Travelling with medication: tips for a worry-free journey

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the summer holiday season is almost upon us once again!

It’s a great time of year to plan a holiday and explore new horizons. Whether you are off to an exotic destination or returning to familiar territories, planning a holiday is an exciting time. The anticipation of seeing loved ones you haven’t seen for a while, the thrill of booking adventures in places you’ve dreamed of visiting, the anticipation of knowing you’ll be escaping the daily routine for a while… making holiday plans certainly puts a sparkle in your smile.

But before all the fun and excitement of travelling can begin, considerations need to be made for what to do with your essential medicines. It isn’t always as easy as popping them in your bag and jetting off – there is some planning involved.

Here are a few tips to get you started when it comes to packing medications:

1. Should I pack my medication in my checked baggage?

Packing medication in checked baggage is not recommended. Depending on what airline you’re travelling with, you may need to check it in, but you should always aim to pack all your essential medications in your carry-on luggage.

If your airline were to lose your luggage, how would you take your medication then? Furthermore, delays in luggage arrivals, especially on multi-flight itineraries, can disrupt your medication schedules.

Even upon landing, the customs queues might be far lengthier than you anticipate, so you may not be able to access your bag and your medication when you need to, even after you have landed. This is particularly significant when you have medications requiring specific administration times and medications that are temperature sensitive. Therefore, by having your medication in your carry-on luggage you can have peace of mind that you’ll always be prepared.

2. Do I need a letter from my doctor when travelling with prescription medication?

It’s a good idea to have a letter from your doctor detailing your medications and the dose. This way you do not run into any issues with the visiting countries regulations. If you were not using a medication management system like My Aspect Health and run out of your medications, presenting the letter from the doctor can assist you in getting your required medications or suitable alternatives.

3. What is the best way to keep my medication organised when travelling?

Not only do pill bottles and medication packets take up valuable space in your luggage, but it can also be inconvenient to sort out your medication when you’re on the go.

Whether you’re travelling near or far, My Aspect Health’s personalised medication packing and delivery service is a convenient solution to travelling with your medication. This free service dispenses and packages your medications and vitamins together in clearly labelled tear-off-and-take-anywhere daily packs, making them incredibly travel-friendly. All you have to do is take the exact number of sachets you need for the time you are away, and you’re good to go!

Just be sure you take into consideration the time difference at your destination compared to home so that you are taking the right medications at the right times.

4. How many prescription pills can I travel with?

If you are travelling for quite a while, check with your travel agent or airline about the restrictions to the amount of medication you can carry in the countries you are visiting, as each country may have different rules.

You can also check with the friendly team at My Aspect Health who specialise in travel medication or refer to the Smart Traveller website for information about travelling to foreign countries with prescription medication.

To give you peace of mind travelling with medications, you can check any travel health advice with your MAH pharmacist and any other required products for travel depending on your itinerary.

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.