Are you heading to an exotic land for a travel adventure? Or are you spending a week at a hot and sandy beach?
Regardless of your destination or how adventurous you plan on getting, you should always bring a small emergency kit with you.
We hope for the best, but emergencies still exist.
Imagine you are relaxing, looking at a nice view, with a drink in your hand, when suddenly, you feel a bad stomach ache. The exotic food you had yesterday wasn’t so friendly to your stomach.
Thankfully, you packed a lifesaver meds kit. You take an antacid, and in a couple of hours, you are ready for your next excursion.
In this article, Uptown Pharmacy will share essentials they recommend travelers take on their trips. These medications and pharmacy supplies can avoid a crisis, save the day, and ensure you enjoy a smooth, fun trip.
Medication Basics You Should Pack for a Trip
For every trip, regardless of how far you go or for how long, you should pack the medications you are most likely to use.
That, of course, includes any prescription medication or drugs and supplements you usually take.
If you don’t typically take daily medications, you might not think you’ll need medicine on vacation. But it is still wise to pack a few essentials. It will take away the stress of finding a drugstore in a place you don’t know very well.
This becomes more crucial if you plan to go to the mountains or a remote location without quick access to a pharmacy.
A simple headache, an annoying blister, or nausea can ruin your day. To prevent that, you can pack a small and practical medication kit.
If you are only taking 6 medications, make the following ones:
- Painkillers, such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen
- Antiseptics
- Stomach medicine of choice, such as antacids
- Electrolytes
- Antiallergic
- Cough and cold medicine
Those meds cover most basic ailments, from headaches to fall or spring allergies.
Medication for Motion Sickness and Stomach Aches
You may not have had stomach upset or motion sickness before, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Do you have a long car or train trip ahead? Or are you traveling by plane or ship? Nothing ruins a journey as motion sickness. Instead of resigning to a trip of nausea and dizziness, bring medicine and regain control of your health:
- Antihistamines, such as Dramamine or Bonine.
The last thing you want to do while on vacation is walk around with a lousy heartburn or stomach ache.
Are you planning on tasting new foods and local treats? During vacations, we tend to overindulge in the local cuisine (and a few too many drinks). Bring some stomach meds with you to prevent feeling sick and continue to enjoy yourself:
- Digestion relief medicine with active ingredients such as loperamide (Imodium) or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate)
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Laxative
- Electrolyte tablets
Children Meds You Can’t Forget
Are you traveling with young kids? Then you better prepare a children’s medicine kit to bring with you.
When taking a trip with babies or toddlers, you must expect the unexpected. A first-aid kit will allow you to solve emergencies quickly. Hopefully, you won’t need to use it, but packing it is essential (and will also bring you peace of mind).
This is our list of kids’ and babies’ travel meds essentials:
- Antiseptics: creams, sprays, or wipes
- Infant pain and fever meds
- Allergy medications
- Topical antibacterial
- Insect repellent
- Calamine lotion
You can ask your pediatrician for other recommendations or a tailor-made list of meds for your kids’ specific needs.
Another Random (But Essential) Pharmacy Supplies
Since you are heading to your local pharmacy to get medications for your trip, don’t forget to pick up other travel first-aid essentials:
- Hand sanitizers
- Disinfectant wipes
- Bandaids and bandages
- Medical adhesive tape
- Small tweezers and scissors
- Fluid and electrolyte tablets
Another travel must-haves you can purchase at the pharmacy:
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Sunscreen (at least +30 SPF)
- Lip balm
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Vitamins
- Eye drops
Ideally, you would tailor those lists to your specific requirements.
Your destination will also determine what you pack in your first-aid kit.
For example, when traveling to warm climates, always bring sun protection and insect repellent. If you plan hiking, remember to bring adhesive bandages and antibacterial ointments. And so on.
Ready to Prepare Your Medicine Travel Kit?
Preparing a medicine and first-aid kit is traveling 101.
Plenty of unexpected things can happen when going on a trip, both positive and not so much. You want to start your trip with peace of mind, knowing you are prepared to face any emergency.
Accidents can try to cloud your day, from a mild headache or a stomach ache to a nasty knee scratch. With the proper meds and supplies kit, you’ll be ready to solve them quickly and continue enjoying your trip!
