The necessity to take prescription medication doesn’t have to stop you from traveling and seeing the world. The need to carry specific types of medicine with you at all times can become a factor when setting your itinerary and choosing transportation options, but you can prepare for such events with sufficient research and planning. Here are some of the things you need to remember when traveling while needing prescription medications.
Find Out if the Medication You Need is Legal in Your Destination
If you’ll be sticking with domestic destinations for your holiday, it’s highly likely that the place where you’ll be spending the next few days follows the same laws and guidelines governing the use of your medication at home. You also have every reason to believe that you can easily buy medicine online while you’re still enjoying your vacation.
In case you’re planning to spend your holiday overseas, however, you need to check if it’s legal to bring particular medications on your trip. Some countries have stricter laws than others when it comes to transporting medicine. There are countries that put strict limits on the amount of medication that you can bring with you, for example, while others may impose punishments on tourists who bring any amount of restricted medication.
Check If the Medication Can Be Obtained in Your Destination
If you’re staying at another location for a long time, then there’s a good chance that you’ll have to refill your prescription medication at some point. It can be a challenge to look for prescription medication in a place that you’re not familiar with. To make this process easier, check out which pharmacies have outlets near your home for the holidays and see if they have your prescription medication in stock before you actually need it. It’s also an option to order your medication online and pick it up from the nearest pharmacy branch to your holiday home or have it delivered to your temporary address.
Prepare a Backup Copy of Your Prescription on Your Phone
It’s always a good idea to have a digital copy of your prescription medication with you. It’s easier to get a pdf or image of your prescription these days, especially if you and your doctor communicate through email or messaging apps. Keep a copy of the prescription that you can present to any pharmacist in case you’re running low on meds or you misplace or lose your medications.
Pack Your Medications in a Labelled Container You Can Easily Access
Unless you’re traveling for extended periods of time, there’s a good chance that you’ll only be bringing a small amount of medication with you. Maybe you’ll pack just enough to last you the entire trip or until you can purchase a new bottle or box of your maintenance meds. If you’re transferring your medication to travel-friendly containers, be sure to label each properly so you won’t have to guess which is which while you’re on the road or enjoying a lunch out with your travel buddies. There are plenty of minimalist pill containers that you can label with markers or tape. If it’s safe to do so, you can also group your medication according to the days you need to take them. This way, you’re less likely to forget whether you’ve taken your medications or not.
Set Alarms for When You Need to Take Your Medication
Traveling exposes you to a lot of unfamiliar sights and sounds, and it can be quite easy to forget the time when you’re focused on the new experiences that you are having. Set alarms on your phone or smartwatch to remind yourself that you need to take your medication soon. This will help you avoid missing your medications and meals, especially if you need to eat before taking your meds. Doing so will also help you become more conscious of the passing of time and perhaps even help you make the most of your vacation.
Now, if you’re traveling to a place with a different time zone, make sure to account for the time difference when taking your medication. If there’s more than a 3-hour difference between the time zones, consult with your doctor or pharmacist on how to best navigate this change.
Review How to Dispose of Expired Medication Properly
There might be times when you need to dispose of your unused medication. Perhaps they expired or you were packing a little bit more than what is allowed in the country that you are visiting. You can dispose of these unused medications by dropping them off at pharmacies that have drug take-back programs. In some cases, some medications can also be flushed down the toilet or disposed of in the trash if you think that they’re in danger of being accidentally consumed by pets or children.
Traveling while requiring prescription medication can still be a hassle-free experience. Just remember these tips to make sure that you have easy access to your medications even if you’re far away from home.
