1. List each medicine and every country on the route

• Write down each prescription medicine, including its generic name, brand name, form, strength, dose, and the amount you plan to carry. Include injections and medicine you use only as needed.
• List every country where you will enter, stay, or pass through. Check transit countries too, including layovers; rules may apply even when a medicine is prescribed in the United States.
• Flag medicines that may need extra checking, such as controlled medicines, stimulants, sedatives, pain medicines, sleep medicines, cannabis or CBD products, and injectable medicines. This is a prompt to verify, not a claim that any one item is prohibited.

2. Verify the rules with official sources for each country

1. Open the U.S. Department of State's Medicine and Health guidance and the destination's Travel Guidance Health section.
2. Contact the destination country's embassy or consulate and the embassy or consulate for each transit country. Ask about the exact generic ingredient, dosage form, quantity, import permit, application deadline, required certificate, translation, and whether the rules differ for a transit stop.
3. For controlled narcotic or psychotropic medicines, check the International Narcotics Control Board traveler information as an additional lead. CDC says country information there may be incomplete or outdated, so confirm requirements with the country's own authority.
4. Record the official source, contact details, answer, and date checked for each country. If the rule is unclear, request written clarification from the responsible authority before travel.

Do not infer permission from a medicine being prescribed or sold in the United States, from a rule in a neighboring country, or from a generic quantity limit described elsewhere. Restrictions and documentation depend on the country and medicine.

3. Ask your clinician or pharmacist about the travel plan

• Is it medically appropriate for me to travel with my current treatment and planned activities?
• If an official authority says a medicine is restricted or not allowed, what medically appropriate alternative or travel plan should I discuss?
• How should I handle doses across time zones, delays, or a missed dose? CDC advises travelers changing time zones to ask their health care provider about schedule changes.
• How much medicine should I obtain for the itinerary and possible delays, and what is the lawful way to arrange more if the trip is extended? The State Department advises bringing enough for the trip plus a few days in case of delays.
• Does the medicine need refrigeration or other temperature protection? What storage method is appropriate during transit and at my accommodation?
• Would a signed letter help? Ask whether it should list your condition, each medicine's generic name and dose, and the medical reason. Ask what language or format the destination authority requires.

Do not stop, change, or replace a medicine based on this checklist. Discuss any treatment change with your prescriber.

4. Prepare documents and pack for the journey

• Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers. CDC recommends labels identifying the traveler, prescribing health care provider, generic and brand names, and exact dosage.
• Carry copies of written prescriptions with generic names and a copy of any clinician letter or government permit required for your route. Keep a copy of the prescription at home with someone you trust.
• Carry your medicine in your carry-on so it is available if checked luggage is delayed or lost. Follow any country-specific customs, screening, and import instructions you confirmed.
• Keep a separate list of medicines, doses, allergies, and relevant medical information accessible in case you need medical care. Avoid carrying medicine for people other than yourself or accompanying family members, and do not mail medicine to a destination without confirming the law.

Before departure: a country-by-country record

For each destination and transit country, save a note with:

• Country and dates on route
• Medicine generic name, form, and amount reviewed
• Official authority contacted and source URL
• Whether the medicine is allowed, restricted, or still unconfirmed
• Quantity cap, permit or certificate steps, translation needs, and deadlines
• Answer date, contact name or reference, and documents to carry

Recheck the official instructions before departure in case they change. If a medicine is restricted and you cannot confirm the required permission, ask the relevant authorities and your clinician how to proceed before traveling with it.