If you take prescription medication, you shouldn’t just toss it in your suitcase before a trip, especially if you are traveling outside the United States. Your mode of travel, destination, and any layovers along the way can all lead to complications if you travel with prescription medicine, but don't take a few minutes to prepare and plan.
Here is a checklist to follow when traveling with prescription medicine.
If you are traveling outside the U.S., visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Countries have different regulations on the medication they allow. According to Harvard Global Support Service, Adderall, Benadryl, birth control pills, and protein powder are illegal in some countries or require government authorization for use.
The CDC has links to embassies on its website, so check the countries you are visiting or stopping in for a layover to be sure the medicines you need are allowed. If not, you risk having your medicine confiscated – or worse, you could be arrested.
Talk to your doctor a month before your trip. If you are changing time zones, you may need to adjust when you take your medicine to stay on the same schedule. Also, depending on where you are traveling, your doctor may want to prescribe preventative medications, such as anti-malarial drugs.
While you’re meeting or messaging with your doctor, ask for a written copy of your prescription in case you lose your medicine and for a note if you are taking a controlled substance or travel with an Epi-Pen.
Pack your over-the-counter and prescription medicines. Prescription medicines should go in your carry-on bag in their original containers. Be sure that the way your name is printed on the container matches the name on your travel documents.
Count out the number of doses in each box or bottle to ensure you’ll have enough for your trip, plus a few extra days in case your return is delayed.
While packing, consider gathering remedies for annoyances such as headaches, allergies, and stomach or intestinal distress. These can go in your carry-on if there is room.
Declare your prescription medication at customs. If you are bringing medicine to another country, be ready to declare it at customs or at the country’s point of entry. This is where checking in advance to see if the medication you take is allowed, that it’s in its original container, and that the name on the container matches your travel customs can help ensure your trip gets off to a smooth start.
If you are prescribed medications while traveling outside the United States, visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website before you head home for a list of restricted and prohibited items. You will need to declare your medication at customs. Make sure it is in its original container.
If You Become Sick While Traveling
Of course, you can take your medicine exactly as prescribed and still become sick while traveling. If you need assistance to travel after an illness or accident, the team at SentinelMED can help. SentinelMED provides medical escort, evacuation, repatriation, and transport services for patients who need assistance with long-distance travel. In many cases, our medical escorts travel with patients on commercial flights, a cost-effective alternative to air ambulance services. Our medical escorts are trained or experienced in emergency and critical care medicine.
At SentinelMED, we understand the complexity of delivering exceptional care to domestic medical travelers. Please contact us if you’d like to learn more about our services and staff.
