Which medications and other pharmacy items you should bring when traveling abroad naturally depends on where you are going. The advice here applies to the most common tourist destinations—not the most exotic ones.
Bring Your Regular Medications
“If you use prescription medications regularly, you must, of course, bring enough of them with you. You should not rely on being able to buy them abroad. For one thing, the medications you use regularly may have different brand names in other countries, which can make them difficult to find,” says Sol Malm Hagen, a doctor at Eyr.
If you are going on vacation, whether within the Nordic region or abroad, it is a good idea to bring some over-the-counter medications from home, as foreign pharmacies may not always stock what you are used to using, or the nearest pharmacy might be far away.
“Furthermore, it is obviously important to bring your regular medications and prescriptions, as well as extra supplies, in case you lose your bag, suitcase, or similar items while abroad,” says Malm Hagen.
Over-the-Counter Medications to Pack
“Regarding over-the-counter medications, my recommendation is to bring Panodil and Ipren tablets for adults, and Panodil drops for the little ones,” recommends the doctor, who is also a mother of young children.
“It can also be a good idea to bring antihistamine tablets and drops if you or your child are prone to allergies or hives. If you are going to be far from civilization, you should speak with your doctor before departure about what type of medication to bring in case of serious illness. This could include, for example, antibiotics or emergency malaria treatment,” she says.