Travelling with regular medicines takes a little planning. Rules vary between countries, and delays or lost luggage can leave you without treatment if everything is packed in one place.
Check the rules before you travel
Confirm the entry and medicine restrictions for every country on your itinerary, including stopovers. Some controlled medicines need a letter, licence or additional evidence, and limits may apply to how much you can carry.
- Keep essential medicines in your hand luggage
- Leave medicines in their original labelled packaging
- Carry a copy of your prescription or a clinician's letter when required
- Take enough for your trip, with a sensible allowance for delays
- Check storage requirements for medicines affected by heat or cold
Managing doses across time zones
Ask for advice before changing the timing of regular doses, particularly for insulin, anticoagulants and medicines that must be taken at fixed intervals. A written schedule can make long journeys easier to manage.
Ask before you pack
Bring your medicine list and itinerary to the pharmacy before departure. The team can help you identify practical questions to raise with your prescriber and make sure travel-health preparations fit around your regular treatment.