What medications should I take on a bus trip abroad?
When planning a bus trip, it is important not only to prepare comfortable clothes and documents, but also to take care of a first aid kit. A long stay on the road, a change in climate or a sudden deterioration in well-being can spoil even the most anticipated trip.
To be prepared for any surprises, it is worth preparing a set of necessary medicines in advance that will help you quickly get rid of unexpectedly arising health problems.
However, when collecting a travel first aid kit, it is worth knowing which medicines can be transported across the border so as not to have any difficulties at customs.
The main groups of medicines that may be needed on vacation
To be prepared for various situations, on the road and during vacation, it is worth thinking in advance about the list of medicines that you or your child may need. You will definitely need:
Means to improve digestion and stomach function. These are various sorbents and dehydration drugs, such as Smecta, Enterosgel, Regidron. They will help with stomach upset and food poisoning.
Painkillers and antipyretics. It is important to always have Paracetamol and Ibuprofen on hand, for children it is worth taking Nurofen.
Cold medicines (for example, Coldrex or Pharmacitron).
Antiseptics for treating hands, wounds and scratches. Iodine, brilliant green, hydrogen peroxide are suitable. Also, the first-aid kit should have a bandage, cotton wool, several adhesive plasters.
Anti-allergy drugs – especially useful if you have allergic reactions.
Depending on where you are going, you should take insect repellent and spray, sunscreen and suntan lotion. It is worth focusing on the medications that you usually take.
The concept of an individual first aid kit
Speaking of what medicines to take with you abroad, it is worth mentioning such a concept as an individual first aid kit. Very often, people travel with certain chronic diseases that require regular intake of certain medications.
It would seem that this question is obvious, but sometimes tourists simply forget about important medications in anticipation of a trip. Here is why it is necessary to have your usual medications with you:
- Usually, most chronic diseases require continuous treatment. If you suddenly stop taking medication, this can significantly affect your condition and cause health problems.
- In some countries, it can be very difficult to find the drug you need or its analogue, especially if the remedy is specific and prescription.
- Sometimes an illness can catch you right on the bus, where there will be no access to medical services. That is why it is better to have everything you need with you to avoid serious problems.
Only you know exactly how a particular drug affects your body. That is why you can decide which medicines to take with you abroad, in what quantity and how to take them.
Consulting a doctor as one of the stages of preparing for a trip
A trip abroad will be truly exciting and unforgettable if you plan it correctly and agree on the list of medicines that can be transported across the border with your doctor.
He will provide personal recommendations on the medicines necessary for your route, because each locality has its own characteristics:
The specialist will be able to assess your health, analyze your medical record and tell you about possible risks, if any.
Also, if necessary, he will recommend that you get vaccinated or take other preventive measures to protect you from possible infectious diseases.
Endemic diseases are widespread in some countries. A qualified doctor will help you get medicines for these diseases and tell you how to use them and when to take them.
The importance of consulting a specialist also lies in the fact that he adjusts the treatment plan in the presence of chronic diseases. To avoid problems during your trip, don’t just buy medicines, but seek advice from a doctor.
So, as you can see, a visit to a specialist is an important stage in planning a trip, of course, if you are a responsible tourist and care about your own health.
What medicines are allowed to be transported across the border?
If you are planning a bus trip to other countries, you may encounter certain restrictions on the rules for the circulation of medicines that are worth considering. We would like to provide you with an approximate list of medicines that can be freely transported:
- regular medicines in adequate quantities;
- herbal preparations, but only in industrial packaging;
- painkillers, cardiovascular drugs;
- eye drops, stomach, digestive and choleretic drugs;
- tablets for motion sickness, repellents.
You will also not have any problems with transporting dressings, adhesive plasters, and sunburn remedies.
Rules for transporting prescription drugs
Is it possible to transport medicines across the border if they require a prescription? Yes, you can, but following certain rules. To transport them, you must have a prescription with you, properly executed and stamped. Such drugs include, for example, antidepressants.
There is even a special resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 770, which specifies all the current rules, andIt is written which medicines cannot be transported across the border. These include psychotropic and narcotic drugs.
How many medicines are allowed to be carried?
In different countries, the number of medicines that are allowed to be transported varies, so it is worth clarifying this information in advance.
It is better to store medicines in their original packaging with an insert. Then it will be easier for you to pass customs control. It is also worth having a certificate from a doctor with you, in which he prescribes that you need this particular medicine, indicates the dosage and regimen.
What documentation is needed for transporting medicines
If you are going abroad and are already undergoing treatment that cannot be stopped, it is important to have certain documents with you that will allow you to legally import medicines into the country of temporary stay. Usually this is:
- a copy of your medical card. It will confirm your health status and the need for the medicines you are carrying;
- a prescription with the signature and seal of your doctor, which indicates information about the prescription of these medicines for you;
- a check from the pharmacy – it will certify that you purchased the medication legally;
- standard documents indicating the diagnosis and the medication regimen.
All this is needed by the customs service to understand the intended purpose of the medication. Sometimes a translation of the above documents may be required – it is better to clarify these points in advance in order to have time to arrange and certify everything.
Mistakes that tourists make when packing medication for the trip
Proper packaging of medications will help maintain quality and safety, as well as avoid problems during the trip. Here are the mistakes that tourists most often make:
Improper storage conditions of medications. Very often, on vacation, people do not follow the rules of the instructions and leave the medication in direct sunlight or at high temperatures. This cannot be done, because the medications lose their properties or may deteriorate.
The absence of important medications in the first-aid kit. Be sure to check whether you have taken all the medications you need. It is better to check your luggage once again than not to find the necessary pills in an emergency.
Do not take too many medications with you. This is not only inconvenient, but will also cause unnecessary questions from customs officials at the border.
Expired medications. Before packing your first aid kit, make sure that the medications have not expired.
Also, be sure to check that you have brought all the prescriptions and certificates with you if you need any special medications.
How to avoid the described mistakes?
So that such mistakes do not spoil your vacation, we will give you some recommendations. Make a list of the necessary medications in advance and familiarize yourself with the rules for storing medications and expiration dates.
Pack medications in a convenient first aid kit and be sure to put prescriptions for prescription medications next to them. Also, study the rules for transporting medications across the border in advance.
If everything is already collected and your suitcases are packed, you can order tickets for your dream trip using the euroTICKET service. Have a nice vacation!