How To Replace Your Medication While Traveling
What to do if you lose, forget or run out of your medications while travelling?
Passport, tickets, money, suitcase, lock the house…there are plenty of things to remember as we depart for our much-needed holiday. It can be a busy and slightly stressful time, particularly if you are organising yourself and others so it can be understandable that the odd minor thing might be forgotten. Follow our important tips on how to replace medication while traveling to alleviate your dilemma.
Not taking a 7th pair of sandals won’t impact your holiday in the same way as forgetting your asthma medication might so if you have a pre-existing medical condition then try to make sure you don’t forget your drugs!
If you do happen to forget it, or worse – it becomes lost or stolen, or you run out – it can be a terrifying time, dependent on the severity of your condition. So what should you do in the event of losing or forgetting your meds while away.
Travel With a Spare Stash
Packing extra medication in a different bag or case is one of the best ways to ensure you have some if you lose your main supply. Putting it into two places might also mean you are less likely to forget it in the first place. It’s a good practice to put some in your carryon bag and some in your checked luggage.
Before you go, throw an ample amount into your bag you should check the medication restrictions in the country you are going to. Many countries only permit a 30 day supply of medications to be brought into the country. This can be done by typing in “medications not allowed in ____” or visiting the Embassy website of the country you will be traveling to. There might be certain limitations of how much of certain substances they will let in. You can order yours and speak to the experts at Click Pharmacy to find out more. You should travel with your medication in it’s original containers and with a copy of your doctor’s prescription.
How to Find a Doctor
It is highly unlikely a foreign pharmacist will just hand over a new prescription to you without it being authorised by a certified doctor, so you will probably need to locate a doctor. In some countries, Pharmacists are allowed to prescribe some medications. To locate a doctor, speak with the concierge at your hotel, or contact your country’s Embassy office in the country you are in. They customarily maintain a list of reputable doctors to assist with emergencies. Explain your predicament, and have the right documentation at hand, they should understand exactly what you need and why you need it and help you get it. Be aware that you may not be able to use your medical insurance to cover the cost.
Speak With Your Insurance Company
Travel insurance companies often have specialists who can advise the best course of action in your given country so give them a call. They might even be able to help you locate the nearest doctor. You might also want to contact your regular medical insurance provider at home to inquire about what services are covered when you travel abroad.
Find a Reputable Pharmacy
Once you’ve spoken to a doctor and have been given a valid new prescription, try to find a chain store of a reputable pharmacy so that you do not end up purchasing an illegal or questionable version of the medication you require.
In Conclusion
It’s obviously best not to forget your medication in the first place. Not only will you find yourself having to search for the right people to help you, but it will also no doubt create a whole load of stress and hassle you don’t want or need on holiday! So write yourself a checklist of mandatory items to take before you start packing and put your medication on there in BIG letters.
Also do not forget to take all your documentation with you, including your prescription and a letter from your doctor so if the worst happens, you can at least legitimately request more. It would also be useful to know the generic name of the product too, rather than just a brand name as that might not exist in your destination.
