Getting sick is one of the worst things you can experience while on vacation. Just imagine, your body weakens while you’re away from the comfort of home. This is why it’s important to find out more about medicine to pack for travel. On international trips, for example, you’ll probably want to bring stomach medicine for travel since your body will need a little adjustment to different conditions and foods.
In this article, we’ve curated a list of necessary medicine for travel. We know that everyone has a different condition and physicality. But by reading this guide, at least you can get some inspiration about what your body needs when you’re traveling for quite a while.
How to Choose The Medicine to Pack for Travel
No one wants to get sick while away from home. But of course, different weather and food conditions, plus fatigue from long trips can have some impact on your immune system. That’s why you need to be extra careful in choosing medicine to pack for travel.
Bringing stomach medicine for travel will definitely be a good idea. But if you have special conditions, you need to think about what kind of medicine to deal with them. Especially since you probably won’t have friends or family around you. To help you out a bit, here are three factors you need to consider when choosing any necessary medicine for travel.
Know Your Own Condition
As we mentioned earlier, every traveler has their own condition and physicality. Some people may be prone to motion sickness, while others often experience problems with their digestion. Our advice, consult a doctor. At least a week before departure, tell them about your shape. Ask for some advice on what medicine to pack for travel.
Check Your Destination
While you’re at the doctor’s, ask if a stomach medicine for travel will be enough for the country you’re going to. For your information, there are several problematic areas regarding the spread of certain diseases. This is especially common in countries where hygiene awareness barely exists, such as India, China, or some African countries.
And if conditions permit, it’s highly recommended to carry some extra medical supplies. For that, you might want to check out our list of the 13 best first aid kits for backpacking.
Get Doctor’s Prescription
Once you know the necessary medicine for travel, don’t forget to get prescriptions for some uncommon drugs. This is very crucial since airports have strict policies regarding it. You obviously don’t want to end up with two hours of interrogation at the boarding gate, just because you brought some medicine for your stomach acid right?
How Do You Pack Medicine when Traveling?
As long as you’re willing to let them all be checked, you can bring as many pills or caplets as you like into the airplane cabin. But in case you need quick access, we recommend putting them in a specific container or carry-on bag
What Should be in a Travel Medical Kit?
Prepare some antiseptic to clean minor wounds. Apart from that, don’t forget to include anti-bacterial soap or hand-cleaning gel. If you want, you can add bandages and some tools like scissors and tweezers.
And if you have some specific condition, like a sleep disorder, for example, you might want to bring a special machine or device for that. For this case, we’ve got a great list of the 13 best small portable CPAP machines. They’re designed to relieve your sleep apnea, without taking up too much space in your luggage.
Can I Bring Ibuprofen on a Plane?
Yes, of course. They’re allowed to be carried into the aircraft cabin. And for the record, you don’t have to carry it in the original pack. For easier access, you can put your caplets in another case or container.
Imodium
13
Diarrhea is one of the most common ailments experienced by travelers. The cause? Food poisoning or unclean water. No matter where you travel, you can get diarrhea in almost any place. So, it would be a wise decision if you include Imodium on your ‘medicine to pack for travel’ list.
Imodium contains a specific formula to slow down your system. It’ll give your body time to restore its natural balance and rhythm. Each Imodium tablet contains 2 milligrams of loperamide hydrochloride, which is effective for controlling diarrhea symptoms. Furthermore, this medicine would also be great for a family trip, since it is suitable for children from the age of six and up.
What We Love
Effective for treating the symptoms of diarrhea, one of the most common ailments of travelers
Pros:
- Effective relief
- Slow down your system
- Suitable for children
- Work fast
Cons:
- The blister packs are hard to open
Pepcid
12
While taking a leisurely stroll around town is great, you definitely don’t want to do it while you have a stomach ache or heartburn. Unfortunately, this condition is pretty common. Especially after you’ve tasted some significant quantities of new foods and drinks. Your stomach will start to form gas, which will give an uncomfortable sensation around the belly.
That’s why we always recommend bringing stomach medicine for travel. In this list, we decided to feature Pepcid AC Maximum Strength. These tablets contain famotidine, which is great for dealing with heartburn. One per day consumption will be more than enough to control acid for the whole day. Apart from that, they work really fast. However, you need to take the medicine at least an hour before eating.
And speaking of medicine, do any of you have trouble carrying your caplets or pills while on the go? Well, we have just the right solution for that. Do yourself a favor and check out our list of the 13 best toiletry bags for travel. Despite the name, they’re also great for carrying some meds!
What We Love
Works fast and is effective in controlling acid
Pros:
- Prevent and relieve heartburn
- Controls acid all-day
- Contain 20mg of famotidine
- Great package
Cons:
- Not recommended for breastfeeding mothers
Claritin
11
Your body will react to different weather and climatic conditions. For certain people, this will lead to allergy symptoms. Some of the most common are itching sensations around the eye area, stuffy nose, or even sneezing. That’s why Claritin should be your necessary medicine for travel.
These are non-drowsy tablets that work great at relieving allergy symptoms. That includes an itchy throat and a low-grade fever. Furthermore, Claritin has a 24-hour formula to provide an immediate effect, as long as you get enough bed rest. It’s also recommended for those with seasonal allergies. So if things like mold spores, trees, and grass trigger a bad reaction in your body, make sure to always have Claritin in your pocket.
What We Love
Relieves symptoms caused by more than 200 types of allergens
Pros:
- Relieves itchy throat and runny nose
- Provide respite from hay fever
- 24-hour formula
- Suitable for outdoor allergies
Cons:
- You need to be careful with the expiration date
Dramamine
10
Don’t let the perfect trip you’ve planned for a year be ruined just because of motion sickness. Prepare yourself properly and you’ll be able to overcome all the dizziness and nausea as if they’re nothing. The key is knowing what medicine to pack for travel.
On this occasion, we decided to recommend the popular Dramamine. Each tablet contains 50mg of dimenhydrinate to provide super-fast relief. Take one before you hop on the plane or train for a headache-and-vomit-free ride. The package you’re looking at right now is made up of 12 tablets. It’s quite compact and absolutely perfect for travel.
What We Love
Provides quick-relief for the symptoms of motion sickness
Pros:
- Powerful
- Fast-relief
- Prevent dizziness and vomiting
- Safety travel pack
Cons:
- It causes drowsiness
Ricola
9
Ricola is another recommended medicine to pack for travel. You see, traveling is definitely going to increase your risk of getting sick. That’s because you’ll be more exposed to various germs. There’s a high chance for you to get a dry or itchy throat, which will lead to coughing.
Ricola will cope with these symptoms very well. Made from natural herbs cultivated in the Swiss Alps, this remedy works effectively in expelling coughs. Each drop contains 4.8mg of menthol, which provides a feeling of relief and freshness around the esophagus. Silence your cough and let your fellow travelers sleep in peace!
What We Love
Works effectively to get rid of cough and dry throat
Pros:
- Made from high-quality herbs
- Optimum effectiveness
- natural taste
- Silence your cough
Cons:
- For some people, the menthol taste is too strong
Sudafed
8
Congestion is another symptom that can ruin your entire vacation. You can get it from cold temperatures or allergic conditions. In this case, there’s no better solution than Sudafed. When it comes to medicine to pack for travel, these phenylephrine HCL and diphenhydramine HCL tablets are a must. They’re powerful decongestants that will relieve sinus pressure both day and night.
Apart from that, nighttime tablets are also great for treating allergy symptoms such as watery eyes, runny nose, and itchy throat. Despite the fact that it uses a maximum-strength formula, Sudafed is recommended for children from 12 years of age. So if you bring some kids with you, make sure to have these tablets in your pack.
What We Love
It frees you from nasal pressure both day and night
Pros:
- Relief sinus pressure
- Overcoming congestion
- Maximum-strength formula
- Work fast and effectively
Cons:
- The pack is difficult to open
Advil
7
Don’t let a mild fever ruin your tourist agenda. Save yourself from a complete bed rest with Advil. In case you live under a rock, it’s one of the well-known brands for pain relief. Each tablet contains 200mg of Ibuprofen which works effectively to deal with severe headaches, minor arthritis, and back pain. Take one after a long flight and you’ll be ready to continue your adventure the next day!
With over three decades of experience, Advil is definitely a necessary medicine for travel. For female travelers, these remedies are also great at reducing menstrual cramps. Apart from that, they also work fairly quickly and are safe for children from 12 years of age.
Speaking of getting sick while traveling, did you know that consuming contaminated water is one of the main causes of stomach pain? Well, to prevent this you might want to try one of the products from our list of the 13 best water purification tablets. Make sure you’re only drinking 100 percent clean and safe water!
What We Love
A great pain reliever to reduce the effects of jet lag
Pros:
- Works great against inflammation
- Contains Ibuprofen
- The reputation of more than three decades
- HSA and FSA eligible
Cons:
- Some say it’s no better than a regular Ibuprofen
Tylenol PM
6
Getting quality sleep while traveling isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Sometimes you might get into a noisy room or experience pain due to jet lag. In this situation, no solution works faster than Tylenol PM. These sleeping pills will send you to bed in minutes. Trust us, you’ll have no problem getting the much-needed sleep and feeling fabulous the next day!
Each caplet of Tylenol PM contains 25mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. It’s an active ingredient that‘ll help your nervous system to relax. Apart from that, this sleeping aid is recommended for both adults and children from 12 years old and above. And unlike other similar products, Tylenol won’t make you hyper or get a drug hangover.
What We Love
Ultra-fast solution to help you get quality sleep
Pros:
- Contains 25mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride
- Help overcome pain
- Makes you feel refreshed and relieved
- Recommended for children 13 years and over
Cons:
- We’re still working on it!
Dulcolax
5
When it comes to constipation, Dulcolax is the name that you can trust. Compared to other brands, these amazing tablets work much more effectively. You can take them before bedtime and have a cramp-free day. Just make sure you drink plenty of water to get the best performance.
Apart from that, Dulcolax tablets are easy to swallow. Each one of them has a comfortable coating, which is safe for sensitive stomachs. With the active ingredient 5mg Bisacodyl, Dulcolax will be a great temporary relief for constipation and occasional irregularities. If you often have problems with your digestive system, this is definitely a medicine to pack for travel.
What We Love
One of the best solutions for constipation and occasional irregularities
Pros:
- Contains 5mg Bisacodyl USP
- Easy to swallow
- Gentle for sensitive stomach
- Fast reaction
Cons:
- Make sure you’re hydrated enough before taking one
Vicks Sinex
4
Planning to go somewhere cool? Make sure you have Vicks Sinex in your backpack. This fine mist spray works very well in relieving sinus and nasal congestion. Whether you catch hay fever or have respiratory allergies, Sinex is a necessary medicine for travel. It’ll shrink your swollen membranes in minutes, so you can breathe normally in no time.
Sinex spray uses oxymetazoline HCI as its active ingredient. It’s basically a powerful nasal decongestant for the most stubborn stuffy nose. The version you’re looking at now is a twin pack with a capacity of 15ml each. They’re quite compact and will slip easily in jeans or jacket pockets. So whenever you experience sinus pressure, you can regain your normal breathing within seconds.
What We Love
Relieves sinus pressure and respiratory allergies
Pros:
- Works instantly
- 12-hour relief
- Ultrafine mist
- Powerful
Cons:
- It’s quite hard for some people
Pepto-Bismol
3
Pepto-Bismol is a potent stomach medicine for travel that should be in every travel bag. Trust us, you’ll be more than happy to take these caplets as a preventative measure. There’ll be no crazy stomach ache after eating a variety of street foods or raw juices. There’s no need to rush to the bathroom at the most inopportune moment. This miracle cure will completely calm your stomach down!
Each Pepto-Bismol caplet has a coating action to provide quick relief from nausea, heartburn, and other discomforts around the stomach area. For the record, they may be quite difficult to swallow for some people. Apart from that, you may notice a change in color in your stool after consumption. But from what we’ve read, it won’t have any strange effects.
And speaking of medicine to pack for travel, you might want to invest in a specific container or containers to carry it around. This way, you’ll have immediate access when the situation calls for it. For that, you should probably check out our list of the 13 best toiletry bags for women. Don’t be fooled by the name though, as they’re actually multifunctional and quite versatile!
What We Love
Great for a preventative measure before eating street food or some raw juice
Pros:
- Multi-symptom relief
- Calm your stomach
- Reduces nausea and heartburn
- High quality
Cons:
- The caplets are a little hard to swallow and tasteless
TUMS GasRelief
2
TUMS GasRelief is probably one of the best-selling Antacids on Amazon and we can quickly figure out why. Compared to other chalk, this product is more like candy. It’s completely chewable and won’t feel weird in your mouth. But of course, the most important thing is that they work effectively! One bite will quickly clear up all your digestive issues. Apart from that, TUMS GasRelief is available at an affordable price!
The only complaint we have for this medicine to pack for travel is the packaging. The top part is quite difficult to open. And when it does, we end up with all of its contents splattered around. If only TUMS came with a better container, this would be the best Antacid ever!
What We Love
Tastes like candy, works effectively, and is affordable
Pros:
- HSA and FSA eligible
- Fast and powerful
- Gluten-free
- Multi-symptom relief
Cons:
- The lid is hard to open
Bonine
1
Have you ever felt seasick during a long cruise? Trust us, you’ll never want to go through that! Therefore, we highly recommend you to get the sensational Bonine. This motion sickness reliever is claimed to work much better than most similar drugs. It won’t give you an overly drowsy sensation. No matter how bad the weather and the shaking, you’ll leave unscathed!
Another reason that makes Bonine a perfect medicine to pack for travel is its taste. It won’t make your mouth feel weird. Plus the tablet is easy to gobble up. If you’re planning to go on a cruise in the near future, Bonine is a must!
What We Love
There’s no excessive drowsy sensation after consumption
Pros:
- Available in raspberry flavors
- Work quickly to relieve motion sickness
- Chewable
- Trusted brand
Cons:
- It’s not kosher-certified
