Medications by country
What's controlled or restricted in each country we visit.
All five countries are in the Schengen Area and follow the same rules for bringing in controlled medicines. The Schengen medical certificate is issued only to residents of a Schengen country — as U.S. travelers you cannot get one. Your practical substitute is the original prescription plus a doctor's letter for each controlled medication.
The rules in brief (all five countries)
- Carry only a personal-use supply — generally up to a 30-day supply of any controlled medicine. The Netherlands can be extended to 90 days with extra forms; other countries may allow less, so check the official sheet.
- Bring a copy of the prescription plus a doctor's letter for each controlled drug — generic and brand name, dosage, and why you need it. A separate letter is expected for each controlled substance.
- Keep every medication in its original, labeled container, and pack it in your carry-on, not checked luggage.
- Rules change and the official sheets carry disclaimers — re-read each country's sheet and, if in doubt, contact that country's U.S. embassy in the weeks before you fly.
By country
Netherlands
Amsterdam (Aug 6–8)Limit: 30-day supply, extendable to 90 days with additional forms
Confirmed from the official sheet: you need the original prescription plus a doctor's certificate. The Dutch issuing body (CAK) only certifies Dutch residents, so as a U.S. traveler your certificate must be endorsed by a U.S. authority — carry your prescription and physician's letter.
Poland
Kraków (Aug 8–11)Limit: Personal-use supply (Schengen baseline — read the sheet for specifics)verify on official sheet
Poland's Chief Pharmaceutical Inspectorate publishes the border procedure. Per-class specifics weren't fully confirmed in our research — treat the 30-day personal-use rule as the baseline and read both official sources before you pack.
Hungary
Budapest (Aug 11–13)Limit: Personal-use supply (Schengen baseline — read the sheet for specifics)verify on official sheet
Hungary's per-class specifics weren't confirmed in our research. The Schengen personal-use framework applies; read the INCB Hungary sheet (2024) for the exact limits and paperwork before you pack.
Croatia
Dubrovnik (Aug 13–16)Limit: Personal-use supply (Schengen baseline — read the sheet for specifics)verify on official sheet
Croatian Customs publishes guidance on bringing in medicine and narcotics. Per-class specifics weren't fully confirmed in our research — read both official sources for exact limits and paperwork.
Italy
Rome, Naples & Florence (Aug 16–21)Limit: 30-day supply for both narcotics and psychotropic medicines
Confirmed from the official sheet (Central Office of Drugs, Ministry of Health): a 30-day limit, with a separate certificate required for each substance. Carry the prescription and doctor's letter for every controlled medication.
Medications routine in the U.S. but controlled here
- ADHD stimulants
- Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine), Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine), Ritalin/Concerta (methylphenidate) — Tightly controlled or outright illegal at some destinations even with a prescription; some countries cap the quantity. Carry full documentation and verify the specific country.
- Opioid painkillers
- oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, tramadol, morphine, fentanyl, methadone — Controlled everywhere here — carry the prescription and doctor's letter.
- Benzodiazepines & sleep aids
- Xanax (alprazolam), Valium (diazepam), Ativan, Klonopin, Ambien (zolpidem) — Controlled across the EU; zolpidem needs permission in some countries and is prohibited in others.
- Pseudoephedrine cold/allergy meds
- some Sudafed formulas; codeine cough syrups — Restricted or illegal in some countries because pseudoephedrine is a methamphetamine precursor.
- CBD / cannabis products
- CBD oils, gummies, any cannabis-derived product — Per-country rules were not confirmed in our research and vary widely — best left at home.
Official references
- INCB — country regulations for travelers carrying medicines
- INCB — general information for travelers
- CDC Yellow Book — traveling with prohibited or restricted medications
- U.S. State Dept — traveling with medication
General guidance, not medical or legal advice. Compiled May 22, 2027 from official sources; rules change, so confirm each country's current sheet and your doctor before you travel. Country-specific limits for Poland, Hungary and Croatia were not fully confirmed in research — read the linked official sheets for the exact rules.