printout of the prescription just in case!

OP posts:
SooticaTheWitchesCat · 19/08/2022 16:35

I took my HRT gel through recently. I got a copy of the prescription and they asked to look at my passport just to make sure the name on the box matched

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 19/08/2022 16:43

@SooticaTheWitchesCat did they pull you aside to do this or was it done when you were loading your tray on the conveyor before the X-ray? I’ve had horrible waits when being asked to step aside before so want to be prepared!!

OP posts:
OnlyFoolsnMothers · 19/08/2022 16:44

I had a drs letter this wk- no one even checked

Oblomov22 · 19/08/2022 16:53

I take 2 clear sandwich bags. 1 with all my toiletries in. 1 with all my medical bits and a prescription in it. I've never had any trouble and I fly frequently in the last 40 years.

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 19/08/2022 16:57

This is all reassuring ladies thank you!

OP posts:
Whatwaswrongwiththatusername · 19/08/2022 17:33

VanCleefArpels · 19/08/2022 16:57

This is all reassuring ladies thank you!

Yes, I'm another one echoing the above re it not being a problem. I have many vital, everyday meds (unfortunately), including opioids (which can also include bottles of morphine at times), and always take in my hand luggage in case of lost luggage. I always worry about 'drug swipes', sniffer dogs 'misreading' the morphine etc 😂 more than the liquid aspect generally, and have always had a print out, just in case, which usually is just the printout that comes in the pharmacy bag (disclaimer: I don't think I've travelled since 2019 and/or I started using the nhs app, or at least since it had the ability for my surgery to order through this rather than its own website, but would do so in future now). I always put all meds in plastic bags and take them out and put it in the tray, and will also include the boxes with name etc on, but the lack of interest has actually always surprised me! Even when I used to proactively point them out to begin with. This is uk-Europe travelling so far.

Londonloubelia · 19/08/2022 17:35

If you’re flying with Easy Jet, their website states you need a doctors certificate as well as a copy of your prescription. I have both, but neither were checked.

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 19/08/2022 19:06

What on Earth is a “doctors certificate”??

anyway, it’s BA. I’ve got a print out of the prescription, it’s in my NHS App abd the labels are clear in each item. I’m not sure there’s much more I can do!

OP posts:
bruffin · 19/08/2022 19:12

I took my insulin and needles with no problem, I had a copy of prescription on my phone but nobody asked to see it.

MzHz · 19/08/2022 19:15

I’ve flown all over the place with the HRT gel, if it’s estradiol its 80g, it’s fine.

oviraptor21 · 19/08/2022 19:16

Oblomov22 · 19/08/2022 16:53

I take 2 clear sandwich bags. 1 with all my toiletries in. 1 with all my medical bits and a prescription in it. I've never had any trouble and I fly frequently in the last 40 years.

This. Put the two bags in the same tray as my hand luggage but separate from them iyswim and went through no issues. No need to show prescription. I guess they may pull some people aside randomly though. I had mine on the NHS app.

oviraptor21 · 19/08/2022 19:17

I flew with Easyjet!

Londonloubelia · 20/08/2022 07:58

My doctor just wrote me a note stating what the medication was, that it was needed daily and the surgery contact details, this apparently passes as a Medical Certificate.

TravellingSpoon · 20/08/2022 11:27

I take DS's epipens and buccolam syringes through, I have only ever once been asked to produce his passport to check the name on them match, otherwise they just get nodded through, once they have been looked at by a security officer.

TravellingSpoon · 20/08/2022 11:28

I always get them out of his meds bacg and put them in the tray.

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 21/08/2022 12:30

MzHz · 19/08/2022 19:15

I’ve flown all over the place with the HRT gel, if it’s estradiol its 80g, it’s fine.

The requirement is for less than 100ml not grams. It’s much more than 100ml and wouldn’t fit in the 20x20 cm bag! But good to know you’ve had no issues

OP posts:
PamelaBanisha · 21/08/2022 12:32

I fly with epi pens and lots of meds and have never been asked about it.

once I forgot to put the bag with my meds in though separately and they just ran it through the machine again and didn’t ask for the documents.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 21/08/2022 21:16

VanCleefArpels · 19/08/2022 16:43

@SooticaTheWitchesCat did they pull you aside to do this or was it done when you were loading your tray on the conveyor before the X-ray? I’ve had horrible waits when being asked to step aside before so want to be prepared!!

It was just when we put the trays through the x-ray machine. It was really fine.

redtulip12 · 21/08/2022 21:21

I took a full bottle in its box with label
On plus a doctor printout and still got stopped 2 weeks ago. They wanted to test it. Then had to put it back through scanner. This was at Birmingham.

somethinggotmestarted · 21/08/2022 21:40

MzHz · 19/08/2022 19:15

I’ve flown all over the place with the HRT gel, if it’s estradiol its 80g, it’s fine.

Exactly this - it equates to approx 80ml so no prescription or back up docs needed. Assuming you use this one of course.

somethinggotmestarted · 21/08/2022 21:43

Also depending on where you're going, you might not need to remove from bag and place in plastic bag. New technology at some of the security points at LGW (not all) and just returned from Milan and again, no need to remove from hand luggage.

Original poster
VanCleefArpels · 21/08/2022 21:46

It’s Oestrogel - bottle far bigger than the allowed plastic bag!

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