Travelling Soon? Complete Your Pack with These 9 Essential Medications
Having these 9 essential medication in your travel pack can save you from medical emergencies.
Travelling can be a rewarding and exciting experience, but it can also bring unexpected health challenges.
One mistake most people often make that you can avoid is not taking medications along. It's normal to think you can easily access medication when you get to your preferred destination.
But the truth is, you might find it hard to get the exact brand of medication that works for you.
By properly planning and packing your medication needs, you can save yourself from having medical emergencies. You also get to save time that can otherwise disrupt your plans when health challenges occur.
With that being said, read on to learn about 9 essential medicines to add to your pack.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
It’s not uncommon to feel pain in some parts of your body once in a while. This might be due to discomfort experienced while in transit, stress, or other factors.
But with pain relievers in your travelling pack, you can get rid of headaches, muscle aches, joint pain and other types of pains quickly.
And if you also injure yourself anytime, these pain relievers can provide temporary relief until you’re able to seek proper medical attention.
So make sure you have enough pain relief medications for your entire trip, just in case.
Common examples of pain relievers are Ibuprofen (Nurofen) and Paracetamol (Panadol).
Anti-Malaria Medications
Having anti-malaria drugs in your travel kit is vital, especially when you’re going to areas where malaria is common.
Without anti-malaria medications, you risk contracting malaria and experiencing potentially severe symptoms.
Therefore, it’s important to go along with appropriate anti-malaria medication to your destination.
It’s also crucial to take precautionary measures like using mosquito repellent or sleeping under a mosquito net. However, having the medication adds an extra layer of protection that can greatly increase your chances of staying healthy when away.
Common anti-malarial medications include chloroquine and Artemether/ Lumefantrine (Amatem).
Over-the-Counter Sleeping Pills
When you’re in a new environment or stressed from travelling, you might find it hard to get sleep.
But with a sleeping pill in your pack, you’ve got the right weapon against insomnia in your arsenal.
These medications can assist you with jet lag or adjusting to different time zones quickly. Hence, disruptions to your sleep schedule will be almost impossible when you get to your new location.
They can also prevent you from feeling fatigued or having difficulty functioning the next day because of sleeplessness.
However, it’s important you use these pills responsibly and as directed to prevent adverse reactions or complications.
Common examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and Melatonin (hormonal sleep supplement).
Antacids
When in a new environment, you encounter different foods and drinks from the ones you’re used to. It’s easy to get indigestion or heartburn from these unfamiliar foods.
However, with antacids, you can get quick relief from this type of discomfort when they arise. And it allows you to fully enjoy your stay without stomach issues.
These medications are also good for stomach ulcers or reflux (backing up of acid from the stomach through the oesophagus, which can cause pain, burping, and chest pain). Using them results in stomach acid reduction and the risk of having motion sickness or nausea.
Common examples include Tums and Gaviscon.
Laxatives & Stool Softeners
Sometimes, you may find yourself straining because you want to remove faeces from your bowels.
But with laxatives and stool softeners in your travel pack, you can prevent these potentially embarrassing or uncomfortable situations while on the go.
They are useful for preventing constipation and ensuring regular bowel movements. And they can improve your overall digestion or reduce your risk of having digestive issues.
A common example of laxatives is Castor Oil, and for stool softener is Dulcolax.
Antihistamines
A new environment can often trigger unexpected allergies, which can result from changes in foods and environmental factors.
You begin to experience symptoms like sneezing, runny noses, watery eyes, or more serious ones like difficulty breathing and swollen throats.
Without antihistamines, these allergy symptoms can prevent you from enjoying your stay or even put you at great risk.
So it’s vital to have antihistamines in your travel pack to provide you relief from allergies and allergic reactions when they occur.
Common examples include Loratidine (Loratyn) and Levocetrizine (Xyzal).
Anti-diarrheal medications
Imagine searching and running from toilet to toilet every time you’re out of your home. Or simply staying at home to avoid unpleasant experiences when outside because of diarrhoea.
These embarrassing stomach situations can lead to bloating or dehydration, and potentially disrupt your plans or activities.
But when you have anti-diarrheal medication on hand, you can prevent them from happening.
NOTE: It’s important to practice safe food and water consumption to reduce your likelihood of experiencing diarrhoea.
Common examples include loperamide (Imodium) or diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil).
Decongestants & Cough Suppressants
Cold or flu are common occurrences. They often cause chest discomfort and cough.
And since you’re not sure what your new location has in stall for you. It’s best to prepare for a cold or flu, rather than suffer discomfort and inconvenience.
So, to be ready for such situations, get decongestants and cough suppressants to make it easy for you to breathe.
You’ll not only be protecting yourself, but you’ll also prevent others from getting ill as well.
Common examples of decongestants include pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and a common cough suppressant is dextromethorphan (Benylin).
Famasi Essential Medication Plan
Contains vitamins to boost your immune system and protect your body against infections.
Motion/altitude Sickness Medication
Motion or altitude sickness can cause you to experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and headaches. Or, in severe cases, loss of consciousness and difficulty breathing.
These symptoms can hinder your enjoyment of a trip and can become fatal if not properly treated.
Therefore, it’s necessary to prepare for scenarios such as this, especially if you’ve had one or two previous experiences.
Common example is Promethazine
Useful Read: How To Stay on Track with Your Medication Routine
Final Thoughts
While it's clear that planning and packing essential medications can make all the difference in a successful and enjoyable trip.
It's also crucial to consult your care specialist before travelling. This ensures that any specific health needs or potential risks are taken into consideration.
Additionally, it's important to research the legalities and regulations of bringing certain medications into your destination country.
You can also enjoy a FREE consultation with our in-house care specialist to help you pack medications personalised to meet your specific needs.