First post here. As background, I've been on TSM and totally compliant for just under a year. My results since May or so have been pretty dramatic: I seldom have hangovers (I'd had one almost every morning), I haven't blacked out in recent memory (it had been a regular and upsetting occurrence), I'm putting money aside for retirement and for large expenses (I used to overdraw my checking account every month and make up the difference with cash advances), and in general I feel like I have a future again. I guess I'd call that a success story. I'm still drinking a bit more than I'd like--I'd estimate 20-30 units most weeks, though now that I tally up the past week it looks like just 10--but it's gone from an out-of-control problem to something completely livable.

Now, my question might be a little unusual. For the holidays I'm traveling by plane (rare for me) within the US (where I live). I get my nal through River, so obviously I don't have a prescription bottle, just a blister packet and the little pill-keeper on my keychain. Am I at all likely to have trouble going through airport security? I don't think so, but it would be a nightmare scenario to have to explain myself to the TSA in front of my family...or, worse, for the nal to be confiscated because I can't prove it's legitimately mine (though now we're in paranoid territory, I think). We're most likely going to be having wine with dinner every night, and I don't want to have to make up excuses about why I'm drinking water when I clearly want to join in.

I was thinking of slipping the tablets into a travel bottle of ibuprofen to discourage questions. Is that a good idea, or can I just take it through as is? I'd really appreciate a little insight from the more frequent flyers here.

I am from the UK and recently bought 4 months supply in Spain and brought them back here without any trouble. However, I cannot speak for the US..sometimes they can be a bit funny.

Let us know how you get on and what you did?

Good luck!

This may not help either, as I too am in the UK but I travelled by plane to Cyprus and Ireland this summer without any problems. I kept my Nal in it's original packaging as I thought it would be easier to explain if any questions were asked (how do you explain why you've taken it out of it's wrapping and put it in an Ibuprofen bottle...that in itself may make it seem suspicious) and I packed it in my suitacse which went in the hold. I figured they would only be looking for illegal drugs in suitcases and I doubted that the sniffer dogs would be trained for Naltrexone! Knowing that I would need a drink before getting on the plane (nervous flyer!) I kept one in my hand luggage which I took when I reached the airport before going through security. Everything went ok and no questions were asked.
Enjoy your travels.

I have two things to say on this.

Firstly just because someone walks through customs without being stopped, and 'gets through ok' doesn't prove it's ok to bring those meds into the country and that you'll be ok. I see so much of this on the internet it really gets me annoyed! It's not ok all it means is that you just weren't stopped, but you can be stopped and any time and be searched, only then would your meds being approved that be proof.

I travelled via Dubai last year when I was still using Nal, in Dubai has a long list of seemingly innocent meds you can be jailed for carrying, which does include Naltrexone. Dubai is the sort of place where they tend to jail first, ask questions later and you have to wait for the results of the tests they run. I was only travelling through the airport, air side but had seen reports of delays where people did have to go out of airside and enter the country to stay overnight. I therefore read their rules carefully obtained a letter from my Dr to explain why I used Nal, how it had been prescribed plus original prescription. My flights were not delayed and we passed through ok, but there's always a chance things can go wrong and you have to pass through customs.

As far as I'm aware other european countries are fine with nal, but I've never yet been stopped and searched. Dubai was brought to my attention by just looking at the small print on the airline website, friend who booked the tickets and was in charge of the trip didn't notice or think it would apply to me and my nal. I'm a pedant!

If travelling to any country I'd firstly check whether or not they have any rules re medication, and make your decision based on that. I personally wouldn't try any attempt to conceal it. They might tip them out (authorities are not daft and don't like the piss being taken), spot the difference and send them for testing meantime you're going nowhere. I'd leave them in the original blister strip.

Didn't mean to get you riled UKBlonde. My understanding is that epenthesis is travelling within the US.

Wikipedia states....
"Government regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have approved the use of naltrexone for chronic treatment of opioid dependence and for drug detoxification."[1][/b]

Surely if it's approved by the FDA then he should be allowed to travel with it. You are correct, however, that people should check for themselves.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've decided to leave them in the blister pack (better not try to put one over on them) and put it in my toiletry bag in checked luggage, with my keychain supply fully loaded as a backup. If worse should come to worst, I can ask my roommate to send me some nal through the mail. (And now I'm looking ahead to next year, when I'll be living in my own place and that won't be an option...)

Sorry that was my stuff, I just wanted to get it out, seen a lot of travel threads for meds and the "I walked through customs" stuff drives me up the wall.

There is no customs to walk through when traveling inside one country. The OP stated that he/she was traveling "within the US," in which naltrexone is not a scheduled substance.




It's always wise to know the law of the land.

In the USA, the law of the land is that we're free to have the stuff. We can't just walk into Rite Aid and buy it, but there's a huge difference between "not widely available OTC" and "illegal without a prescription."

If Dubai is different, that's valuable knowledge for anyone in Dubai or traveling to Dubai.

Turns out I needn't have worried--I didn't get a second glance in three trips through security (first flight was canceled after two hours sitting at the gate; thanks, United). And I only ended up drinking about half of the days I was away; with the exception of some very tempting strawberry daiquiris at a bar near the beach, I probably wouldn't have minded going AF altogether for the week.

That's great. I guess you were away from your usual cues, but it's still great.