Between my Type A personality and a general desire to face any situation as prepared as possible, about 5 years ago I assembled a “traveling pharmacy” to remain packed and ready to go so I can grab it on my way out the door. Whether the outing is a morning spent at the local beach or a 3-day trip to Riviera Maya, I toss my medicine bag into my beach tote, mini backpack purse, or personal item.
In this post, I’ll address packing your own traveling pharmacy, so you’re prepared for any situation, whether you’re close to home or out exploring the world.
ITEMS TO INCLUDE
Medication needs vary from traveler to traveler, but I always pack a few doses of the basics, usually in their generic form:
Pepto Bismol
Imodium
Ibuprofen
Sudafed
Benadryl
Tums
Cold medicine
Children’s medications (Ibuprofen and Tylenol)
Prescription medications (in their original packaging)
Anti-itch cream
A few band-aids
Other items for consideration? Cough medicine, hemorrhoid relief, menstrual relief, aloe vera, pain relief cream, and motion sickness medication.
STORAGE SYSTEM
These pill organizers* with labels are all the rage lately because of their practicality and convenience. They are designed to be compact and portable, making them ideal for everyday use by easily fitting into your purse or pocket. Additionally, their usefulness extends beyond daily routines and work wonderful while traveling. Instead of carrying multiple bottles for different medications or supplements, these organizers allow you to consolidate and bring along a variety of pills in a neat and organized manner. This not only saves space but also ensures that you have all your essential medications with you at all times.
LONGER TRIPS
For longer trips, you may need to reevaluate the contents to ensure you have enough for the duration of your travels. Make sure to also talk with the pharmacy to get an advance filling of any prescriptions, you will need to let them know that you are traveling and will not be able to pick up your Rx at the designated time. Packing a larger quantity may mean you need to increase the size of your storage bag as well. Yes, pharmacies in your destination could supply you with what is needed while traveling, but language barriers and prescription medication may not be something you want to contend with during travel.
*Tip* Tear off the directions from the boxes and only pack those to save space.
FIRST AID NEEDS
I don’t pack first aid care in my medicine bag because I keep a full first aid kit in my car (fine for all the travel sports and drivable travel I do) but for longer trips I take a separate first aid kit with me. I typically bring the basics, Band-Aids of multiple sizes, anti-bacterial cream packets, hand sanitizer, blister patches, sterile alcohol wipes, tweezers, antihistamine cream and more.
Fortunately, I don't always need these things, but I am glad to have it on hand and will continue to pack it for our family’s adventures.
CHECK BAG BEFORE TRAVELING
Before traveling, I go through my medicine bag to check the dates and replenish my supply.
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