Can You Take Medicines on Ryanair? A Complete Guide (2026)
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Ryanair carries more passengers than any other airline in Europe, and its cabin bag rules are stricter than most — which is exactly why medication questions come up so often. The reassuring part: Ryanair's own policy on medicines is actually more generous than the standard airport liquids rule, provided you know how it works.
Quick Answer: Yes. Ryanair allows prescription medicines, tablets, inhalers, insulin and liquid medication in your cabin bag. Unlike ordinary toiletries, liquid medicine on Ryanair isn't capped at 100ml and doesn't need to go in your clear plastic liquids bag — but it must be ready for separate inspection at security.
Ryanair Medicine Rules at a Glance
✔ Prescription medicines, tablets and capsules are allowed in hand luggage.
✔ Liquid medicine has no 100ml limit and doesn't need to be bagged with your other liquids.
✔ Syringes are permitted for medical use but require a doctor's letter.
✔ CPAP machines and portable oxygen concentrators need prior approval via Ryanair's online special assistance form.
✔ Extra medical supplies (ostomy equipment, PKU products, TPN feed, dialysis fluids) require a Medical Baggage Waiver Letter.
✔ Carry supporting documentation if appropriate.
✔ Declare essential liquid medicines at airport security
Liquid Medicines: Ryanair's Rule Is Different From Standard Toiletries
This is the part travellers most often get wrong. Airport security's usual 100ml liquids limit doesn't apply to your medicine. Ryanair's own guidance states you can carry as much liquid medicine as you need for your flight, and it doesn't have to fit inside the transparent bag required for everything else. The trade-off is that it needs to be packed separately and ready for its own inspection — security will want to see it clearly, not buried at the bottom of your bag. Source: Ryanair Help Centre — What liquids are permitted on board
Syringes and Sharps
If you're travelling with a diabetic condition or another need for syringes, Ryanair permits them in the cabin — but airport security will expect a doctor's letter confirming why you're carrying sharp objects. Keep this with your medication, not packed away. Source: Ryanair Help Centre — Medical Items On-Board
Tablets, Capsules and Everyday Medication
Painkillers, allergy tablets, prescription medication, vitamins and travel sickness tablets can stay in your hand luggage through screening, generally with no quantity limit for personal use.
CPAP Machines and Portable Oxygen Concentrators
This is a genuine Ryanair-specific process, not a generic airline formality: if you need to use a CPAP machine or portable oxygen concentrator onboard, you must submit a request through Ryanair's online special assistance form in advance. Their special assistance team reviews it and confirms approval before you fly — this isn't something you can sort out at the gate. Source: Ryanair Help Centre — Carriage of Medical Equipment
Extra Medical Supplies Beyond Standard Baggage
If your condition means you need to carry additional medical items beyond your normal baggage allowance — ostomy equipment, PKU products, TPN feed or dialysis fluids, for example — Ryanair requires a Medical Baggage Waiver Letter. Only the items listed on that letter travel free of charge, so it's worth applying well before your trip. Source: Ryanair Help Centre — Medical Equipment Baggage Waiver Letter
Should Medicines Go in Your Cabin Bag or Hold Luggage?
Always carry essential medication in your cabin bag. Ryanair's baggage handling is no different from other airlines here: if hold luggage is delayed or goes missing, you don't want to be without medicine you need on arrival.
Packing Toiletries Alongside Medication
Ordinary toiletries — toothpaste, deodorant, sun cream, shampoo — still fall under the standard 100ml rule and must go in your liquids bag, separate from your medicine. See our Ryanair Toiletries Guide for the full breakdown.
Rather than sourcing each item separately and checking every bottle against the 100ml rule, a pre-packed kit is already sized and compliant — pick the version that matches you:
Ryanair Medicines Checklist
✔ Carry essential medication in your cabin bag, not hold luggage.
✔ Keep liquid medicine separate and accessible — no clear bag needed, but no hiding it either.
✔ Carry a doctor's letter if travelling with syringes or sharps.
✔ Submit Ryanair's online special assistance form in advance for CPAP/POC devices.
✔ Apply for a Medical Baggage Waiver Letter if carrying additional medical supplies beyond standard allowance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ryanair limit liquid medicine to 100ml?Â
No. Ryanair explicitly exempts medically necessary liquid medicine from the standard 100ml rule, and it doesn't need to be packed in your liquids bag — though it should be presented separately at security.
Do I need permission to bring a CPAP machine on Ryanair?Â
Yes. CPAP machines and portable oxygen concentrators require prior approval through Ryanair's online special assistance form — this needs to be arranged before you travel, not at the airport.
What is a Ryanair Medical Baggage Waiver Letter?Â
It's Ryanair's authorisation for carrying essential medical supplies (such as ostomy equipment, PKU products, TPN feed or dialysis fluids) beyond your normal baggage allowance, free of charge.
Do I need a doctor's letter for syringes on Ryanair?Â
Yes, for sharps you should carry a letter confirming the medical need.
Can I take insulin on Ryanair?Â
Yes, insulin, pens and diabetes supplies are permitted in the cabin.
Medicine sorted — now sort everything else. CabinCleared's cabin-approved kits are packed to clear Ryanair's liquids rules without a second thought."
Final Thoughts
Ryanair's medicine policy is more flexible than people expect, particularly on liquids — but the two areas that catch travellers out are the CPAP/POC approval process and the Medical Baggage Waiver Letter for extra supplies. Sort both in advance and the rest is straightforward.
Information checked against Ryanair's official Help Centre policies, July 2026.