It is always better to have a chat with your doctor before you go on a holiday. He may know what medication you should take with you. If you do not have a doctor who knows your medical history, it is still better to talk to a doctor, who may suggest a few things that would help you in an emergency.
If you are on any regular medicine for pre-existing illnesses, you should carry adequate stocks for the time that you are away from the country.

It is always better to have those medicines for about two to three weeks more in case of unexpected extension of stay. It is advisable to carry the medicine in your hand luggage. If carrying Insulin and needles these must be declared as there are restrictions on carrying sharps on board an aircraft.
Obviously, what you are taking depends on your destination. If it is a country with few medical facilities like a remote place in the globe, then you may have to take more important items than to a country where there are more facilities.

In addition to your normal medicines, I always advise patients to take the following items with them when going on holiday:

Sufficient quantities of pain killers, like paracetamol: These may be used in case of headaches or mild fever. Paracetamol is quite expensive in certain parts of the world. Something like diclofenac (Voltarol), for a strong pain provided he/she is not allergic to it. Buscopan may help abdominal pain or colicky pain till you see a doctor. Having a few tablets of buscopan with you may be very helpful at times.

A few sachets of Jeevani in case of diarrhea or vomiting: The most prescribed medicine I use for diarrhoea is Imodium and domperidone (motilium) for vomiting and I advise patients to use boiled water if they can. Bottled water is often adulterated unless it is bought from a reputed dealer and even those often cannot be trusted in a profit making world.

Antihistamines like Chlorpheneramine (Piriton) are always helpful, for minor allergies, like itching, and skin eruptions.

A few skin dressings and antibiotic ointment (Fucidin) and some plasters may come in handy if the need arises. I prescribe a few antibiotics like amoxicillin, if the person is not allergic to it, and explain the conditions that may require it.

Our country is basically free of malaria now, but if you plan to go to a place endemic with malaria you may have to talk your doctor. I prefer quinine as the prophylactic as most of the other antimalarials have shown resistance to it.

An extra pair of spectacles may be very helpful if you wear glasses. It may be very costly in certain parts of the world to obtain a pair especially if you need it urgently.

It is absolutely essential to name the medicines legibly and keep them separately, and to know what they are and when they could be used in cases of necessity. It is also essential that travel insurance is obtained when travelling to foreign soil, especially if you have pre-existing medical problems. The expense of treatment and repatriation can extend into millions especially in Western countries.

If you are travelling while pregnant especially by air please remember that some airlines have restrictions on travel depending on your stage of pregnancy. Please check with individual airlines for information. It is also advisable to carry a letter from your obstetrician stating your stage of pregnancy and stating any problems that have been encountered during the pregnancy.

Finally certain drugs such as morphine based substances have restrictions and cannot be carried into other countries,. If you do require an alternative have it prescribed by your doctor and take appropriate documentation for its medicinal use.

If in doubt, always check with the relevant authorities.  As a final piece of advice, bear in mind that in some countries pharmacies are not regulated and you may be able to obtain medications over the counter, but you should be extra watchful as due to language barriers and medication being registered under different names you may not be getting what you asked for!

(The writer is a family physician)

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