Things to remember when traveling with prescription medicine

Holidays are supposed to be about breaking away from our regular lives. Our work, social lives and personal situation are all meant to be left behind when we step off the plane or bus, but there are some things, like the prescription and chronic medication we take, that cannot be left behind.

 

1. Check the forms of medications you can take along with you. Remember, liquids in certain quantities may be prohibited on airplanes. Most pharmacies you go to will pour liquid medication into smaller bottles for travel if you request it.

 

2. Make a list of the generic drug names so that if you run out of a prescribed medication abroad, you may be able to get an emergency refill, but the brand names may be different and unfamiliar in the country you're traveling in. Physicians or pharmacists will more likely know the generic name.

 

3. Before you leave, find out what restrictions there are on these medications in the countries you will be visiting. Your doctor can give you resources, and you can also check the websites of embassies or other diplomatic agencies the country has in your home country. Before you leave, pack the medications in a clear plastic bag and always keep them with a prescription written by your doctor.

 

4. Look for keywords and phrases that describe your condition and your medications in the local languages, so that if something should happen to you, you will be able to at least basically communicate what it is that you will need. While keeping your prescription with you will help if you are able to get to a hospital, you may get into a situation where you have non-english speaking natives assisting you while you wait for attention from doctors or paramedics.

 

5. Always keep your medication in its original container and make sure it is correctly labelled, along with your name and prescribing doctor. This not only helps you keep track of what you’re doing with it, but it will allow customs officials inspecting your luggage to sort through it faster, as they will be able to discern what is safe to take along much easier, without having to hold you up.