{"id":1656,"date":"2019-12-15T18:09:15","date_gmt":"2019-12-15T18:09:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/russiable.com\/?p=1656"},"modified":"2024-01-06T12:08:49","modified_gmt":"2024-01-06T12:08:49","slug":"medications-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/russiable.com\/medications-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"Taking medicines to Russia. Do I need a prescription?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A very frequent question asked by tourists traveling to Russia is whether they can carry their medications to Russia without any problem or if they need to declare them at Customs. The fact is that there are certain medicines that may contain narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances and they must be declared at Customs along with a prescription translated into Russian and notarized.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article I will try to outline some basic tips for carrying medications into Russia, as well as the customs rules to keep in mind.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Medicines<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Please note:<\/strong> to be 100% sure that you won\u2019t have problems entering Russia with your medications, it\u2019s best to check with your doctor, the embassy or consulate of the Russian Federation<\/a>  and the health authorities in your country. Yes, I know, consulates don\u2019t always provide information by phone and, sometimes, you need to make an appointment and have to go to another city. Nor do they provide detailed information about this on their website. That\u2019s why I have written this article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PRELIMINARY ADVICE ON CARRYING MEDICATION TO RUSSIA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First of all, whether you are traveling with medication that must be declared at Russian Customs or you are traveling with medication that you don\u2019t have to declare, it is important to bear in mind some preliminary recommendations to avoid problems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A) Carry your medications from home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For those people who are traveling to Russia and who need some specific medication it\u2019s a good idea to carry it from home to avoid having to buy it in Russia. While there are many medications that you can also find in Russia, there are medications required for specific illnesses that may be difficult to buy in Russia because they are not sold or, if they are, require a prescription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This recommendation is of special interest to those who suffer from coronary or circulatory system diseases, for HIV treatment and also for those who need daily insulin intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

B) Carry them in their original packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medications must be carried in their original packaging, with their name, label and leaflet. Avoid using non-original containers such as pillboxes or plastic bags because, in addition to not being ideal for storing medication, they arouse many suspicions in customs officers and they may even be confiscated along with all their contents.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Packaging<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

C) Keep them in your hand luggage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is a good idea to carry the medications in your hand luggage and not in the bags that are going to be checked in. In this way they will be easily accessible to be declared or to be used if necessary during the flight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liquid medications are exempt from restrictions that affect the transportation of liquids in carry-on luggage, provided that they need to be used during the flight. You must, in such a case, present the medication separately at the security check, out of the transparent bag required for other liquids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be asked for proof of authenticity, so it\u2019s a good idea to take your prescription or proof of your particular condition with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

D) Bring an adequate supply for personal use<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Carry a supply of medication to cover your stay in Russia plus one more day, just in case. It must be clear to customs officials that these are medications for personal medical use and not for resale in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at the steps to follow when declaring medications at Russian Customs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

STEP 1. Find out what substance your medication contains<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In short, it can be said that foreign citizens may bring any type of medication for personal use into Russia, including medications not registered in the Russian Federation, but with one condition: that they do not contain narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances or their precursors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the medicines contain very strong narcotic drugs or toxic substances, then you need to present a prescription translated into Russian and notarized. In addition, these medications must be declared at Customs upon arrival in Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, when carrying medications to Russia, the first thing to find out is the substance that your medication contains.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule, if it is medication for the common cold, flu, gastrointestinal disorders or an anti-inflammatory drug or vitamins, you don\u2019t have to do anything; they can simply be put in your suitcase and there\u2019s no need to declare them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, keep in mind that there are medications that are apparently harmless (such as cough syrups), but may contain substances that must be declared (such as codeine, for example).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bear in mind too that the name of the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance may not match the brand name of the medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to know which substances are considered narcotic or psychotropic in Russia?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Russian Government published a list of these substances in Decree No. 681 of the Government of the Russian Federation on June 30, 1998<\/a>. This is a list that has been revised over the years (the last revision of this decree was in August 2019). So it\u2019s a list that is under continuous review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this decree 3 lists are published:<\/p>\n\n\n\n