Medicines play an important role in any well-planned travel kit. They can help reduce your risk of illness and enable prompt self-treatment if it should occur. Both prescription, as well as over-the-counter, medications are included in this recommendation.
The following over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplies are recommended for most travelers to consider when they pack for an overseas destination. Obviously the exact requirements will depend on your itinerary and anticipated needs but these are worth considering as a general guide:
These are among some of the most important items to bring along in your suitcase! Their role will be discussed in detail at your consultation but what follows is a brief review of some of the most common prescriptions that we recommend for travelers.
It is recommended that the traveler have on hand a short course of a strong antibiotic in case of a bout of traveler’s diarrhea. It is only necessary for a maximum of 3 days and it is extremely effective in shortening the duration of diarrhea and returning one to their previous level of functioning. We tend to use antibiotics like azithromycin or a fluoroquinolone like ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin. From experience I can vouch for their benefit….if one awakens at 3 am with diarrhea, the last thing you want to be doing at that time is looking for a doctor or pharmacy!
If one is prone to certain infections, such as pneumonia, strep throat or bladder infection, it is also reasonable to have on hand a course of preferred antibiotic for self-treatment in case the need arises.
If one is planning on trekking above 3000 meters, it is prudent to take a medicine to reduce the likelihood of suffering from ‘altitude sickness,’ also known as ‘acute mountain sickness.’ The most commonly prescribed drug is acetazolamide which works by gently acidifying your body to compensate for changes which occur from hyperventilating. Having taken it for a climb up Mt. Kenya, I can vouch for its efficacy with minimal side effects. Occasionally we prescribe dexamethasone, a strong steroid, for self-treatment if one develops more serious symptoms of altitude sickness but essentially the treatment is descent and oxygen.
Malaria is a serious parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of infected night-time mosquitoes. Malaria occurs in most tropical regions of the world and can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early. There a several effective anti-malarial drugs which are available and the choice of preferred agent depends on many factors including previous usage and history of allergies, exact itinerary and destination, degree of urban or rural exposure and season of travel to name just a few. Ultimately the choice of anti-malarial rests with the patient but our goal is to discuss the risks and assist the traveler in making an informed and reasonable decision.
It is important to stress that whatever prescription medications the traveler is routinely taking should be brought along in sufficient supply to more than cover the duration of the trip. If some medications are only used as needed but the condition could be aggravated by travel exposure (e.g. asthma) then those medicines should be brought along as well. If there is any significant allergy history, then an emergency adrenaline treatment is also prudent (e.g. EpiPen® or Twinject®). Bringing along to the consultation a complete list of medications currently taken (both prescription and OTC) will help in discussing the most appropriate course of action.