Fare Well on Your Travels

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Fare Well on Your Travels

Getting ready to take a trip? Plan to stay well with these tips.

Your hotel is booked. Your itinerary is set. But are you ready for healthy travel? Feeling good can be the difference between a great trip and a bad one. That often comes down to 2 things. First, have the medication you need on hand. And second, take steps to protect your health before you leave. Planning for both will help you feel your best until you’re back home.

Keep in mind that an international journey will take different preparation than a domestic trip. No matter where you’re going, break your planning into a few phases.

Phase 1: Predeparture

In the weeks (or months) leading up to your trip, tackle these tasks. In general, it’s a good idea to talk to your primary care provider (PCP) about your future travels. They can help you with planning and offer advice.

Take stock of what you’ll need
Make sure your supply of medications will last through your trip. Count how many doses you have, and estimate when you’ll run out. If you don’t have enough, talk to your PCP about getting an early refill or extra doses.

Learn about vaccinations and preventives
If you’re traveling abroad, vaccines and medications that protect against diseases may be required — or just a good idea. Check the Travelers’ Health website from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can search by country to find advice for protecting yourself. Because some vaccinations need to be done far in advance, start your research and talk to your PCP as soon as possible. Some health care systems have clinics that specialize in travel medicine — your PCP may refer you to them.

Know the laws
Some medications that are legal in the United States are banned in other countries. Check with the embassy of the country you’re going to visit to make sure your medicines are allowed. You can find embassy contact information through the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website.

Phase 2: Packing

You can get socks or a new toothbrush anywhere you go, but your prescription medications are harder to replace. Keep them safe by packing wisely.

Stick with labels

It’s best to travel with your prescription medications in their original labeled containers. It may be required in certain states or countries and can be helpful in an emergency. Make sure the label is clearly readable.

Pack your papers

Ask your provider for written copies of your prescriptions to take along on your trip. These can help you get refills of essential medications if you lose yours or run out. Depending on where you’re going, you may also need to bring vaccination records.

Be ready for inspection

If you’re flying with a medically necessary liquid prescription, you can keep it in your carry-on bag. However, you will have to give it to a TSA officer for inspection at the screening checkpoint.^*Prescriptions in pill or solid form don’t have to be inspected at the screening checkpoint in the U.S.

Carry-on only

When flying, don’t put prescription medications in your checked luggage. Keep the medications that you need to take — and can’t get without a prescription — within reach. If you have to check your carry-on at the gate, always take out your medications before handing over your bag.

Phase 3: On the Ground

Once you’ve arrived, it’s time for the fun to begin. Just don’t forget to take your medications as you’re supposed to. If you run into a problem, don’t be afraid to contact your PCP or care team for help.

Know your time zones
Taking medications at the right time is important, but changing time zones can make it tricky. If the difference is just an hour or two, there may be less to worry about. If you’re dealing with a bigger time change, like 5, 7 or even 12 hours, it’s more complicated. In most cases, the best option is to stay on your usual schedule. Let’s say you normally take your dose at 7 a.m. at home. In a destination that is 5 hours ahead, you would take it at noon local time. If the time difference means that your dosage would come during the middle of the night, talk to your PCP about how to adjust your schedule safely before you leave. See the Time Zones Comparisons chart for a guide to following your medication schedule while traveling.

Use your resources
When you are traveling in the U.S., you have resources at your fingertips. Teladoc, Doctors on Demand and Amwell give you 24/7 access to telemedicine or virtual care for as little as $0. Through these services, providers may diagnose and treat illness and prescribe medications.

Click here to print this chart

Over-the-Counter Essentials to Pack

Stock your travel kit with these over-the-counter products that help keep you healthy and feeling good.

Click here to print this checklist

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