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Can I Mail Prescription Drugs with USPS?

If you need to mail prescription drugs, you’ll want to get to know federal and state laws about shipping these items before trying to ship them with the USPS. Here are the basics of mailing drugs via the USPS. You will need to be familiar with what is permitted, and what isn’t, to avoid any legal issues.

Prescription Drugs

As the name implies, prescription drugs are not available except with a written order from a licensed medical provider. You are only permitted to mail prescription drugs via the USPS if you are a pharmacist or medical provider mailing such drugs to the patient they have been prescribed to. This means that without proper medical licensing you can receive prescription drugs, but you cannot, under any circumstance, mail them.

Over-the-Counter Drugs

Prescription drugs are only permitted to be sent via USPS under specific circumstances—but what about over-the-counter drugs?

Any drug that is available for retail without a prescription is considered an over-the-counter drug. Common examples of such drugs are mild pain-relief medicines and skin creams. Anyone can mail such drugs with the USPS as long as they comply with federal and state laws such as the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 and the Consumer Protection Safety Commission Requirements.

Mail and Ship Anything From Home, Office, or Your Phone.

Controlled Substances

Controlled substances are drugs in which the federal government tightly controls. These substances are placed into five categories, or schedules, each with varying regulations and mailability. Some controlled substances are treated as prescription drugs—they can be mailed by medical professionals with the proper documentation. Other controlled substances are not mailable under any circumstances. The USPS takes the shipment of narcotics very seriously, and the Postal Inspection Service Prohibited Mail Narcotics program investigates shipments of illegal drugs through the mail and works closely with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies to combat this illicit trade.

You cannot mail a controlled substance unless:

  • You and the person you are mailing the drugs to are registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency or are exempt from the registration requirement. (Law enforcement, civil defense workers, and members of the military do not need to register with the DEA).
  • You are participating in a federal mail-back program to dispose of such drugs and follow the mailing regulations for participation in the program.
  • You are a drug manufacturer or pharmacy owner who is filling a prescription containing narcotics.
  • You should be aware that anything used to take narcotics, such as pipes or syringes, cannot be mailed under current federal guidelines.

Rules for Packaging Drugs

Controlled substances must have inner packaging that is marked and sealed in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act in addition to providing information on the inner packaging about the prescription, such as the prescription number and the name and address of the pharmacy dispensing the drug. The outer wrapping of such packages must be plain and cannot contain any information identifying the package’s contents.

Other drugs must be placed inside a plain wrapper or package.

Promotional samples of non-prescription drugs may have a brief description of the product on the outside of the package along with the words SAMPLES ENCLOSED.

It is important to follow all of these rules because mailing drugs in a non-allowed manner is considered a breach of federal law and can result in serious legal consequences. If a USPS inspector finds non-mailable drugs in a package presented for delivery, that worker is required to report it as well as reject the item for delivery.

Mail and Ship Anything From Home, Office, or Your Phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do NetStamps work?

You can print NetStamps if you have a Stamps.com account with sufficient postage balance. After logging in to your account, simply select print on “NetStamps,” choose how many to print, select to print on a NetStamps sheet or roll, and click print!

How fast is Priority Mail Express International?

Delivery is made by the country's postal service in 3 - 5 business days, depending on the destination.

How do I calculate domestic postage costs?

Our rate advisor feature helps you calculate exact postage or shipping rate for anything you send. All you need is your item's weight and dimensions -- we do all the math for you and recommend cheapest, fastest, and best rates across all carriers.

How long does USPS Ground Advantage take to deliver?

USPS Ground Advantage delivery time is typically the slowest for domestic shipping services, taking two to five business days depending on the destination.

What are the delivery times for UPS Next Day Air?

UPS Next Day Air offers guaranteed delivery by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or end of day on the next business day, depending on the destination and specific service selected. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday, with Saturday delivery available in select areas for an additional fee.

What are nonmachinable envelopes? 

Nonmachinable envelopes might be non-rectangular, rigid, unevenly thick, or have non-paper closures, meaning they cannot be processed efficiently by USPS's automated sorting equipment, and require special handling, resulting in a surcharge in addition to the standard postage.

USPS Priority Mail vs. First-Class Mail: What is the speed comparison?

USPS Priority Mail generally delivers in 2-3 business days. First-Class Mail, while more economical, typically takes 1-5 business days for delivery.

UPS Worldwide Saver vs. UPS Worldwide Expedited: What is the speed comparison?

UPS Worldwide Saver is faster than UPS Worldwide Expedited, offering delivery by the end of the next business day to major business centers, compared to 2-5 business days for Worldwide Expedited. Worldwide Saver provides a more economical alternative to premium express services while maintaining quick delivery.

How long does UPS Ground take?

UPS Ground typically takes 1 to 5 business days for delivery with 90% of UPS® Ground packages being delivered in 3 days or less.

How fast is UPS Standard compared to UPS Ground Saver?

UPS Standard is generally faster than UPS Ground Saver, as it has a typical delivery window of 1-5 business days compared to Ground Saver's 2-7 business days.