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With most medications that you take every day, it’s important not to miss any doses, and often it’s also important to take them at the right time. The same applies when travelling.
If you have heart or other chronic health problems and you’re going on a long trip, visit your doctor beforehand to discuss whether you need to make any adjustments to your medication during the trip.
If you take diuretic (fluid) tablets for your heart, blood pressure or another reason and you‘re going on a long journey, don’t be tempted to skip any tablets. Skipping them may be tempting if you’re not sure where the next toilet stop will be, but it could be very unwise.
If travelling across time zones, don’t forget to adjust your medication schedule accordingly. If you’re not sure how to do that, discuss it with your doctor before you leave. If travelling with a friend or relative, tell them when you should take your medicines, and ask them to remind you to take them at those times.
Keep your medicines in your hand luggage in case your suitcases get lost, and think about keeping a spare supply in your suitcases.
Take enough medicines and prescriptions to last the trip. If going for a long or overseas trip, ask your doctor for a print-out or letter stating both the drug names and brand names of all the medicines you take, their dosages, and why you need them. The letter will make it easier for another doctor to prescribe the right medicines if needed.
In addition, if travelling overseas with a large quantity of medicines, ask your doctor to state in the letter why you need such a large quantity, and that they are for your personal use. Keep the letter in your hand luggage, and leave the medicines in their original packaging wherever possible.
If buying any medicines overseas, check their ingredients and dosages carefully. Medicines with the same or similar brand names as the ones you’re used to taking may have quite different ingredients and dosages in other countries. Also, make sure you buy them from a reliable source.
If you started any new medicines while overseas, tell your doctor about them when you return to minimise the possibility of interactions.
MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.
Date published: 2005-09-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
