Between my Type A personality and my love for being fully prepared, I started building what I call a “traveling pharmacy” about five years ago — and I’ve never looked back.

Whether I’m heading to a local beach day or boarding a flight to the Riviera Maya, my travel medicine bag is one of the first things I toss into my tote, backpack, or carry-on. It’s compact, reliable, and always ready for anything from surprise sniffles to an upset stomach.

Here’s how you can build your own.

What to Include in Your Travel Pharmacy

Medication needs will vary, but I recommend packing a few doses of essential over-the-counter items, typically in their generic form to save space. These are the staples I always include:

• Pepto Bismol
• Imodium
• Ibuprofen
• Sudafed
• Benadryl
• Tums
• Cold medicine
• Children’s medications (Ibuprofen and Tylenol)
• Prescription medications (in original packaging)
• Anti-itch cream
• Band-aids
  

Depending on your needs or destination, you may also consider adding motion sickness tablets, menstrual relief, aloe vera, pain relief cream, hemorrhoid relief, cough medicine, or cough drops.

Storage That Works

Let’s talk about how to pack it all.

Pill organizers with labeled compartments are popular for good reason. They’re compact, discreet, and ideal for travel, allowing you to carry multiple medications without the bulk of individual bottles. I use one with individual labeled slots and organize everything clearly — and yes, labeling is a must.

Pro tip: Tear off the dosage directions from each medication box and tuck those into your bag. It saves space and ensures you always know what you’re taking.

Adjusting for Longer Trips

For longer travels, it’s worth reviewing and adjusting your pharmacy setup. You may need a slightly larger case and enough doses to cover the full duration of your trip. I also recommend calling your pharmacy in advance to request early refills on any prescriptions — just let them know you’ll be traveling.

Yes, you might be able to access a pharmacy at your destination, but dealing with prescription access or language barriers isn’t ideal when you’re away from home.

What About First Aid?

I keep my first aid items in a separate kit. For road trips or kids’ sports events, I always have a full-size kit in my car. But when traveling longer distances, I bring a more compact version with:

• Band-aids in various sizes
• Blister patches
• Antibacterial cream packets
• Hand sanitizer
• Tweezers
• Antihistamine cream
• Sterile alcohol wipes
  

It’s basic but effective — and a great complement to the medicine bag.

Don’t Forget to Check Before You Go

Before each trip, I go through my travel pharmacy to:

• Check expiration dates
• Refill anything that’s running low
• Remove anything not needed for this trip
  

It takes just a few minutes and saves a lot of time and stress later.

Why It Matters

I don’t always need what’s in my medicine bag — and I hope you don’t either. But having it gives me peace of mind, and that’s exactly what I want for every client I serve.

Prepared doesn’t mean overpacked. It means feeling confident, calm, and ready to enjoy the journey — wherever it leads.

Warmly,
Nichole
Founder, Designed Vacations