Traveling with Medication: What You Should Always Pack in Your Travel Health Kit

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If you’re about to embark on an adventure, don’t let health and safety slip down on the priority list! There are a few things to keep in mind when traveling with medication. It’s best to be prepared with the right supplies.

Make sure your vacation goes as smoothly as possible by being stocked up and ready to go. To learn more about what medications you should pack and how to best travel with prescriptions, read on.

Traveling With Medication

Traveling is exciting, but it doesn’t always go as well as you had planned. It’s not uncommon for aches, pains, fevers, digestive upset, and other ailments to pop up and surprise travelers. The medication you need at these times is often not available where you are located.

When planning your trip, safety is key. Thinking ahead and packing the right medications can save you time and stress. Most minor issues can be treated with over-the-counter medicines. Some prescription medications may also be valuable in certain situations.

Over-the-Counter Must-Haves

Most medications that you’ll need to pack in your travel meds can be purchased in pharmacies, supermarkets, and drugstores. We’ll touch on each one and why it should be included in your medication stash.

Analgesics/Pain Relievers

Pain relief medication is an absolute essential. Not many things can hinder movement or put a damper on a day like pain. Painful surprises that can be treated include:

  • Headaches
  • Muscle strain or injury
  • Joint pain
  • Back pain

Pain medication such as aspirin and NSAIDs (ibuprofen and acetaminophen) can keep pain at bay so you can enjoy yourself. These medications can also reduce inflammation, preventing further damage.

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Some pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can also reduce fever. This is helpful for feeling better and for controlling high temperatures until you are able to see a healthcare professional.

Antihistamines

Antihistamine tablets prevent uncomfortable allergic reactions. Many things can bring about unpleasant allergies that can present as:

  • Itchy, watery eyes
  • Runny nose and sneezing
  • Wheezing
  • Hives and other skin rashes
  • Swollen, red areas

Allergies can be caused by a number of environmental factors, including:

  • Pollen and air pollutants
  • Contact with irritants or poisonous plants
  • Foods
  • Insect bites and stings

Antihistamines block the histamines that cause an allergic response. They greatly reduce the severity of most allergic reactions.

Antacid, Laxatives, and Anti-Diarrhea Medication

Gastrointestinal upset is common while traveling. Often, you’re eating foods you aren’t used to or ones that haven’t been cooked properly.

Antiacids

Vacations are usually a time to relax your eating habits as well, so you may eat more than you normally would. Antacids can reduce stomach upset from overindulgence, greasy and spicy foods, and other stomach ailments.

Laxatives

If vacation fare puts the brakes on your digestive tract, laxatives can help. Including laxatives helps you avoid the discomfort of constipation.

Anti-Diarrhea Medicines

Diarrhea can be caused by a number of factors. It’s unpleasant and can quickly become dangerous if not treated. To avoid abdominal pain and possible dehydration from diarrhea, always pack anti-diarrhea medication.

Electrolyte Replacement Powder

Should you become dehydrated, you’ll likely need more than plain water to restore your body’s balance. Electrolyte powder can be mixed with water to replace electrolytes lost during sweating or from diarrhea and vomiting.

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Motion-Sickness Medication

If you’re traveling, chances are you’re in a moving machine of some sort. Nausea is a quick way to ruin a nice time. Taking motion-sickness tablets before you depart each day can prevent nausea for an enjoyable trip.

Cough Medicine

Should you pick up a cough during your travels, cough medicine helps you get a good night’s sleep. It can also make traveling better for you and your companions by tempering a nasty cough.

Cold and Flu Medications

Catching a cold or coming down with the flu isn’t fun at home, and it’s especially distressing while traveling. It’s a good idea to keep cold and flu medicines in your travel meds just in case.

These medicines don’t actually treat the viruses, but rather the symptoms. This is important because they can make you feel much better. They may also shorten the duration of the illness.

Prescription Travel Meds

Sometimes it’s recommended to carry a few travel-specific prescriptions if your doctors deem it appropriate. These can include:

  • Anti-malarial drugs for areas where exposure risk is high
  • Antibiotics for traveler’s diarrhea that becomes severe
  • Anti-anxiety medication for airplanes, crowds, and public transportation

While these may not be your regular prescriptions, they may come in handy in travel situations. Ask your doctor if any of these medications should be a consideration.

When You Travel with Prescriptions

Travelling with medication becomes a bit more complicated when you need to bring prescription medications. Whether you take your prescription daily or as-needed, it’s important to take enough of the medication with you to last the entire trip.

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To be on the safe side, write a list of the prescription medications you need and keep it with you. In the event that your luggage is lost, you’ll know what medications you need to replace when you reach your destination. Make sure you also list each drug’s generic name. Some drugs, even if they’re over-the-counter, have brand names that are different in other countries.

You may also be able to replace prescriptions with an online service such as eDrugSearch. These sites offer most medications at affordable prices.

Traveling abroad with medications can present additional concerns. To prevent misunderstandings and major issues when you’re going to another country, there are a few precautionary measures you can take.

Always make sure your prescription is legal in the country you’re visiting. You can do this by checking with the foreign embassy in that country. For extra clarity, keep your medications in the original, clearly labeled pharmacy bottles.

Carrying a letter from your physician describing pre-existing medical conditions and medications needed for treatment is also wise.

Travel with a Peace of Mind

Don’t be caught unprepared for minor medical issues. Traveling with medication is a great way to ensure a good trip. Pack these essentials and enjoy your vacation knowing that if something comes up, you’ve got it covered.

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