What’s in My Travel Medicine Bag 

As we were unpacking from two weeks of travelling out of the country, I figured it may be good to share what we brought in our medicine bag while we were away. I’m pretty comprehensive when it comes with medication, so I’ve split it up between must-haves and good-to-haves so you don’t have to feel like you need to bring everything I’ve listed. Of course, you can always try to visit a local pharmacy and acquire most of these medications as you need it, but it’s always nice to have some on hand just in case.

Must-haves

• Anti-fever/pain medication (e.g. Tylenol and/or Advil)
  • The choice of medication depends on your past experiences with each and if you ever were told you can’t have one over the other
  • I usually bring both because then we can take both if we really need as they do not interact
  • Don’t forget the liquid version for children
• Anti-nausea (e.g. Gravol or Dramamine)
  • Especially those with motion sickness and/or if you’re going on a cruise
  • I find Gravol effective but very sedating, so when we were recently in the US for our cruise, I picked up some dramamine too which is supposedly less drowsy. Luckily, I didn’t have to use any while we were on the cruise so I cannot personally attest to it’s less drowsy effects.
  • They also have chewables for children!
• Allergy medication (e.g Claritin, Reactine etc.)
  • For those with known allergies, this is a must. For those who don’t have known allergies, this may still be good to have since you will be exposed to new climates, new foods, new body products and new environments.
  • They have liquid and quick-dissolve options for children
• Anti-diarrhea medication (e.g. Imodium)
  • This is a MUST if you’re going to be an adventurous eater, which we are. When you’re moving here and there throughout the city you’re visiting, you don’t want your travel plans spoiled or want to be stuck in the bathroom when you should be exploring.
  • They DON’T have a young children’s version so you should stick to hydration and extra diapers.
• Bandages
  • You never know when you’ll get a cut or scrape, especially with a little one, so it’s good to have a few bandages around. Extra points for getting ones with their favourite cartoon character, which tend to make your little one feel all better magically.
• Thermometer
  • This was not a must-have before having a little one but now we always bring one because you never know when your toddler will spike a fever and it’s good to confirm this before giving any medications.
• Epipen or any lifesaving medications (e.g. nitrospray, ASA)
  • A must-have for those with severe allergies or other serious conditions
  • When it comes to epipens I bring as many as I can get my hands on (often 5+), because it’s always better to be over-prepared when it comes to lifesaving medications and long flights.
• Cough drops/Lozenges
  • This is a must-have for me. Even if you’re not sick, it’s good to have this for throat irritation from dry air, or a source of sugar in case you feel lightheaded or hypoglycemic.

Good to have

• Pedialyte
  • Depending on which countries you’re visiting, you may be able to easily find some sort of electrolyte replacement but it doesn’t hurt to have a few packs with you just in case.
• Alcohol swabs
  • This is good to have in case of any small cuts or scrapes to disinfect the site if you’re not close to running water.
• Mask
  • Post-pandemic, I feel like it’s always good to have a few masks around
• Metamucil
  • Often when travelling we don’t get enough fibre in our diets. Metamucil is a good fibre source and they have on-the-go packets for ease of packing!
• Tums
  • Antacids and tums are good to have around especially if you have a sensitive stomach since you’ll be eating all sorts of yummy food.
• Pesto Bismol
  • Along the same times, if you have stomach upset and wanted something extra in addition to the anti-nausea and diarrhea medication, this may be nice to have around.
• Lactase enzymes
  • Those with lactose intolerance, this is a friendly reminder to bring some lactase pills, especially if you want to be able to enjoy the local dairy delicacies.
• Cough and cold medication
  • This is really optional. Even at home, I don’t use this all the time, as it’s a bandaid and doesn’t help the underlying illness. When travelling though, comfort is important so it may be good to have this around to make yourself less miserable while on the road.
• Insect bite relief gel
  • This was just a last minute optional purchase since I happened to have a bug bite before flying this time and wanted to some relief on the flight there. It’s good if you’re going somewhere with many ugs but the best is still prevention as insects, especially mosquitoes can carry various diseases which can be quite serious.
• Melatonin
  • If you will be shifting a few time zones and you know you tend to difficulties with sleeping as a result, it may not hurt to have some melatonin around to help with the adjustment.

Well that’s all I have for now. What do you keep on hand when it comes to medications/first aid when travelling? Safe travels! Stay healthy!