What Medications do you need to take when you Travel?
Updated: Aug 31, 2022
Recommendations from a Traveling ER Doctor
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Part of my Pre-Travel Ritual is checking and double checking that I have all the medications our family needs packed. After years of traveling as a couple, a young family and as an extended family, packing medication is the only thing I still get anxious about. I can get clothes, sunscreen and pretty much anything else we need at any destination, but outside the US I know that medications I could pick up at local pharmacies are not always available. I also realize that over the counter medications very from place to place. So, what are my go-to must pack medications and medical items? I have complied my top ten below. Check out my list and then like and subscribe. Send us a comment or two about your must have over the counter items for travel.
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1. Prescription Medications. This is a no brainer, but counting out pills for every day you will be away and adding at least an extra day given the recent airline issues is imperative. I check and double check that we have our prescribed medications for each member of our family. Never put your prescription medications in your checked bag. These medications should always be in your carry on, and I actually recommend that they are in your backpack or, a personal bag that you carry. If you have to gate-check your carry-on bag at the last second, you will still have your prescriptions on you. Note: You must always travel with any narcotics, benzos, or controlled substances in their original pill bottle. There can be serious consequences in some countries for not having these in the correct bottles.
2. NSAID Pain Relievers. We all wish that life was perfect on vacation. Our hair looks great, the sunburn never happens, and while I'm at it... the kids behave too! The truth is... that life happens on vacation. This means headaches, sunburns, and a rolled ankle because the hike was a little more intense than we thought it would be. Pack a small bottle of Ibuprofen and/or Tylenol for pain and inflammation based on whichever is your preference at home. Some swear by Aleve, I am partial to my Excedrin for my headaches, either way be sure to pack one of the suggestions above as well as something for the kids. There is nothing worse than a 3-year-old spiking a fever and no liquid medication in sight. Chewable are great for travel! Fun Fact: The best treatment for sunburn is actually NSAIDs and hydration (and avoidance of further sun exposure). Aloe is comforting but won't help as much.
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3. Be prepared for emergencies. Unplanned allergic reactions are one of the emergencies, that I as a mother and doctor, I worry about most. We luckily do not have any known major allergies in our family, so I do not travel with an epi-pen. I do though travel with other medications for allergic reactions. I pack Benadryl, Pepcid, and Zyrtec. Most people know that Benadryl is a histamine blocker. What they don't now is that it is a H1 Blocker. Pepcid is an H2 Blocker. Combining Benadryl and Pepcid together works better to stop an allergic reaction. Zyrtec is also and antihistamine; it can be taken alone for seasonal allergies or with Benadryl and Pepcid for a more serious rash like hives or any non-emergent allergic reactions. For Airway difficulties, oral swelling or any difficulty breathing call an ambulance Immediately! Topical Benadryl is also great to pack if traveling anywhere the kids may get bug bites.
4. Plane rides, boat rides, amusement parks. While I like them all, some more than others, the truth is I cannot tolerate them all as well as I could before I had kids. I don't know what childbirth did to me or if the truth is that I'm just getting older, but motion sickness is no joke. It is no fun when everyone else is getting to enjoy the snorkel adventure and Mom is in the Catamaran sick. Meclizine is my go-to treatment/prevention for motion sickness. Not only is Meclizine the recommended treatment for Vertigo, but it is also what NASA uses for space sickness. You do not even need a prescription for this medication as it is available over the counter as Bonine. If Sea Sickness is a severe problem for you, consider asking your doctor for a prescription for a Scopolamine Patch. I do always travel with Zofran ODT, this is a medication for nausea and vomiting. It is prescription only, but most physicians do not mind writing a prescription for people that are traveling. Ask your Primary Care physician for a prescription if you think this would be good for you and your family.
Read More about how NASA Uses Meclizine for Space Sickness
5. Protecting sleep. After years of swing shifts, a year as a nocturnist and still typically working one weekend of nights a month, my family will tell you I am very protective of my sleep. We have already mentioned packing Benadryl, which can do double duty for some people as a sleep aid. I am also a big fan of melatonin and staying on a sleep schedule when able. Nothing can mess with an internal sleep schedule as much as travel. Depending on how much you want to pack, Melatonin and Benadryl can be enough to ensure sleep, but I personally prefer Unisom (doxylamine). Be careful NOT to buy the liquid gels. They are Diphenhydramine and essentially just Benadryl marketed as a sleep aid.
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6. Be prepared for someone to get sick. Even before COVID it was inevitable that everyone felt fine when we left and after a flight or a day or 2 one kid or the other is sniffling and sharing. A small bag should be packed with cough drops, and any OTC
meds you would regularly want if you were sick with a cold or the flu. Personally, I feel nothing beats a Sinus rinse (mixed with bottled water especially outside the USA and Canada) and Sudafed. Not the Over-the-counter stuff! They put the good stuff behind the pharmacy counter years ago. Take some time, and your license and get actual Pseudoephedrine. Fun fact: the PE stuff is actually meant to be topical, but they are able to sell it in pill form OTC as a replacement for what actually works. If you personally like Dayquil, that will work too so pack that, just be ready in case anyone gets sick.
7. GI Issues. Everyone worries about the dreaded Travelers diarrhea. There are different recommendations depending on what part of the world you are traveling in. I will be honest and say that I don't travel with Pepto Bismol (Though I suspect my husband often does ;) ) There are physicians that recommend taking one tablet with each meal while traveling to prevent diarrhea. Pepto Bismol can have side effects of significant constipation as well and it should be noted that regular Pepto Bismol has aspirin in it and should NOT be given to kids. There is a children's version that does not contain aspirin available at most pharmacies. Anyone with a history of GI bleeds or taking blood thinner medications should also take caution. If this is you, speak to your doctor before taking Pepto Bismol. Another option for travel is you can wait and only take Pepto when and if you start to develop symptoms. Other recommendations are to take Acidophilus probiotics with every meal to prevent GI issues, and this is the best recommendation in my opinion. I also recommend traveling with packets of MiraLAX. The packets are easy to transport, and mix with anything, unfortunately constipation can ruin a trip just as much as diarrhea.
8. Personalized Medicine. What health issues make you you and your family yours? ..... Don't forget any inhalers, migraine treatments, or other emergency treatments you may need fore specific chronic issues. Do you get kidney stones? Asthma attacks? Bee stings? Pack the needed treatments for those special issues in your personal bag. Whatever my family needs, to prepare for our special conditions, I always make sure, to have those medications on hand in multiples.
9. Our Daughter is 9. Every bump scrape and bruise needs an adhesive bandage. It no longer needs to be princess printed but you better still have one! We have had various versions of a Boo-Boo Kit, but at a minimum I always have a few adhesive bandages on hand in several sizes and a tube of bacitracin packed in our day bag.
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10. Trauma. I would be remiss if I did not mention that I felt the need to pack more than a small first aid kit. My husband and I are Strong proponents of the Stop the Bleed program. This initiative proposes that everyone should be an immediate responder and know what to do in a life-threatening bleeding emergency. It does not take much space to carry 1-2 tourniquets and a pressure bandage like the Israeli bandage or 4-inch roller gauze, elastic bandage wrap and a 5x9 gauze pad. The unfortunate truth is that bad things are happening every day, and being prepared is best thing you can do. Check out everydayresponder.com for advanced first aid supplies. EDR custom builds first aid and medical kits for customers unique needs. They also have several standard kits to choose from. Email the Every Day and let them know we sent you to receive a small discount on your purchases.
Traveling can be exciting, fun, and adventurous. It can also be anxiety racking, exhausting, and tedious. Being prepared can help you deal with things as they come and be prepared to have the best vacation possible.
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Alaina Hunt DO, FACEP
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