Are you looking for the best medicine for travelling to ease your symptoms if you fall ill? This post highlights which over-the-counter medicine to pack for a trip. It also includes a downloadable checklist to ensure you don’t forget anything!
So you have booked your dream holiday, have taken out travel insurance, bought new outfits, and are ready to escape everyday life to the far shores of an exotic destination.
You are looking forward to sipping cocktails by the pool, trying local dishes, and venturing out on guided tours, but have you thought about what travel medication to pack?
Sadly, visiting foreign climates often ends in upset stomachs, sunburn, bites, and even sprains and breakages.
The reality of trying to buy over-the-counter medication in a country with a language barrier is a problem. And if you are allergic to certain ingredients found in medication, it can be a futile task trying to explain your situation.
With this in mind, I have listed the travel medications I use. I am not a pharmacist or a doctor, and while these are my go-to over-the-counter medications, they may not necessarily suit you.
If you have any doubt about what medications are right for you, especially if you take other prescribed medications, you must consult your own doctor. Over-the-counter medication should not be used in place of prescribed medicine unless directed to do so by a medic.
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Travel medicine kit list
Ibuprofen for muscular pain, fever, dental pain and period pains.
Paracetamol for headaches, rheumatic aches and relief of cold symptoms.
Allergy tablets, i.e. Piriteze or Piriton containing chlorpheniramine or cetirizine hydrochloride.
Throat lozenges, i.e. Strepsils or Jakemans, the latter are my absolute go-to for a sore throat.
Indigestion Tablets, i.e. Rennie or Gaviscon, to settle your stomach after spicy foods or too much alcohol.
Diarrhoea tablets, i.e. loperamide hydrochloride.
Oral rehydration sachets, i.e. Dioralyte for after a bout of diarrhoea.
Senna tablets, i.e. to naturally unblock you if you are constipated.
Hydrocortisone cream 1% to deal with bites and skin allergies.
Antibiotic cream, i.e. Savlon, for scratches and pimples.
Arnica cream – a natural first-aid remedy for bruises.
Ibugel anti-inflammatory gel for aches and pains.
Cold sore cream, i.e. Zovirax containing aciclovir.
Anti-sickness tablets, i.e. hyoscine hydrobromide, to settle you if you get seasick or feel queasy on a long car journey.
Eye drops, i.e. Optrex, to refresh tired eyes while travelling.
For severe infections during travel, see a local doctor and follow up with your doctor when you get home.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD YOUR OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION CHECKLIST
You may also like to purchase a travel first aid kit for your holiday.
If you need to find out what travel vaccinations you need for the country you are visiting, you can check it out on the Fit for Travel website.
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Looking for more helpful travel tips? Please read my post on Essential Travel Items