Traveling has been an integral part of our lives. Most of you must be traveling either for work or for leisure. While traveling, it is crucial to keep yourself safe and healthy, and the best way to do so is by carrying all essential medications.
Are you aware of how to carry your medication while traveling? Fret not; you are not alone. Most of us are confused or unaware of the restrictions imposed by countries on import or carrying medicines for personal use.
Every country has its own set of rules for carrying medication. There can be serious consequences in case you violate the laws of the country you are visiting. The consequences can range from heavy penalties to imprisonment on charges of drug trafficking and could lead to the medicine’s confiscation.
In this blog, we will discuss the best ways to follow, while traveling across borders with prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Things to Remember Before you Travel
You need to consider various things while traveling with medications. Don’t assume to buy your medicines at the destination. They may not be available, and if they are, they may not meet your quality standards. Consider following these aspects before the onset of your travel.
- Keep all the medications in the original packaging. While packing medications, it is better to keep them with their original packaging. Drugs with labels are essential for their safety as well as to avoid any confusion.
- Keep your packed medicines in a cool and dry place, and avoid direct sunlight on them. Do not store the medications in the car’s glove compartment or do not leave them in a heated car.
- Make sure you have enough medications while traveling. In case of any delay or extension of your traveling, you should not run out of medicines.
- If you are traveling to a warm destination, discuss it with your health professional. Some medications are not advised during extensive sun exposure. Sun-sensitive medicines may cause allergy due to excessive heat.
- Carry a list of your medications with all the details about the dose and frequency of intake. Also, mention the reasons you are taking those medications, your doctor’s phone number, and if you have any allergy. During any emergency, it acts as a lifesaver. Carrying a doctor’s prescription is highly advised during traveling.
- Whether you have a hectic traveling schedule or a relaxing visit, you may easily forget to take your medicines. Setting a reminder is the best way to make sure you don’t miss your dose. It may become more challenging if you are traveling to a different timezone, discuss with your doctor, and schedule your medicines in advance.
- Also, carry a supply of over the counter medicines like pain reliever, antidiarrheal, antihistamine, and antiallergic pills. During vacationing, these drugs may come in handy to ease an uncomfortable condition.
5 Tips for Traveling Internationally With Medications
If you are moving abroad on a trip and need your medications, you must understand certain traveling rules with medications. While traveling globally, access to prescription medications becomes crucial.
Here is some advice from health experts for traveling internationally with medications.
Carry Your Prescription Along With a Note From Your Doctor
Certain drugs are illegal in some countries, and before traveling abroad, understanding these drug restrictions becomes essential.
Carry a prescription and a note from your doctor that includes the details of the medication such as the brand name and its generic and advisable dosage and stating the details of your illness.
Be Aware of Restrictions
If you are unsure about the destination country’s drug restrictions, it's advisable to check with the country’s embassy to ensure you are not breaking any laws.
Medical devices like oxygen tanks, syringes, and CPAP machines are also restricted in many countries. You may fill in the mandatory forms to ensure you have a hassle-free travel.
Bring Documentation
Even if you intend to carry the medicines in the original packaging, it is a good practice to bring in the documentation/prescription from your doctor. This document can be used as proof that the medication belongs to you.
Traveling with prescription medication can invite trouble if you don’t know the rules and regulations. Before you head off to your travel destination, ensure that you’ve followed all of these tips. This will prevent any issues with your prescription drugs.
Managing Different Time Zones
Some of your travel can compel you to switch time zones. This makes it a real challenge to administer as well as keep a tab on the medication routine. You may consider planning on how to take medicine at a particular time of the day.
It is highly recommended that you find a medical provider nearby for any emergency. This could save your trip and your health.
Pack - Smart
It is a good practice to put your medicines in carry on luggage. This would prevent you from getting stuck in case your suitcase is lost. All the pills should be in their original, labeled containers with your full passport name, doctor’s name, generic and brand name, and exact dosage.
How to Buy Medication as You Travel
There are times when you miss out or lose your medicines in a hurry, or your bags get stolen. For such trying times, it is a good practice to have your prescriptions in the digital format. This will help you access and purchase the medication without much concern.
Always carry the generic name of the medication along with its compositions for easy refills in case it’s required. Hence the digital prescription becomes more comfortable to handle while moving from one place to another.
It is also recommended to have health insurance to avoid potentially large expenditure while purchasing medicines and accessing healthcare .
How much medication can you Carry?
Every country follows different medical regulations. The amount of prescribed medicine you can carry with you varies depending on your destination country regulations and the type of medication you are traveling with.
In most of the countries, travelers are permitted to bring a 30- to a 90-day supply of prescription medication. In case you’re taking an important drug or one that contains narcotics such as sedatives, it is advisable to carry a note from your doctor explaining the medication and the necessity.
If you find the medicine banned in your destination country, talk with the healthcare provider for alternative medicine. You may consider getting approval from your doctor to avoid complications.
Regulations on Importing Medicines for Personal Use?
You should make yourself aware of the regulations imposed by different countries for carrying medication for personal use. You may get a detailed explanation inthe sites mentioned below:
- The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) is an organization that provides general information about country regulations for carrying medicines. The countries are told to report to INCB, about the permit of controlled substances. It’s significant to note that INCB may not have information from all countries or territories.
- The International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) pharmacist group has also gathered a list of international regulations based on the import regulations of medicines for personal use. This list majorly relies on self-reported regulations from the countries, so sometimes the information may be incomplete or outdated.
These are some of the trusted organizations to find the regulations prevalent in most of the countries. However, you should always look at multiple sources to cross-check the regulations imposed in your destination country.
Some countries have not made their regulations public, and hence you may have to contact the embassy, consulate, or the national drug administration body for detailed information.
Bottom Line
To maintain a hassle-free trip, travelers often pack medications when they travel internationally. Still, some of the popular prescription and over-the-counter medicines are used for things like pain relief, better sleep, allergies, and even the common cold are illegal in some countries.
Japan and the United Arab Emirates have the most strict laws when it comes to traveling with medications. Also, several countries have banned importing narcotics, sedatives, amphetamines, and other common over-the-counter medications.
Travelers are allowed to carry small amounts for personal use, but it is advisable to carry the necessary prescription. Not obeying the rules can result in confiscation of medications, deportation and even criminal charges .
Traveling with medicines — even prescription drugs — is not as simple as packing it. Follow the guidelines to stay on the right side of the law, wherever you go.