What medications to take along when traveling

When traveling, whether its in or out of your own country, it is important to keep yourself protected from anything that may happen to you. For anyone who suffers from even the mildest allergies, a trip to a foreign city without any medication will quickly turn into a chore, so it is important to remember a few things when traveling so that you don’t leave yourself stranded without your trusty medication. Here are a few of the essentials that you should carry with you at all times when traveling away from home.

 

First and foremost, you should avoid packing your medication into your checked luggage wherever you go. Not only does that prevent you from gaining access to it during your flight or bus ride, but you may also end up being stuck in an airport in Sydney with your luggage being sent to Toronto because of a miscommunication between baggage handlers. Keep it in your carry on luggage, or at least make sure you have enough of it on you that you will be able to survive without what you have in your luggage for a while. Better yet, having it on you means that there is less chance of it getting lost, and less of a chance that you’ll have to go through the hassle of getting ti replaced once you arrive at your destination.

 

Don’t forget to pack the aspirin, an antacid (for that unexpectedly spicy meal), antihistamine, and a small first aid kit so that you are always prepared for the unexpected. You may want to consider taking extra medication, just in case your trip is extended unexpectedly for a day or two. Generally you should keep any prescription medication in its original container and it should have your name on it.

 

If you have a history of medical issues, get your doctor to provide you with a letter that includes a brief medical history describing your medical condition and listing your prescriptions. Depending on the type of medication you are taking, if you are traveling overseas, you might want to check with that country’s embassy to make sure that your medication is not considered an illegal narcotic. A letter from a doctor along with your prescription will also go a long way towards helping you replace it should it get lost, and will provide some necessary information to medical professionals should anything serious happen to you on your trip.