Your Travelling Medicine Kit: 5 Important Items You Should Pack

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A travelling medicine kit is a must to have with while you travel by air, by road or by sea.

That’s because these over-the-counter meds can help save your vacation from nuisance symptoms that threaten to spoil your fun.

Plus, they can be hard to find overseas.

Continue reading to find out which 5 OTC medicines you should pack for your vacation. Don’t leave home without them!

CONTENTS – In this article, you will learn how to create a simple travelling medicine kit, including:

5 Must-Have Medications for Overseas Travel
Antihistamines
Antacids
Antidiarrheals
Laxatives
Pain Relievers
Final Thoughts on Travelling Medicine Kit
Next Steps

5 Must Have Medications for Overseas Travel

When you’re planning for a trip overseas, one of the first things you should do is to make a checklist of the things you need to bring.

Typically, you’d add clothes, extra cash, and important documents to this list.

But have you ever considered including over-the-counter and prescription medications?

It’s a nice thought to be able to enjoy your vacation without worrying about getting sick.

However, there are a lot of factors beyond your control that can make you ill, such as pollution, rough landings, and poorly prepared food.

If you don’t have the right medicine with you, your condition will only get worse and your vacation may not be as enjoyable.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to prepare a travelling medicine kit to avoid common health problems like allergic rhinitis, diarrhea, and excruciating headaches during your trip.

Here’s a list of must-have medications to ensure that you can recover from different ailments when traveling overseas:

1. Antihistamines

If you want to make sure that your allergies won’t flare up during your trip, you’ll need to bring some antihistamines with you.

Antihistamines are made to reduce or block histamines, which are chemicals produced by allergy triggers like pollen, dander, and dust mites.

Histamines also cause your eyes to water, your nose to get stuffy, and your mouth and skin to itch.

Antihistamines stop these allergy symptoms and allow you to feel relief.

Antihistamines come in one of two major classes: histamine-1 (H1) and histamine-2 (H2).

H1 blockers are used to treat allergies and allergic reactions. H2 blockers, on the other hand, treat stomach-related problems caused by too much stomach acid.

Antihistamines also come in several forms, including:

Tablets
Capsules
Nasal sprays
Eye drops
Liquids

Most antihistamines can be bought over the counter, but some variants require a doctor’s prescription.

The best time to take your antihistamine medication will depend on the type you’re taking.

H1 antihistamines are best taken before bed, while H2 blockers are best taken 30 to 90 minutes before eating a meal.

Toss them in your travelling medicine kit so you have them handy overseas.

2. Antacids

Consuming certain types of food and drink can cause irritation, causing you to feel a burning sensation in your chest or stomach.

You might also feel bloated, burp more often, or get a bitter or acidic taste in your mouth after eating a meal.

These signs are indicative of heartburn, acid reflux, or indigestion.

To relieve yourself from these symptoms, you need to take an antacid.

An antacid works by stopping the stomach enzyme called pepsin from creating acid that breaks down food for digestion.

Doing so will reduce the amount of acid in your stomach, alleviating the symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion.

Although antacids don’t eliminate the underlying causes of these stomach issues, they can bring relief.

Antacids come in two forms: liquids and chewable tablets, with liquids providing a faster response.

travelling medicine kit — Travelling Medicine Kit

3. Antidiarrheals

Diarrhea can be caused by a lot of things, from food intolerances to drinking contaminated water.

No matter what triggered it, however, everyone can agree that going through diarrhea is an awful experience.

Signs and symptoms of diarrhea include fever, abdominal cramps, lightheadedness from dehydration, and frequent loose, watery stools.

Vomiting, as well as blood and mucus in the stool, can also occur during a diarrhea attack.

Taking an antidiarrheal can slow or stop diarrhea, but they don’t eliminate the cause.

Nevertheless, the relief you get from taking these medications will help ensure that you’ll experience its symptoms less frequently during your travels.

Antidiarrheal often come in tablets and capsules, but you can also find them in liquid forms.

Most over-the-counter antidiarrheal come with instructions on their packages. Just make sure to read them before taking the medicine.

4. Laxatives

Opposite to diarrhea is constipation.

This occurs when stool hardens and dries, so it moves slowly through the digestive tract.

It also can’t be eliminated easily from the rectum, causing pain and discomfort when trying to defecate.

Sadly, travel constipation is a common condition, thought to be cause by being off your routine and not staying hydrated.

Taking laxatives can help loosen or soften the stool, so it can exit the rectum more easily.

There are several types of laxatives you can get over the counter, but the most common laxative doctors recommend is bulk-forming laxatives.

These types of laxatives increase the water content and bulk of the stool, so it can move quickly through the colon.

5. Pain Relievers

Getting headaches, sore muscles, and other aches and pains can happen during your overseas trip.

So, it’s a good idea to put some pain relief medications in your carry-on.

As their name suggests, pain relievers relieve pain.

There are two types of pain relief medications you can get over the counter: acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Both target pain caused by muscle aches and stiffness, but only NSAIDs can reduce inflammatory pain.

Having pain relievers in your travelling medicine kit is always a good idea.

Final Thoughts on Travelling Medicine Kit

Traveling overseas is an excellent way to tick off your bucket list.

Not only do you get time off to treat yourself, but you’ll also get to experience the world by immersing yourself in a culture that’s different from your own.

However, you can’t have fun during your vacation if you suddenly get sick.

To ensure that you’re able to thoroughly enjoy your overseas trip, it’s smart to bring these medications to keep you in good health.

A travelling medicine kit is among the most critical and important thing you should pack.

With these 5 important medications in your travelling medicine kit, you can stave off any symptoms that could possibly jeopardize your vacation fun!

About Jackie Gately, editor-IN-CHIEF

I'm Jackie Gately, your travel confidante and the creative force behind Enjoy Travel Life, awarded the "Best Casual-Luxury Lifestyle Blog (USA)" in Travel and Tourism by LUXlife Magazine for four consecutive years.

With 25 years of published expertise, I'm a seasoned writer, editor, and photographer curating inspiring travel guides and lifestyle tips for empty nesters. I hope to kindle your spirit of exploration, encouraging you to overcome obstacles and turn your dreams into reality.

Learn to minimize your pre-travel angst and maximize the joy of exploration with insights from my experiences. Let's make every adventure a celebration of this exciting phase of life! 

Follow my social channels for more inspiration.

Next Steps

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