Managing Medication On The Go: Tips for Travelers with Pre-existing Medical Conditions

In addition to the basics of traveling with medication; packing enough, keeping it on you and traveling with the prescriptions in their labeled containers, air travel has a few more things you’ll want to consider. Unlike regular liquids the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows you to bring more than the standard 3.4 ounces (about 100.55 ml) of liquid or cream prescription medications through security. Be sure the medication is clearly labeled and inform a TSA agent before screening of your prescription and any needles, syringes or other necessary items you may be traveling with.

All countries have varying regulations on traveling into the country with medications. Regulations can be on the amount of medication, the type of medication like controlled substances or around the documentation needed with your medication. It’s important to check the laws in the country you’re visiting even if you think you have standard medications. In Japan for example, some medications for pain, ADHD, depression and even some allergy medications are prohibited. You can check for country-specific regulations with the embassy of the country you’re traveling to or through the International Narcotics Control Board website.

If you’ve confirmed your prescriptions aren’t prohibited outright, make sure to double check the amount you can bring. Most countries will allow a 30-day supply of medication, which you’ll need to declare with a customs agent. Remember to bring a doctor’s note, copies of your prescription and travel with medication in its original container.

Smart travelers prepare for the unexpected. Before traveling, you can research local pharmacies in the areas you’re visiting in case you lose your medication or require a refill. Your primary physician may be able to write you a prescription that you can take to a local pharmacy to be filled in an emergency. However, if you run into a situation like this, Travel Guard’s emergency medical assistance team can help you with replacing medication, finding a physician and locating a pharmacy.* Keep any receipts and invoices you have from a medical situation while traveling in case you need to file a claim once you return home. 

Every prescription comes with instructions on how to safely store the medication. Many medications can be kept at room temperature; but some medications require refrigeration, which can feel tricky to manage while traveling.

First and most important, read the labels on the medication you’ll be traveling with to confirm what the storage requirements are for each of your prescriptions.  Next, take a look at your travel plans to determine how long your medication will be on-the-go. Ice packs and a cooler might be all you need for shorter domestic flights, but for longer or international flights you may need to think about how to refresh your cold source to maintain appropriate temperatures.

While you’re traveling, a waterproof cooler bag or even a small, insulated lunch box is a convenient way to keep your prescription cool during your flight. You can easily store medication alongside any supplies you might need to administer your medication. Of course, you’ll want to have ice packs in your cooler bag as well, guidelines for ice packs when you’re traveling with medication are different than regular TSA guidelines. Normally ice or gel packs must be frozen solid when going through TSA, melted or slushy ice packs are prohibited. When you’re traveling with medication that requires refrigeration, ice packs are medically necessary and can be brought through TSA checkpoints regardless of their state.  

Here are some additional items you may consider packing to make traveling with your refrigerated medications a little easier:

• Instant cold packs – Cold packs that are activated by force are allowed through TSA for medical purposes. This is extremely helpful on longer flights when you may not be able to refreeze your ice packs.
• Thermometer – Keep track of the temperature inside your cooler, many medications that require refrigeration will expire more quickly if left at room temperature for too long.
• Doctor’s note – Bringing a note from your doctor explaining the need for refrigeration of your medication can be helpful in case any questions arise during the screening process.
• Ziplock bags – If needed you can fill a zip lock bag with ice to keep your medication cool. This is a great back up in case the temperature in your cooler bag unexpectedly starts rising. And, if you’re in the air, a flight attendant can easily help you out with a bag of ice.
• TSA PreCheck® - Having TSA PreCheck can make traveling with medications easier. PreCheck lines are typically shorter and faster than regular security lines, and you can skip removing shoes, lighter jackets, laptops and regular liquids from your bag. This lets you focus on getting your medication through screening.
• Mini-Fridge –Check the fridge if you’re staying in a hotel. Some hotels require your room key to be inserted just inside the door to supply power to the room (which means the refrigerator too). Double check with the front desk if you have concerns.

If you take more than one prescription, you may need to take extra care in staying organized throughout your trip by keeping your medication in separate, clearly labeled containers and storing any necessary medical equipment alongside your prescriptions during your flight. Once you’re settled at your destination, you can use a pill organizer to help you keep track of your doses. Or you can download a medication reminder app to help you stay on schedule during your trip.

If multiple people within your travel party are bringing prescription medication, each person must be carrying their own medication in their own carry-on bag to help avoid delays with TSA or even legal issues for international travel.

No matter how much we plan, sometimes the unpredictable still happens - even on vacation. You may find yourself in a situation where you need a prescription filled or replaced during your vacation. Getting a prescription while you’re traveling, especially overseas, may sound daunting but Travel Guard’s emergency travel assistance team can help 24/7 to find a doctor or a pharmacy located near you. Our team can also help with finding a doctor who speaks your language, medical case management and even translation services when needed.^*

When traveling outside of your time zone, it’s important to understand how the time change affects when you take your medication. Talk to your doctor about your travel plans to see if you need to adjust your medication schedule on vacation. Together, you can decide the best plan for your medication schedule. If you need to adjust the timing of medications, one tip that can help is to track by time since your last dosage rather than time of day.

There are also many medication reminder apps you can download on your phone to help you stay on track.

Popular, free-to-use medication reminder apps include:

• Medisafe – Medisafe creates a report based on when you take your medication and allows you to track multiple family members' medications in one spot.
• Mango Health – Mango Health offers medication reminders along with customized reminders like water intake and blood sugar monitoring. 

No, it’s prohibited to fly with cannabis that has THC amounts over 0.3%. Despite whether it’s medicinal or legalized at your origination location or destination, you will not be allowed to travel with cannabis in any form.

Yes, you can travel with IVF medication provided the medications aren’t prohibited in the country you’re traveling to. If you’re traveling with liquid IVF medication, follow the guidelines for going through airport security with liquid prescription medication; make sure your medications are in their original labeled containers, keep medical supplies like alcohol wipes or needles with the medication and inform a TSA agent prior to screening. If your prescription requires refrigeration, pack it in an insulated cooler bag with cold packs and a thermometer so you can monitor the temperature. If you need to take your medication at a specific time, consider where you’ll be on your travels; if you’ll be in-flight, it might be helpful to let a flight attendant know especially in the event the seatbelt sign to remain seated is on at that time.

Traveling with banned medication can lead to the medication being seized at customs or, depending on the country, you may even be detained. Instead, meet with your doctor well in advance of traveling to allow time to create an alternative care plan for your trip if needed. When you do travel, have your doctor write a letter describing your treatment and condition in case you need to show information to TSA or customs. It can be a good idea to have your doctor’s letter translated to the local language of your destination.

If the medication you are taking is banned in a specific country and there is not an alternative treatment option for you, you may contact the U.S. Embassy at your destination to see if you have the option of requesting approval. If you’re unable to find an alternative for your banned prescription, you should be prepared to choose another destination to visit.