Ask the Pharmacist: Travel health

Ask the Pharmacist

By Stefanie Tagg, Pharmacist

With the cooler weather and shorter days, many people are starting to plan winter vacations. Whether you are heading to a beach destination, planning a visit to friends and family in a far away place, or preparing for that once-in-a-lifetime trip, there are some precautions you can take to ensure you have a safe and healthy time away from home.

Certain countries have recommended or required vaccines that you should get before traveling. Since some of these vaccines need to be given months before you go, it is good to check in advance. Some vaccines do not require a prescription, but if you are unsure what vaccines you have had or need, go to your doctor or a travel clinic. A few examples of vaccines that may be required for traveling are Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, Yellow Fever and Influenza. A number of these vaccines can be given right in the pharmacy as well. Some vacation places or activities may also require you to take medication for malaria, altitude sickness, or jet lag.

Pack your prescription medication in your carry-on with the original prescription label from the pharmacy. If you do not want to bring all your medications with you but only what you need, the pharmacy can put your medication into blister packs that have all your medication labeled and in slots for the times that you take them. Do not forget to bring your epinephrine (Epi-Pen, Allerject) if you have severe allergies. If you are in a country where you do not speak or read the language, it can increase your risk of being exposed to an allergen because you did not know it was there. Also, it is a good idea to get travel insurance that includes health insurance before leaving.

There are many different types of non-prescription medication that you can bring with you to be prepared. Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to stop by the pharmacy to pick up some of these common medications for travel:

• Anti-diarrhea medication (bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide)
• Antihistamine
• Decongestant
• Anti-motion sickness/nausea medication (dimenhydrinate)
• Medicine for pain or fever (such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen)
• Mild laxative
• Cough suppressant/expectorant
• Cough drops
• Antacid
• Antifungal and antibacterial ointments or creams

Make sure to pack sunscreen, bug spray, and basic first aid items (such as band-aids) as well.

No matter where your travels take you, around the world or much closer to home, a little research and a few precautions can help ensure a problem free vacation. Bon Voyage!