BootsnAll Travel Community

Okay, this is for a clueless friend, and unfortunately he asked "clueless me". He's going to Ecuador and needs to know two things.

1. "There's no restrictions as to Ecuador allowing me in, is there?"

Stupid me said, "Of course not. How could there be?" There can't be....right?

2. "I need to bring my prescription drugs with me. Any problem?"

ME: "Uhhh.....how could there be? But....uh....I dunno...."

So, for carrying important prescription meds, undoubtedly several and a mixture, is there an issue? (I'm luckily ignorant as I don't travel with meds....knock on wooden head.)

All I could think of was:

--put them in a ziplock maybe for easier transit (or is it better to leave them in the prescription bottles? Less suspicion at customs?)
--bring a copy of the prescriptions in case you lose the drugs
--e-mail prescriptions to yourself in case you lose drugs

Is there an issue here?

Thanks!

Signed,

Clueless leading the Clueless

I don't know if bringing prescription drugs would necessarily be a problem, but if your friend is HIV positive, that might be an issue.

Give me a sec....wanna check something.

No, thought I'd seen a site a few weeks ago about countries that didn't allow people with certain diseases (HIV, tuberculosis, cholera, etc) in, but can't seem to find it now.

Did find this site, which goes over entry requirements for Equador. In summary: if you're friend is going for less than 90 days, all he needs is a regular passport. If he's going for longer, he needs a visa, which requires an HIV test.

You may want to have him contact the Ecuadorian embassy to see for sure whether there will be a problem.

But in terms of the drugs being 'prescription', as long as he has a valid prescription, I think he's ok. I couldn't find any info about it. But I'd leave them in the valid prescription bottles. I remember thinking about this when I was packing my Tylenol/decongestants/gravol/etc for my last trip. I just took the foil wrappers they came in, but those weren't prescription.

There! That's my good deed for the week. Consider yourself privileged, T-man! I don't usually do random acts of kindness.

quote:

There! That's my good deed for the week. Consider yourself privileged, T-man!

Thank you, Jester! I am privileged!

Seriously, thanks.

i went to ecuador on a 90 day tourist visa. they never asked any health questions. i did carry in prescription drugs, which i kept in the prescription bottle. i also carried around the drug facts that the pharmacy gives you, just in case anyone gave me trouble...which no one ever did. heck, they didn't even check for my yellow fever certificate or my onward ticket...i think your friend will be fine.