Medications to stock up on before traveling

Key takeaways

• Stocking up on over-the-counter (OTC) medications before you travel can help you manage minor health issues without navigating unfamiliar pharmacies. Consider packing pain relievers, allergy medications, motion sickness relief, digestive aids, and sun protection.
• If you take prescription medications for chronic conditions, make sure you have enough to last your entire trip, plus 3 to 7 extra days. You may need to request a vacation override from your insurer or pay out of pocket for additional supplies.
• Depending on your destination, talk with a healthcare professional about prescription options like antimalarial medications or sleep aids for jet lag. Always check if your medications are legal in your destination country before you travel.

Overview

Preparing for travel — whether in the U.S. or internationally —involves more than booking flights and hotels. Packing the right medications can help prevent and manage health issues while abroad.

It can be beneficial to stock up on common OTC drugs before you go, and you should also make sure you have enough of your prescription medications to last through your trip. Here are some of the medications to remember when you’re planning for travel.

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OTC drugs to remember

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are the ones that you can purchase at a pharmacy without the need for a prescription from a doctor, typically treating minor ailments. Stocking up on them before you go can reduce the need to navigate a pharmacy in an unfamiliar place, potentially in an unfamiliar language.

Some basic OTC meds for your travel kit may include:

• Pain and fever meds: Drugs like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used to treat minor pains, fevers, or headaches.
• Allergy medications: It may be a good idea to stock up on allergy meds before you travel if you’re going somewhere with a high pollen count, for example. Antihistamines are typically the first choice for allergies, and OTC options include cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), and loratadine (Claritin).
• Motion sickness relief: If you experience motion sickness when traveling, you might want to carry a supply of scopolamine or meclizine (Antivert).
• Digestive medications: Traveler’s stomach is a common ailment often caused by consuming contaminated foods or drinks when traveling. Medications like loperamide (Immodium) can help.
• Sun protection: Make sure to pack sunscreen and aloe vera to soothe any sunburns.
• Insect protection: Consider stocking up on insect repellents if you’re going to be spending a lot of time outdoors.

You can also consider packing a travel health kit with common first aid items like bandages and antiseptic wipes in case of injuries.

Medical perspective

How do I choose which OTC medications to pack?

“A pharmacist can help you choose OTC travel medications based on where you’re going, how long you’ll be away, your health history, and the prescriptions you already take. They can also help you avoid duplicate ingredients, side effects, and drug interactions before you leave.”

— Stanley Saji, PharmD, RPh, MBA

Note: Quotes represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Stocking up on your prescriptions

Depending on your health history and your travel destination, you can discuss prescription medications to pack in your travel kit with a doctor. Some options to consider include:

• Malaria prevention medications: If you’re traveling to an area where you may be at risk of malaria, your doctor might prescribe preventive antimalarial medications. You might start taking these before your trip and continue taking them while you travel. Examples of these include atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone) and chloroquine.
• Sleep medications: If you’re likely to experience jet lag or sleep problems on your travels, a doctor might prescribe a short-term sleep aid like zolpidem (Ambien).
• Chronic condition medications: If you regularly take prescription medications to manage a chronic condition, make sure you have enough of your meds to last you for the duration of the trip, plus 3 to 7 extra in case of delays or emergencies.

How to get prescription refills before a trip

You can generally only access a set amount of a prescription drug at any one time, especially if you’re prescribed a controlled substance like opioids. This limit will vary by state, insurer, and the medication you’re prescribed.

A 30-day supply is common, although some states and insurers now allow 90-day supplies of medications, particularly those for chronic health conditions like high blood pressure.

If you’ll be traveling for longer than this, you can contact your insurer to request a vacation override. This is where your insurer will allow you to access additional amounts of your medication if needed, as long as you provide documentation of your trip dates and you have enough prescription refills to cover the travel period.

You can also pay out of pocket for your medications, meaning you won’t need insurance approval. However, you will still need to make sure you have enough prescription refills available.

A note on safety

Some medications legal in the U.S. may be restricted or prohibited elsewhere. Always check regulations before you travel. Contact your destination country’s embassy for up-to-date rules.

Be aware of the risk of counterfeit drugs — use reputable pharmacies and avoid purchasing from street markets.

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Online care for a travel medication kit

Preparing for a trip can be chaotic, and there are lots of things to remember. Online care services may make it easier to stock up on your medications before you go.

Optum Perks Online Care, for example, offers a travel health kit. You can submit an online form answering some questions about your health history, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan. There are also services for malaria prevention and motion sickness.

Summary

Whether you’re traveling within the US or further afield, making sure you have a stocked health kit before you go can help you stay well while you travel. OTC medications and first aid essentials can help with minor issues, and you can also speak with your doctor about your prescription needs.

Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.