Travelling with medication: how to pack, carry and carry it legally

Most people pack medication last, in a hurry, in whatever bag is nearest. Then a bag goes missing, a trip runs three days longer than planned, or a border officer asks what a box of tablets is for, and a small thing becomes a real problem.

Medication is the one item you cannot buy again at the other end with any certainty. A little planning a few weeks before you leave removes almost all of the risk.

Start with the rules of where you are going

The first thing to know is that rules differ a great deal between countries. A medicine that is sold over the counter at home can need a prescription elsewhere, and some are controlled or not allowed at all, including a few that are common and unremarkable in other places. Painkillers, sleep aids, ADHD medication, strong cough remedies and anything containing codeine or similar ingredients are the usual ones to check.

Do not rely on a travel blog, a forum or a friend who went last year, including this article. Rules change, and they apply to you, not to them. Check three places:

• The official government website of the country you are visiting, usually the customs or health ministry pages.
• The embassy or consulate of that country in your own country, which can often answer by email.
• Your own government's travel advice pages, which tend to list medicines that cause trouble.

If you are changing planes in a third country, check that one too. Rules can apply in transit as well as at your destination.

See your doctor or pharmacist early

Book the appointment four to six weeks ahead if you can. Tell your doctor where you are going, for how long and what you will be doing. Ask:

• Can I get enough to cover the whole trip, plus a few spare days?
• Is this medicine allowed where I am going, and should I carry a letter?
• Does my timing need to change across time zones, and how?
• Will the climate, altitude or heat affect how it works or how I should store it?
• Should I be carrying anything extra, such as an emergency dose or a backup device?

Insurers and pharmacies can also be strict about early refills. Raising the question early gives them time to sort it out.

Carry what you need, in the right bag

The golden rule is simple: keep your medication with you, in your hand luggage, never only in the hold. Checked bags are the ones that get delayed or lost, and you will want your medicine on the plane, not in a baggage hall on another continent.

Split it sensibly. Carry what you need for the whole trip in your cabin bag. If you are travelling with someone, put a few days' supply in their bag as well, so one lost bag does not leave you with nothing. Do not put everything in a single place.

Keep each medicine:

• In its original packaging, with the pharmacy label showing your name, the medicine and the dose.
• Together in one clear, easy-to-open pouch that you can hand over at a security check without unpacking everything.
• Away from heat. A bag left in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill can ruin some medicines, and others need to stay cold.

If a medicine needs refrigeration, ask your pharmacist how to keep it cool for the length of your journey, and whether the hotel or apartment will have a fridge you can use. Needles, injectors and similar devices usually need a letter from a doctor, so ask about that specifically.

Bring the paperwork

For anything prescription-only, or anything you would not want to explain at a border, bring:

• A letter from your doctor on headed paper that names you, the medicine by its generic name as well as the brand, the dose and why you take it.
• A copy of the prescription.
• The name of the active ingredient, since brand names change from one country to another.

Keep the letter with the medicine and a photo of it on your phone. Some countries ask for the letter to be signed or translated, which is another reason to read the official rules first. If you are unsure, ask the embassy.

Think about the long way round

Things go wrong on trips. Plan for a delay of a few days, not a few hours.

• Carry a couple of extra days of everything that matters.
• Know the generic name of each medicine, so a pharmacist abroad can find an equivalent.
• Keep a short list of what you take, in what dose and at what times, in your phone and on paper.
• If you wear a medical alert bracelet or carry a card, make sure it is in the language of the place you are going, or in English.

If you do need to replace something abroad, a local pharmacist is a good first stop. In many places they can advise, and a local doctor or clinic can write a prescription if needed. Travel insurance often covers a doctor's visit, so keep the receipt and check your policy before you leave.

Time zones and doses

Crossing several time zones makes timing awkward, especially for anything taken at fixed hours. There is no single right answer, which is why it is worth asking your doctor in advance. A common approach is to keep taking it at the clock time of home for the journey itself, then move gradually to local time over a day or two. Write the plan down, with times, and set alarms on your phone in both time zones.

Everyday medicines count too

It is easy to take the prescription seriously and forget the rest. Over the counter medicine is worth packing even if you could buy it on arrival, because the labels, doses and ingredients might not match what you know. A small kit is plenty:

• Pain relief and something for fever
• Antihistamines
• Rehydration salts and something for an upset stomach
• Plasters, antiseptic and a small bandage
• Any motion sickness tablets you use
• Sun cream and insect repellent where they matter

Check the ingredient list of anything you pack against the official rules of the country, in case something common at home is restricted there.

Tell the people you travel with

If you are travelling in a group, tell at least one person what you take, where it is in your bag and what to do in an emergency. It is not a comfortable conversation for everyone, but it matters on a trip where you spend days away from your usual support. Add the medicine to your own packing list so it does not get lost in the rush; our piece on packing a list that knows where you are going covers how to keep a personal bag and a shared one separate.

Before you close the bag

A short check, the night before:

1. Enough for the whole trip plus spare days, all in the cabin bag.
2. Original packaging with labels, in one pouch.
3. Doctor's letter and prescription copy, on paper and on your phone.
4. The official rules read for your destination and any transit stops.
5. Insurance details saved where you can reach them without signal.

Then travel lightly

Once the medicine is sorted, the rest of the packing is easy. If you are heading somewhere with a long list of customs, our Japan travel guide is a good example of a country where it pays to read the official import rules for medicine before you pack. The same habit works anywhere: check the official source, ask your doctor, and carry it with you.