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Bringing Medicine

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grannysmithh
  5/30/2019 13:33 EST

Hello all,

I will be traveling to Guatemala soon and will be bringing some over-the-counter medications with me for my allergies, headaches, etc. I was told by a friend there were certain medicines, or ingredients in the medicine, that I am not allowed to bring into the country due to the fact that they can be considered a drug or sold on the street. Does anyone know what ingredients and/or medicines I cannot bring into the country? Thanks!

scn9677
  5/30/2019 13:50 EST

Nobody checked my medicines. Since you do not need a prescription to buy medicine in Guatemala I don't think they care.

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bajasur
  5/30/2019 14:59 EST

scn9677, so you can buy Valium and other medicines that require a script in the US but Guatemala allows you to by meds of any kind without a script?

Normando
  5/30/2019 15:13 EST

NONE OF THE OTC MEDICINES FROM THE US ARE PROHIBITED IN GUATEMALA. You will not have a problems at customs.

grannysmithh
  5/30/2019 15:16 EST

Thank you. I was just concerened with bringing cough syrup medicine and things like such. I was told that medicines with pseudoephedrine ingredient are not allowed. Thanks for clarifying.

grannysmithh
  5/30/2019 15:16 EST

Thank you. I was just concerened with bringing cough syrup medicine and things like such. I was told that medicines with pseudoephedrine ingredient are not allowed. Thanks for clarifying.

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kgriff
  5/30/2019 23:23 EST

"NONE OF THE OTC MEDICINES FROM THE US ARE PROHIBITED IN GUATEMALA. You will not have a problems at customs."

This is not true. Sudafed is sold in the US OTC but is illegal to buy or sell in Guatemala. So yes, there are some OTCs that aren't allowed here in Guatemala.

As far as having problems at customs, typically they don't even care. But if you're bringing in a large quantity of something, then it might arouse suspicion and cause them to take notice. Vitamins, especially, have been known lately to be scrutinized and usually heavily taxed. You're allowed to bring in a 90-day supply of medicine for personal use; if it's prescription, you're supposed to have a doctor's script with you plus the med should be in the original container from the pharmacy with your name, medicine name, prescribing doctor's name, etc. on it. I've never had an issue bringing in prescription meds but there's always a first time...

scn9677
  5/31/2019 00:14 EST

Yes, note that the prices on most drugs are higher because of lack of insurance

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