Traveling With Medication

1. If you take regular prescription medications, be sure you have more than enough to last you for the duration of your trip.

2. Carry a medication record with you including a list of all medications you take, contact information for your doctor and pharmacy and other pertinent medical and insurance information you might need if you lose your medications or if you should need emergency treatment while on your trip.

3. Carry all medications in the original containers.  If traveling by air, check airline regulations on liquids, gels and aerosols (see detail)  Air travelers may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag when going through security checkpoints.

The following rules apply to all liquids, gels, and aerosols carried through security checkpoints: 
* All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in three-ounce or smaller containers.  Larger containers that are half-full or toothpaste tubes rolled up are not allowed. Each container must be three ounces or smaller. 
* All liquids, gels and aerosols must be placed in a single, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag.  Gallon size bags or bags that are not zip-top such as fold-over sandwich bags are not allowed.  Each traveler can use only one, quart-size, zip-top, clear plastic bag. 
* Each traveler must remove their quart-sized plastic, zip-top bag from their carry-on and place it in a bin or on the conveyor belt for X-ray screening.  X-raying separately will allow TSA security officers to more easily examine the declared items. There are exceptions for baby formula, breast milk, and other essential liquids, gels, and aerosols, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines (see details below).

4. If traveling by air, carry medications in your carry-on bag so they are less likely to get lost or exposed to high temperatures.

5. Talk to your doctor about medications you might want to take with you to treat minor emergencies like travelers diarrhea.

6. Be familiar with any medication you take with you.  Examples: Avoid sun exposure with doxycycline. Avoid alcohol consumption with metronidazole.

7. Be aware that drugs may have different names in foreign countries and that, generally speaking, medication are not as tightly regulated in foreign countries as they are in the United States.  Buyer beware.