Medical News

Travel Smart with Your Medications

You’ve made your travel plans. You booked the hotel, stopped the mail and papers and have a kennel for the puppy. Now, don’t forget the obvious-your medications. Whether travelling for a day, a weekend or an extended period of time planning ahead can assure that your health-care maintenance doesn’t take a vacation as well.

The first thing to remember is that most medications are sensitive to extremes of temperature. Excessive heat in the car or boat is just as dangerous as the low temperatures that can be found in the baggage compartments of airplanes. Keep your medication with you, no matter how you are travelling. Store them in your carry-on during air travel or in a purse, tote bag or backpack for ground or sea travel.

Plan ahead by counting the doses of your medications and comparing that to the number of days you will be gone. It is always advisable to bring more medication with you than you think you will need. Most prescription drug insurance plans will monitor the days between refills and not allow you to refill your prescription “too soon.” However with advance planning you and your pharmacist may be able to obtain a vacation override.  You may also refill your prescription at a pharmacy in the area you are visiting.  Another option is to purchase extra medication to last until you arrive home.

With recent increases in security at airports and border crossings it is possible you will be questioned about the pills you are carrying. Store your medication in its original labeled container if possible.  If you keep your medication in a daily pill container, that is also acceptable. If you have many medications, large quantities or  are travelling with syringes and monitoring devices ask your physician for a letter outlining your health condition and the medications you are taking for it.

Most medications will not be harmed by passing through X-ray screening devices. You  have the option of requesting a visual inspection. Make that request as early in the screening process as possible and have your supplies in a separate bag or pouch to hand to the Security Officer. If you have an insulin pump and are uncomfortable going though the metal detector you may request a visual inspection and pat-down. Advise the Security Officer that the insulin pump cannot be removed because it is inserted with a needle under your skin.

Travelling for the patient with diabetes requires extra planning and preparation. You should take enough medication and supplies (insulin, syringes, lancets and test strips) for the entire trip.  If your monitor uses a special battery you should bring an extra with you. Because of delays on the roads and at airports a diabetic should pack food for missed or delayed meals. Complex carbohydrates such as trail mix, cheese crackers and granola bars are good choices. In case of low blood sugar,( hypoglycemia) patients should carry quick acting glucose tablets or gels. These are available at most pharmacies without a prescription. Make sure your travelling companions are aware that you are diabetic and what the sign of hypoglycemia are. And what to do if it occurs.
Diabetics, or anyone with a chronic condition, should consider wearing a medical alert bracelet or necklace and carry a wallet card identifying their condition in case of an emergency.

While travelling, insulin and many other refrigerated items are perfectly safe as long as they are protected from extremes of heat or cold. Special insulated kits are available to hold vials and cartridges. You can refrigerate your insulin at your destination, however insulin today is safe for up to a month at a temperature of 77 degrees.

If your travels take you through different time zones adjustments to your medication schedule may be required.  Check with your pharmacist or physician before you leave if you take multiple medications or have a complex schedule.

If you are travelling outside our country be extra careful. Drug names often vary between countries. In Canada your Prilosec is Losec and your allergy medicine isn’t Zyrtec, it’s Reactine. The cholesterol medicine simvastatin has more than 10 different names in Mexico. In our county we have one strength of insulin. Other countries have up to four strengths and different needles to go with each of them.  Prescription status can vary from country to country also. You may have codeine or Lipitor without a prescription but pseudoephedrine can lead to jail time.  Plan ahead with enough medication for your entire stay and keep it in a labeled container.

Travel is a wonderful way to learn and experience new things. Don’t let a bottle of pills stand in the way of the vacation of your lifetime.