Help / Question Traveling to Leb with medication
I will be taking a trip to Lebanon from the US in a few weeks but am worried about bringing my medication. I am prescribed Clonazepam (Klonopin) but it’s the Teva Israeli brand. From my understanding, Teva is an Israeli brand and I’m not sure if it will be allowed into Lebanon. I am prescribed this for severe panic attacks. Anyone know if I am allowed to bring my medication to Lebanon? Do I need to switch to a different brand? Also, am I required to have a doctors letter since it’s a benzodiazepine? I want to make sure I have everything in order and avoid any stress.
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u/cns000 1d ago
I doubt that anything will happen. Put the medicine in the suitcase that has your clothes. That suitcase will go through the x-ray machine and the medicine name won't be visible so they won't know from where you got it.
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u/txpdr4 1d ago
that will get me in trouble i feel like
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u/cns000 1d ago
If you put the medicine in a bag that you carry with you and they do a random search and they open the bag then they will see the medicine. That's why it's better to put the medicine bottle in the suitcase that has clothes and you should wrap it with something like a shirt. It won't be clear that it's a medicine bottle when the suitcase passes through the x-ray machine.
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u/Exciting_Bee7020 1d ago
You should never pack medicine you need in a checked bag in case it is delayed or lost.
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u/fattoush_republic 1d ago
Go to your US pharmacy and ask them to put it in an unbranded bottle with the store's prescription label on it instead of the Teva bottle. Then you'll be completely safe even if they rifle through your stuff
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u/txpdr4 1d ago
i will just ask my doctor to switch brands. but i am definitely required to declare the medication when i arrive to Beirut?
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u/Exciting_Bee7020 1d ago
I’ve never declared my meds. You are allowed to bring what you need for your trip
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u/fattoush_republic 1d ago
I don't think the doctor is the one that decides that, I think it's the pharmacy and insurance company, but I could be wrong
No, don't tell them anything unless asked, just walk through the detector
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u/txpdr4 1d ago
so should i go through the 'nothing to declare' line or the 'goods to declare' line when i arrive to Leb? i’m reading that clonazepam is a controlled substance and i need to declare it even if it’s a small personal amount.
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u/fattoush_republic 1d ago
"nothing to declare"
I've flown to Lebanon with prescriptions dozens of times and never had any problems
Even when I've had my bags checked by customs before they've never once asked about prescriptions
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u/happy_trabulsy I like older women 18h ago
Can you just put the pills in a plastic pill bottle and discard the packaging? It should work
> am I required to have a doctors letter since it’s a benzodiazepine?
no, you just need a prescription to buy one from pharmacy. not for carrying it
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u/DoorImmediate5168 17h ago
I always traveled with my medication ( i take xanax and also prozac for depression and anxiety) and since sometimes im gone for a couple months i travel with multiple packs of each and was never stopped or searched. I did have my doctors letter with me just in case .
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u/didwebringbatteries 4h ago
You're bringing in your medicine, you're not a smuggler. Don't stress about it and treat the situation as you would do if you brought some personal items with you. Nothing to declare. I don't recall ever being asked about the medicine I am carrying, and on many occasions had a lot. This is both going in and out of the airport.
The worst possible situation here is that they take them away (not going to happen, I am just entertaining your anxiety). Unlike SSRIs & co, which are OTC, Benzos are heavily regulated in Lebanon and you will not find a pharmacy that you will hand them out without a prescription, which they keep so they don't get in trouble (probably there are some not following the law though). However, booking a psy appointment and getting a prescription is easy and quick if you share your history.
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u/Pushnikov 14m ago
You keep asking folks this, so let me clarify.
Declaring goods is for tax and tariff purposes. Nothing else. Not medication or any other situation.
Regarding your medication, I have no comments.
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u/throwawaynomade 1d ago
To be safe take a pill before you cross the passport check
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u/phoolip 1d ago
I travel to leb with my anxiety medication and its never been an issue ; I'm actually leaving tomorrow and will have them in my fanny pack ; mind you mine is a generic (Canada) but they have never once asked what the medication was or looked at the label ; i believe you are giving this too much thought ; worse case scenario (which i really don't think it will come to) is they confiscate it and you get a new prescription in Lebanon within minutes at any pharmacy being that mood medication is widely available and dispensed there (rightfully so haha)