Is it illegal to possess generic drugs?

Answer 1

First: NO, it is perfectly legal to import prescription drugs for which you have a prescription.

I think what you meant was: "Is it illegal to buy drugs from Another Country without prescription and import them?"

For America, typically yes, especially for stimulants and painkillers, which are always controlled substances because people always are trying to get their hands on them. See http://www.rxpop.com/legal.asp

I don't know how accurate the material is, but you can only import an FDA unapproved drug if you have a valid medical reason, and I guess the FDA expressly wants a "doctors note" to say it's OK, but not a prescription. But if you're importing a drug for an FDA approved reason, it says it's illegal.

Answer 2

The best guideline of course would be to check two sources, the US Govt's Customs Website AND the US Govt's FDA website both of which offer the relevant guidelines, although one does find minor incostinticies between both. As a frequent traveller , who is often going to the US, I am actually quite up to date on the regulations. It does not matter what country you are importing your medications from. What matters is the following: I) The medicine, generic or otherwise, must be a med. on the US market. For example, under no cirumstances would you ever be able to import Mandrax (metqualone), which under the trade name Quaalude has been removed from the US Market. II) It cannot be a med that was manufactured by a company whose HQ is in the US< in other wordws a company whose primary registration in the US> In other words, you could not import a med. made by Purdue, even if it had been manufactured in India. III) There is both a total dosage limit, as well as an economic limit. The dosage limit relates only to the number of dosages, not each dosages strength. In other words, there is no upper limit in milligrams, only in the number of tablets, etc. That number is 50. Not a large number but that is besides the point. The economic limit is 400 US dollars. So, the med you are hoping to import must have paperwork proving its retail price, and the dosages should be easily discerned as per their individuality (in other words, do not throw a bunch of pills in a jar expecting an Inspector to take the time to count them). This latter rule also directle relates to the following rule. IV) Each dosage unit MUST be in its original packaging. If it is a blister-pak medication, it must be in the pak, if itis one soil in a specific bottle, it must be in THAT bottle, and so on. V) Finally, the last major rule is that even if it is OTC in India (or in whatever country you leave from), IF it requires a prescription in the US< you MUST have a valid and current prescription accompanying the mds. This prescription MUST be VERY detailed, listing the consumer's name, his/her medicine name, dosage, instructions on taking it, and if possiblew either on the prescription or on a separate piece of paper the condition for which it is being prescribed and a testimony from the doctor that the person it is prescribed for is being treated for an ongoing condition. There is a rule that is in contradiction between the 2 guidelines as well that should be considered, it is soemtimes required to have the condition be onewhose treatment BEGAN in the country of origin, in this case India. It s a real pain (no pun intended) bringing meds in, but when you have to you have, just do what you need to do and be prepared to still get hassled in this day on tight monitoring. Good luck. The best guideline of course would be to check two sources, the US Govt's Customs Website AND the US Govt's FDA website both of which offer the relevant guidelines, although one does find minor incostinticies between both. As a frequent traveller , who is often going to the US, I am actually quite up to date on the regulations. It does not matter what country you are importing your medications from. What matters is the following: I) The medicine, generic or otherwise, must be a med. on the US market. For example, under no cirumstances would you ever be able to import Mandrax (metqualone), which under the trade name Quaalude has been removed from the US Market. II) It cannot be a med that was manufactured by a company whose HQ is in the US< in other wordws a company whose primary registration in the US> In other words, you could not import a med. made by Purdue, even if it had been manufactured in India. III) There is both a total dosage limit, as well as an economic limit. The dosage limit relates only to the number of dosages, not each dosages strength. In other words, there is no upper limit in milligrams, only in the number of tablets, etc. That number is 50. Not a large number but that is besides the point. The economic limit is 400 US dollars. So, the med you are hoping to import must have paperwork proving its retail price, and the dosages should be easily discerned as per their individuality (in other words, do not throw a bunch of pills in a jar expecting an Inspector to take the time to count them). This latter rule also directle relates to the following rule. IV) Each dosage unit MUST be in its original packaging. If it is a blister-pak medication, it must be in the pak, if itis one soil in a specific bottle, it must be in THAT bottle, and so on. V) Finally, the last major rule is that even if it is OTC in India (or in whatever country you leave from), IF it requires a prescription in the US< you MUST have a valid and current prescription accompanying the mds. This prescription MUST be VERY detailed, listing the consumer's name, his/her medicine name, dosage, instructions on taking it, and if possiblew either on the prescription or on a separate piece of paper the condition for which it is being prescribed and a testimony from the doctor that the person it is prescribed for is being treated for an ongoing condition. There is a rule that is in contradiction between the 2 guidelines as well that should be considered, it is soemtimes required to have the condition be onewhose treatment BEGAN in the country of origin, in this case India. It s a real pain (no pun intended) bringing meds in, but when you have to you have, just do what you need to do and be prepared to still get hassled in this day on tight monitoring. Good luck.

Answer 3

Not if you have a prescription for them.