What should you do if you forget your medication on vacation?

Key takeaways

• If you forget your medication on vacation, you may contact a healthcare professional for a prescription transfer to a nearby pharmacy for a short supply. Telehealth services may also assist in this process.
• Always carry a copy of your prescription and a note from a healthcare professional if your medication is a controlled substance, ensuring you have enough medication for your trip. Up to 30 days is generally allowed.
• When traveling abroad, be cautious of counterfeit medications by purchasing only from licensed pharmacies and verifying the ingredients with the pharmacist.

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Overview

Forgetting or losing your medications on a trip or vacation can be scary, but there is no need to panic. There are many different ways that you can access a supply of your medications to last you for the rest of your trip.

A pharmacist can often provide a short supply of medications to last you until you get home. You may also be able to access online care services to get a prescription.

Use your travel insurance

Going on vacation can be stressful, and medications can be just one of the many important things you have to remember. One important step is to make sure you purchase travel health insurance before going on a trip. This can help you access a new and short supply of medication if you lose or forget yours.

Some travel insurance providers will allow you to contact your insurance provider directly and receive comprehensive help to access your medication. Others may also cover any out-of-pocket expenses you incur from accessing your medication if you are abroad.

This includes contacting a doctor and advising you on your next steps.

Contact a doctor for replacements

If you don’t have travel insurance, there’s no need to panic. There are other ways to access your prescription medications. This is where online care services are helpful, as they allow you to contact a healthcare professional and receive prescription transfers easily.

The first step you take is to contact a primary healthcare professional. Depending on the type of medication you need access to, they can forward your prescription to a nearby pharmacy.

The pharmacy will then likely give you a short supply of your medication to see you through until you return home. The types of medication you will be able to access and what you will need to access it will depend on where you are traveling.

For example, if traveling to a country within the European Union, you will need the following information on your prescription to access medication from a pharmacy:

• your surname and first name
• your date of birth
• the date of issue of the prescription
• details of the prescribing doctor, including their full name, qualifications, contact details, address, and signature
• the generic name of the medication
• the format of medication, such as oral tablet
• the strength of the medication
• the dosage

It may be helpful to find out what information you require on your prescription before speaking with a doctor.

How does online care work?

Online care, also known as telehealth, refers to sites where you can access healthcare services online, without the need to make an in-person appointment. This can be more convenient for you when you’re traveling.

Optum Perks provides an online care service where you can get prescriptions for certain medications from an online doctor.

A consultation with one of their U.S.-licensed healthcare professionals costs $29, and you can receive a diagnosis in as little as 15 minutes. If you receive a prescription, you can get your medication that same day.

Optum Perks’ online doctors are board certified in all 50 U.S. states, so you can access them while traveling within the U.S.

The process is straightforward. First, you’ll fill out an online questionnaire to find out if you’re eligible for a prescription or refill. This should take around 10 minutes. Then, a healthcare professional will review your questionnaire online. You may receive a treatment plan in as little as 15 minutes.

Once you have your prescription, you can pick it up from any pharmacy. It’s important to note that not every condition and medication is available via online care. For example, controlled substances are usually not covered by this service.

Visit a local pharmacy

If you are on vacation within the United States, receiving replacements for your lost or forgotten medications should be simple.

Once you identify your nearest pharmacy, you can contact your pharmacy at home and ask them to transfer your prescription.

You will then have to inform the pharmacy near you that they should expect a prescription transfer.

On vacation abroad

Depending on where you are going on vacation, you may not need a prescription for certain medications that usually require one in the United States. This is common in Mexico, for example.

But, if you do decide to buy replacements for your lost medication without a prescription, it’s important to be aware of the risks.

Some countries have problems with counterfeit medications. These are medications that do not meet quality control guidelines.

The effects of counterfeit medications can be as serious as they contain toxic ingredients that cause serious harm and may not be effective.

To avoid buying counterfeit medications, you can take the following steps:

• Only buy from licensed pharmacies that can provide a receipt.
• Ask the pharmacist to check if the ingredients within the medication match those of your current medication.
• Avoid low quality packaging.

What to remember when traveling with medication

When going on vacation, it is essential that you take enough medications to last the duration of your trip.

Most countries allow up to 30 days’ worth of medications with you. If it is a prescription medication, you will need to take a copy of the prescription with you. If your medication is a controlled substance, such as insulin, you will need to bring a note from a healthcare professional.

Speak with a healthcare professional beforehand. They will help you understand how to safely travel with your medication, as some may need refrigeration to remain effective.

Common examples of medications that need refrigeration include:

• certain immunosuppressive drugs, such as adalimumab (Humira)
• diabetes medication, such as insulin aspart (Novolog)
• reconstituted antibiotics, such as amoxicillin (Amoxil)

If traveling on a plane, packing your medications in your hand luggage is a good idea. This will reduce the risk of losing them if your luggage gets lost or misplaced. It is also important to bring your medications in their original packaging with the prescribing information, such as the dosage and generic name.

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) can be a great tool for finding in-depth information on controlled substances and individual countries’ regulations.

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Summary

If you forget your medication while on vacation, you can take several steps to avoid missing any doses.

These include contacting a healthcare professional back home, contacting your travel health insurance company, and finding a nearby pharmacy. Depending on the medication you need, you may need to ask a healthcare professional to send your prescription to a nearby pharmacy for you to collect.

When traveling with medications, it is essential to adhere to the regulations of the country you are traveling to, such as keeping a copy of your prescription with you.

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