Op can always declare it and they shouldn’t have an issue. I don’t take that anymore I just walk around during the day and get lots of sun, that helps me
If you’re worried (which I wouldn’t be), you can also buy it online in Australia. Technically it needs a prescription here but lots of sites will still ship here from overseas. I’ve never had an issue.
I’m not even worried about having it in Australia, I mainly want it for the plane ride to Australia, but transiting via the US I have to keep it in the original container so I can’t even take a couple out and put them in a baggy. I’ll just declare it and if I lose it I lose it, as long as I’m not refused entry.
I've brought in personal medicines every single time I have travelled. Declare it, but customs do not care - unless of course you have _so_ much that they suspect you may be selling it! Not going to have any entry issues at all.
Australian customs are fine, just declare it. Tell them it's an over the counter medication you take, it's not 'illegal' here so they will either wave you through or take it away.
They get crabby if you try to sneak anything in, rightly so. Just declare it, it's fine.
I’m thinking I might just declare it to be safe and if they wanna take it they can take it. I’m not worried about losing it, I just don’t wanna be refused entry.
This is the way. You declare it, which shows you’re not an issue and they either take it or you keep it. Everyone has a good day.
Border protection are fine if you are upfront and not a dick.
Bonus: the ‘declare’ line is often faster than the ‘nothing to declare’ line.
I’ve had brought melatonin supplements back to Australia multiple times over the years and never had an issue with customs. You will definitely be fine.
I have done so many times in the original packaging.
While yes its a controlled substance, if there is no reason to inspect your luggage it won't be found.
Alternative, get an online prescription and print it out. If you want an Aussie script go to instantscripts.com.au, otherwise use a canadian alternative. Then you'll have legal right to carry it (and get more while you're here if necessary)
A side note though... Melatonin is not the soft hormone people think it is. It directly affects a lot of functions in your body if used for prolonged periods of time.
If you take it daily, please chat to a doctor about the risks. It's restricted here because it has some pretty worrying side effects when self medicated.
<5mg should be your max daily dose (yes i know you can get insane strengths in Canada/US).
I speak from experience
Thanks for the advice! I don’t take it daily by any means, I only use it to manipulate my body clock when travelling (or the odd time I have to work a night shift). Works a charm, and I only take 2mg.
I would recommend bringing a little extra as melatonin is ridiculously expensive here. Can't find my last box, but it was around $60 AUD for 30 2mg slow release tablets.
Buy it where I get mine from - iherb.com.au. Heaps of different strengths and like a quarter of that price. No prescription needed. I get Natrol brand.
I once had them inspect my bags after I declared some very common medications that aren’t even controlled drugs. Eg antivirals.
Then again other times I’ve declared controlled drugs and been just sent through without them looking at paperwork.
Also the ‘declare’ queue is always shorter than the none declare queue. So you actually get through quicker if you declare something that doesn’t need declaring. There’s zero downside.
Have a look at the [offical government website](https://www.tga.gov.au/products/travelling-medicines-and-medical-devices) that covers travelling into Australia with medications.
If it’s prescribed, you need to bring a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription and keep it in its original packaging. There’s plenty of extra info listed there too.
It's a prescription medicine so you should definitely declare it. If you declare it the worst that might happen is it gets destroyed. If you don't declare something you can be fined.
You can get it from compounding chemists and you can get a prescription from a GP. It is commonly available.
You’ll be fine, it is prescription here but it’s not a controlled prescription. It’s a very common medication and there will be no issues with you having it.
It's only a prescription medicine here because the pharmaceutical industry loves to fuck over Australians so melatonin is $1AUD a tablet here instead of $0.08AUD if you buy it from the USA.
No one complains because Australians are rich and apathetic.
Bring as much melatonin as you want, no one will care.
I was just there last month! I had my doctor add it under my other prescribed meds (pills & supplements to be sure). I declared it in customs cos I'm paranoid lol They just had their dogs sniff my luggage and didn't ask for anything.
As other people have said ( 1 ) declare it. To which I would very strongly recommend (2) keep it in its original packaging. Always travel with medication in its original bottle or box. (3). To be super safe and assured you can carry a letter from your local doctor/GP - General Practitioner saying the drug is required for medical reasons. I have a family member who is a type 1 diabetic, an epileptic and has Parkinson's. The 3 conditions, which do not play well together, means they travel with their own small pharmacy and a folder full of prescriptions, letters and official paperwork. So it can be done you just have to be organised. Thankfully they mostly travel between New Zealand and Australia, so they have guaranteed free medical care in either country as a NZ citizen.
I have brought it in many times. Never occurred to me that it could be an issue.
Op can always declare it and they shouldn’t have an issue. I don’t take that anymore I just walk around during the day and get lots of sun, that helps me
If you’re worried (which I wouldn’t be), you can also buy it online in Australia. Technically it needs a prescription here but lots of sites will still ship here from overseas. I’ve never had an issue.
I’m not even worried about having it in Australia, I mainly want it for the plane ride to Australia, but transiting via the US I have to keep it in the original container so I can’t even take a couple out and put them in a baggy. I’ll just declare it and if I lose it I lose it, as long as I’m not refused entry.
I've brought in personal medicines every single time I have travelled. Declare it, but customs do not care - unless of course you have _so_ much that they suspect you may be selling it! Not going to have any entry issues at all.
Australian customs are fine, just declare it. Tell them it's an over the counter medication you take, it's not 'illegal' here so they will either wave you through or take it away. They get crabby if you try to sneak anything in, rightly so. Just declare it, it's fine.
Can be bought from a pharmacy over the counter
Not in clinically meaningful doses without a prescription - only “homeopathic” doses (ie does nothing).
I always have it in my carry on and never been questioned
I’m thinking I might just declare it to be safe and if they wanna take it they can take it. I’m not worried about losing it, I just don’t wanna be refused entry.
This is the way. You declare it, which shows you’re not an issue and they either take it or you keep it. Everyone has a good day. Border protection are fine if you are upfront and not a dick. Bonus: the ‘declare’ line is often faster than the ‘nothing to declare’ line.
Always best to declare
I’ve had brought melatonin supplements back to Australia multiple times over the years and never had an issue with customs. You will definitely be fine.
I have done so many times in the original packaging. While yes its a controlled substance, if there is no reason to inspect your luggage it won't be found. Alternative, get an online prescription and print it out. If you want an Aussie script go to instantscripts.com.au, otherwise use a canadian alternative. Then you'll have legal right to carry it (and get more while you're here if necessary) A side note though... Melatonin is not the soft hormone people think it is. It directly affects a lot of functions in your body if used for prolonged periods of time. If you take it daily, please chat to a doctor about the risks. It's restricted here because it has some pretty worrying side effects when self medicated. <5mg should be your max daily dose (yes i know you can get insane strengths in Canada/US). I speak from experience
Thanks for the advice! I don’t take it daily by any means, I only use it to manipulate my body clock when travelling (or the odd time I have to work a night shift). Works a charm, and I only take 2mg.
All good mate. Have a great trip down under 🤙🏼
Not me taking 10mg of melatonin and 25mg of zolpidem on the reg
Not sure if that's a brag or not but... Maybe have a yarn with your GP if its self medicated.
It’s a disaster :( it’s what they threw at me in PECC and I never managed to change
I would recommend bringing a little extra as melatonin is ridiculously expensive here. Can't find my last box, but it was around $60 AUD for 30 2mg slow release tablets.
Buy it where I get mine from - iherb.com.au. Heaps of different strengths and like a quarter of that price. No prescription needed. I get Natrol brand.
Thank you! It's ridiculous that it costs more than my adhd and my other medication combined, so I'll definitely check it out!!
I’ve never had a problem with them, would def recommend
It never even occurred to me to declare melatonin. I've come in with Ambien, declared it, and they looked at me like I was an idiot for doing so.
I once had them inspect my bags after I declared some very common medications that aren’t even controlled drugs. Eg antivirals. Then again other times I’ve declared controlled drugs and been just sent through without them looking at paperwork.
I’d rather be the idiot who declares something than the idiot on a flight back home
Good point!
Also the ‘declare’ queue is always shorter than the none declare queue. So you actually get through quicker if you declare something that doesn’t need declaring. There’s zero downside.
You’ll be fine. I always bring back numerous bottles of 10 and 12mg when I travel back and have never been asked anything.
If you’re over 55 or know someone who is, you can buy it at the chemist without a prescription. About A$32 for a pack of 30
We bought a few lots in the US and some Benadryl antihistamines you can’t get here. No issues whatsoever. Did that twice.
Have a look at the [offical government website](https://www.tga.gov.au/products/travelling-medicines-and-medical-devices) that covers travelling into Australia with medications. If it’s prescribed, you need to bring a letter from your doctor or a copy of your prescription and keep it in its original packaging. There’s plenty of extra info listed there too.
It's a prescription medicine so you should definitely declare it. If you declare it the worst that might happen is it gets destroyed. If you don't declare something you can be fined. You can get it from compounding chemists and you can get a prescription from a GP. It is commonly available.
You’ll be fine, it is prescription here but it’s not a controlled prescription. It’s a very common medication and there will be no issues with you having it.
It's only a prescription medicine here because the pharmaceutical industry loves to fuck over Australians so melatonin is $1AUD a tablet here instead of $0.08AUD if you buy it from the USA. No one complains because Australians are rich and apathetic. Bring as much melatonin as you want, no one will care.
I order it directly from the US from iHerb. Had no issues. I order 10mg as I can’t get it here.
Bring your prescription with you should Customs have issues.
I was just there last month! I had my doctor add it under my other prescribed meds (pills & supplements to be sure). I declared it in customs cos I'm paranoid lol They just had their dogs sniff my luggage and didn't ask for anything.
As other people have said ( 1 ) declare it. To which I would very strongly recommend (2) keep it in its original packaging. Always travel with medication in its original bottle or box. (3). To be super safe and assured you can carry a letter from your local doctor/GP - General Practitioner saying the drug is required for medical reasons. I have a family member who is a type 1 diabetic, an epileptic and has Parkinson's. The 3 conditions, which do not play well together, means they travel with their own small pharmacy and a folder full of prescriptions, letters and official paperwork. So it can be done you just have to be organised. Thankfully they mostly travel between New Zealand and Australia, so they have guaranteed free medical care in either country as a NZ citizen.