joellebohringerAfter having been to 75 countries, many of which come with a high prevalence of diarrhea or travellers illness, I have been sick while travelling more times than I can count!
From having mononucleosis in Armenia to a malaria scare in India, I’ve been through about every sickness scare possible. From this, I’ve learned the importance of travelling with a very well-stocked first aid kit with essential medicines to help conquer any illness you might encounter on the road.
By bringing a small first aid kit with essential items, you can help treat yourself in instances of minor illnesses, which prevents the major headache of trying to find a doctor and navigate the health care system in another county.
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Medications For the Perfect Travel First Aid Kit
Bandaids
Adhesive bandages are the most simple and essential item to bring with you every time that you travel. From small cuts to pesky blisters from walking the streets of a new city, bandaids are there for you.
I’ve tried so many types of bandages, but I’ve found that the Bandaid Flexible Fabric bandages work better than anything else.
Triple Antibiotic Lotion
I bring small packets of triple antibiotic lotion with me when travelling for sanitizing any small cuts.
Anti-Diarrhea Meds
Diarrhea is the most common illness faced by travellers around the world. The first line of treatment for diarrhea is anti-diarrheal medications. I reccomend Imodium tablets, as they travel well and are considered a standard diarrhea treatment that works well.
Anti Stomach Cramp Medication
In addition to actual diarrhea, the most debilitating symptom of traveler’s diarrhea is painful stomach cramps. I typically bring the medication buscopan (hyoscine butylbromide), with me, as this medication works very well to relieve stomach cramps.
This medication is not available in the United States, but it is widely available throughout the rest of the world (including Europe) without a prescription. You can get it at any pharmacist. If you are in the United States, I reccomend asking your doctor or pharmacist for an alternative medication for stomach cramps or picking up some on your travel.
Broad Spectrum Antibiotic
This may be controversial, but I always travel with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Ciprofloxacin is my top choice, as it is the prefered antibiotic for both severe travellers diarrhea and urinary tract infections.
If you are travelling to less developed countries, most doctors will prescribe you ciprofloxacin in advance to use in the case of severe diarrhea or urinary tract infections that do not improve with over the counter medications. You can also purchase ciprofloxacin from many less-developed countries over the counter.
With all antibiotics, use them sparingly, and save them for cases in which diarrhea will not improve with other over the counter medications. When in doubt, you can also stop and ask in a local pharmacy. Pharmacists in other countries are often highly trained to recognize symptoms and reccomend medication.
Cold Medicine
Common colds happen everywhere, and you are more susceptible to them when you are stressed, tired, or in an new environment, which can often happen while travelling. I always bring cold and flu pills with me to relieve any potential cold or flu symptoms that I may encounter.
Cough Drops
Cough drops can help relieve any sore throat pain that you may encounter while travelling. I like Strepsils, as they come in sealed medication blister packets, which makes it easier for packing light.
Pain Killers
Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, or other over the counter pain killer is very useful for treating headaches, fever, or aches that you may encounter on your travels. Bring your prefered over the counter pain killer with you in your travel first aid kit. I reccomend looking for pills that come in pre-sealed blister packets or small packets to save packing space.
Motion Sickness Medication
Whether you are on bumpy roads or a thrilling boat ride in the tropics, motion sickness can happen to almost anyone while travelling. I always bring a small pack of motion sickness medicine while travelling.
Yeast Infection Medication
If you are a woman and have experienced yeast infections before, it can be very helpful to travel with yeast infection medication. Travelling, especially in wet climates, often increases your chances of developing a yeast infection, and being prepared in advance can help prevent you from suffering from an uncomfortable situation while travelling. Additionally, certain travel medications, especially those taken for malaria, often make women much more prone to yeast infections.
If you are prone to yeast infections, I reccomend talking to your doctor ahead of time to bring a small amount of yeast infection medication with you. I tend to prefer pills, as they take up very little space and are effective.
Sterile Gloves
Bringing a pair of medical gloves is a good addition to any first aid kit, as they can help prevent cross contamination and infection in incidents that involve blood.
Mask
After the COVID-19 pandemic, we all became well-acquainted with using medical masks to prevent illness. While we no longer need to use them for daily use, I still bring one or two of them with me when travelling. They are very useful when you are feeling very sick, or when you are stuck on transport near others who appear very ill.
A pouch to pack it all in!
I bring all of my medications in a small pouch. Try to bring all medications that come in small blister packs, and you can bring one sheet of each type of medication. When brought this way, it actually takes up very little space and can be packed in even the smallest bag.
Other medications to consider in your travel first aid kit
In addition to a basic first aid kit, make sure that you check with your doctor before travelling to less-developed countries that have higher risks of illnesses that have largely been eradicated in more developed countries. It is essential that you ensure that you are up to date on all routine vaccines, such as tetanus or MMR. Some destinations may require additional vaccines for diseases that are not largely treated in more developed countries, such as typhoid or yellow fever. The CDC’s traveller portal gives a detailed overview of recommended vaccines for each country.
If you are travelling to a country with high rates of malaria, it is also highly recommended that you get a prescription for malaria prevention pills. Malaria is no joke, and it can ruin your plans and your health not only during your trip but in your future.
Overall, if you are travelling to less developed countries in parts of Africa, the Middle East, Southern Asia, or Latin America, it is highly recommended that you book an appointment with a travel doctor. Some countries even require certain vaccines that are not
Can I travel with all of these medications?
While some of the medications listed above require a prescription to be bought in certain countries, none are considered controlled medication. Be sure to bring the medicine in its original packaging so that border officers know what the medication is. I always bring my medicine in sealed medicine blister packs, so that the name of the medication is easily visible on the backside. This is often much safer than bringing medicine in bottles, as it is clear exactly what the medicine is. I’ve been at some borders where officers tested medications in loose pill bottles. On the other hand, I’ve always had good luck with sealed medicine blister packs.
If you are travelling with other prescribed medications, it is really important that you check the legality of the medicines before travelling. Any medicine that has the potential to be abused may be considered illegal in some countries. Some examples of these medications are ADHD, pain, or anti-anxiety medications. The official US embassy page of your destination can provide guidance on which drugs are legal.
For all prescription medications (largely with the exception of small amounts of antibiotics), try to bring a copy of your prescription from your doctor when you are travelling.
The most important part of any travel first aid kit – Travel Insurance
Even with all of the medications in the world, it is still essential to get travel health insurance. Serious injuries or medical emergencies that require a doctor can cost a fortune, while travel health insurance can be purchased for less than a few cups of coffee.
It is important to get travel insurance before any trip. I personally use and recommend EKTA travel insurance, as it allows me to purchase both short-term and long-term travel insurance plans, and it allows me to customize my plan based on what activities I will be doing.
Accessing medication in other countries
If you have a minor illness, most pharmacies can be very helpful in getting you the medications you need to feel better. Pharmacists in most countries are trained to help provide medication recommendations. Use Google Translate if needed, and most pharmacists abroad will be happy to help!
When to go to a doctor
If you have tried medication or have a serious illness, it is important to see a doctor. The US embassy in each country has a list of known, English speaking doctors that you can consult with. These doctors are used to foreigners, and they can help treat you in a pinch. Alternatively, your travel insurance provider may have a list of covered doctors/facilities in your destination country.
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