Yes, you can carry medication in hand luggage; keep pills and medically needed liquids with you, and declare liquids, gels, needles, or large volumes at screening.
Quick answer and what that means at security
You can bring tablets, capsules, inhalers, insulin, EpiPens, creams, and other prescription or over-the-counter medicines in your cabin bag. Screeners may ask you to separate them for X-ray and a short visual check. If you carry liquid medicine in bigger containers, tell the officer before your bag goes on the belt.
Carry-on rules at a glance
| Item | Carry-on allowed? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pills, tablets, capsules | Yes | Keep in hand luggage with labels where possible. |
| Liquid medicines ≤100 ml each | Yes | Place with your regular liquids if not declared as medical. |
| Medically needed liquids >100 ml | Yes | Allowed in reasonable amounts; declare at security. |
| Pre-filled syringes / insulin pens | Yes | Permitted; present on request with a script or letter. |
| Needles and sharps | Yes | For medical use; bring proof and a small sharps container if you have one. |
| Cooling packs for medicine | Yes | Gel or ice packs for medical cooling are fine when declared. |
| Inhalers, nebulizers, spacers | Yes | Hand carry and show if asked. |
| CPAP, nebulizer, glucose meter | Yes | These are medical devices; many airlines do not count them against your bag limit. |
| Portable oxygen concentrator | Yes | Airline approval needed; carry batteries in cabin. |
| CBD/THC products | Varies | Local law decides; many places ban THC and some CBD oils. |
Taking medication in hand luggage: what airlines expect
Airport security accepts medicines in cabin bags, including larger volumes when they are medically required. In the United States, the TSA lets you carry larger amounts of liquid medicine, gels, and aerosols in reasonable quantities once declared. In the UK, the government lists essential liquid medicines over 100 ml as permitted through screening when you bring proof of need (official page).
Pack medicines in your personal item or small backpack where you can reach them easily. Keep them in original boxes or blister packs when you can, with your name on the label. A short note from your doctor helps when you carry needles, liquid food, or high volumes. Bring only the amount you need for the trip plus a little spare in case of delays.
How to breeze through the checkpoint
- Place pills and devices together in a pouch so you can lift them out fast.
- Tell the officer you carry medical liquids or sharps before the X-ray starts.
- Expect swab testing of bottles, gel packs, or device surfaces; it takes a minute.
- Use clear 100 ml bottles only for non-medical liquids; keep medical bottles as packed by the pharmacy.
- Never put life-saving medicine in checked baggage.
For UK airports, see the section on medicines and medical equipment in hand luggage. You may be asked to show a prescription or letter when a single container exceeds 100 ml.
Documentation that eases questions
Security teams rarely ask for paperwork for pills. Liquids over 100 ml, syringes, or compact medical coolers draw more attention. Carry a copy of your prescription and a one-page letter with your diagnosis name, medicine names, doses, and the need for needles, cooling, or devices. Digital copies help, yet paper tends to speed things up at busy checkpoints.
Names on labels should match your boarding pass. If a caregiver carries the medicine, pack a copy of the patient’s ID and a short consent note. If you use brand names that differ across countries, add the generic names as well.
Are medicines allowed in carry-on bags on international trips?
Yes, with a few extras. Some countries limit narcotics, sedatives, ADHD medicines, or cannabis products. Schengen states allow travel with certain controlled drugs for up to 30 days when you carry the Schengen medical certificate issued by your health authority. Outside Schengen, rules vary by country and embassy advice is the safest route.
For controlled medicines across borders, the INCB guidance for travellers explains how countries handle small personal supplies and the Schengen certificate. Government sites for your route give the final word.
When your medicine is a controlled drug
Carry proof that the medicine is yours. UK guidance states you should show a prescription or a clinician letter when leaving with a controlled drug, and you should check import rules for your destination. Many countries cap the days’ supply and may bar certain cannabis oils even when prescribed. The UK page on travelling with controlled drugs gives practical steps for travelers.
What counts as a reasonable amount
Screeners look for a quantity that matches your trip length. A two-week holiday does not need half a year of liquid pain relief in carry-on. Bring a bit extra for missed flights, yet keep bulk spares in checked baggage if local law allows the item in hold bags.
Packing methods that keep medicine safe
- Split doses. Pack today’s doses in a slim pouch, then store the rest in a second pouch as backup.
- Use a hard case. Pill boxes can pop open in turbulence; a small hard shell keeps parts together.
- Protect from heat. Many pens and vials tolerate room temperature for a set window; use gel packs and shade during taxi and boarding.
- Carry spare needles. Put several in a labeled sleeve; add a travel-size sharps container or a sturdy screw-top bottle.
- Power your device. Keep medical batteries in cabin, with contacts taped or in protective cases.
Cooling medicine without hassles
Use factory gel packs or purpose-built pouches. Tell the officer the packs keep your medicine cool. If a gel pack leaks, it may not pass; bring a spare and a simple zip pouch to contain moisture. On long flights, ask the crew for a cup of ice to refresh a wrap when needed.
On the plane: storage and access
Keep medicine under the seat, not in the overhead during taxi, take-off, and landing. Cabin temperature can vary, so avoid bins near doors. Place devices where you can reach them with the seat belt fastened. Tell a travel partner where emergency items sit in your bag.
Special cases that need extra care
Liquid nutrition, enzyme mixes, and IV bags: declare at the start. Officers may ask you to open the outer pouch.
Biologic pens and weight-loss injections: keep the pen carton or pharmacy label for dosing dates. If the pen needs a fridge before first use, use a reliable cooler pouch and avoid dry ice unless the airline allows it.
Inhalation solutions and nebulizers: place the ampoules with medical liquids and carry a spare mouthpiece. Some airlines can supply a power outlet at a seat; ask in advance on long sectors.
Oxygen concentrators: only approved portable models may run in flight and airlines often require notice and a battery plan. Print the model name and the battery Wh rating in case a gate agent asks.
Paperwork by region at a glance
| Region | What papers help | Extra notes |
|---|---|---|
| USA | Prescription label; doctor note for liquids >100 ml and sharps | Declare medical liquids; TSA may swab bottles. |
| UK | Prescription or doctor letter for liquids >100 ml | Essential medicines over 100 ml can pass with proof. |
| Schengen area | Schengen certificate for controlled drugs; prescription | Up to 30 days’ supply; check country rules. |
| Australia | Prescription; traveller’s exemption rules printout | Quantity and substance limits apply on entry. |
| Rest of world | Prescription and a brief letter in English plus local language if possible | Embassy sites list bans and caps by drug class. |
Common mistakes that slow you down
- Packing pills in checked bags and losing access during a delay.
- Decanting medicine into unmarked bottles that look like toiletries.
- Hiding medical liquids in the 100 ml toiletries bag instead of declaring them.
- Carrying a large volume with no proof of need.
- Traveling with CBD or THC where it is banned.
Legal and safety notes you should read
Rules differ by destination and by substance class. For controlled medicines, the UK page on travelling with controlled drugs spells out proof of ownership and licensing in some cases. Your airline and embassy pages give route-specific limits.
Airports can change screening layouts with little notice. Give yourself extra time if you carry liquid food, pumps, or bulky device cases. A calm one-line script helps: “I have medically needed liquids and devices for screening.”
Step-by-step packing plan
- List each medicine, dose, and storage need.
- Set aside flight doses and one spare day in a small pouch.
- Place bulky spares in cabin too if the item is banned in hold bags.
- Print a one-page doctor letter and pack scripts with labels.
- Pack gel packs, a mini thermometer, and a sharps jar if needed.
- Set an alarm for dose times matched to your origin until you adjust.
- Photograph labels and receipts for quick proof at gates and hotels.
Questions screeners may ask
What is the item, who is it for, and how much do you carry for this trip? Is there a doctor letter or label, and does the name match the boarding pass? What storage does the item need right now? Keep answers short and clear.
If an officer wants to open a bottle
You can request a new pair of gloves, a fresh swab, and a private table. Ask the officer to avoid touching the bottle rim. If an item cannot clear screening, ask about alternate checks. If removal is required by local rules, use your backup plan and notify your clinician right away.
Final cabin checklist
- Pill pouch and today’s doses within reach under the seat.
- Letter, scripts, and ID in the same pouch.
- Cooling pouch with spare gel pack and a leak bag.
- Sharps container or sturdy bottle.
- Device chargers and spare batteries.