Bathing suit? Check. Plane tickets? Check. Medicine? Err…that’s where preparing for your trip can become complicated. While most travellers might not think twice about tossing aspirin and routine prescription medications into their bags, travelling with medication should take some thought and pre-planning.
Unbeknownst to you, your prescription medicines and even some over-the-counter medications might be illegal where you are headed. From how to pack your medication to what to do if you run out of medication while abroad, these tips for travelling internationally with medication will help before and during your travels, wherever they may be.
PRE-TRAVEL: What’s up, doc?
- Prior to your trip, consult with your physician to identify your healthcare needs at your destination.
- It’s a great idea to research the environmental conditions like altitude, air pollution and humidity at your destination that may contribute to your specific health concerns.
- Be sure to check the availability and standards of care in the city and country you are headed to.
PRE-TRAVEL: Be prepared for anything
- Leave emergency contact information and copies of your passport biographic data page and prescriptions with family and trusted friends. Take two copies with you, one in your carry on and one in your checked luggage.
- Carry emergency contact information for your family with you when you travel. Be sure to also pencil this information in the emergency contact information section of your passport, too.
- Learn the contact information for the nearest Canadian embassy or consulate, available on Government of Canada’s embassies and consulates page for each country and on each embassy or consulate’s website. Provide this information to your family and friends in case of an emergency.
- If you have allergies to certain medications, foods, insect bites, or other unique medical problems, consider wearing a medical alert bracelet and carrying a letter from your doctor explaining required treatment if you become ill.
PRE-TRAVEL: Know before you go
- Your prescription medication may be illegal in some countries and which medications are allowed varies country by country. Some drugs that are commonly used in Canada could raise a red flag abroad. If you’re unsure, get in touch with the foreign government offices accredited to Canada of the country you plan to visit to make sure your medication won’t cause any issues.
- For more specifics regarding your destination, read the Travel Advice and Advisories available on the Government of Canada website. Before travelling it’s also helpful to review the Public Health Agency of Canada’s travel health notices.
PACKING: What and how to Pack
The travel health and safety section of the Government of Canada website has made a packing list that includes first aid supplies to prevent illness or injury while abroad such as:
- Adhesive bandages in multiple sizes
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Disposable latex or vinyl gloves
- Gauze
- Thermometer
- Tweezers
- Hydrocortisone cream
- Anti-diarrhea medication
- Anti-motion sickness medication
- Aloe gel
- Saline eye drops
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Emergency contact card
- Immunization records
PACKING: Handle with care
- If you routinely take prescription medication, be sure to include a sufficient supply for your trip and carry enough for brief unforeseen delays or emergency situations.
- If you have a severe allergy and your doctor has prescribed epinephrine, bring your Epinephrine auto-injector (for example, an EpiPen).
- Pack your prescription medications in your carry-on luggage in case your checked luggage is delayed or lost. Packing medicines in your carry-on means you will also have immediate access to it.
- Medicines needing to be refrigerated can be carried in an insulated medication bag, travel cooler or even insulated lunch bag.
- Carry a letter from your doctor describing your medical conditions and the medication you require. Be sure to ask your physician and pharmacist for the generic or chemical name of your medication. Drug names differ in many countries, and pharmacists and physicians abroad are more likely to be familiar with this name.
- Pack a note on letterhead stationery from the prescribing physician for controlled substances such as painkillers, stimulants and injectable medications.
- To avoid questions or delays at customs or immigration, keep medications in their original, labeled containers.
- Bring extras of any medical necessities you need, like contact lenses or glasses. You might want to pack a pair in both your carry-on bag and your checked luggage, just to be safe.
- Travellers should check with the airlines for specific recommendations on travelling with medications and where to put them in flight.
- Contact the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) at 1-888-294-2202 (toll-free) if you need more clarity about what you can and cannot bring with you.
- Be sure to check out tips for travelling with medication on the Government of Canada website.
AT THE AIRPORT: Swift security screening
- You can bring your medication in pill or solid form in unlimited amounts as long as it is screened.
- Medication in liquid form is allowed in carry-on bags in excess of the 3-1-1 rule in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the start of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subjected to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container.
- Medication is usually screened by X-ray; however, if a traveller does not want a medication X-rayed, he or she may ask for an inspection instead. This request must be made before any items are sent through the X-ray tunnel.
- For medication needing refrigeration, accessories such as freezer packs or frozen gel packs are also permitted through the screening checkpoint, as are supplies that are associated with medically necessary liquids, such as IV bags, pumps and syringes. These items are exempt from the 3-1-1 Rule, but may be subject to additional screening.
- You are not required to have medications in prescription bottles, but jurisdictions have individual laws regarding the labeling of prescription medication with which passengers need to comply.
- Become familiar with the medication-related laws in the jurisdiction(s) you are travelling to and from. Just because medications are allowed on the plane when departing Canada doesn’t necessarily mean they will be allowed in the country where you are travelling.
TRAVELLING: Stick to a schedule
- Remember to adjust your medication schedule accordingly as you cross time zones.
- If your medication is lost, damaged or you run out while travelling, or it is confiscated crossing borders, contact the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate, which will have information about where and how to find a doctor or pharmacy.
TRAVELLING: Call for Help
- Make sure you have the contact information for the nearest Canadian Embassy or Consulate where you are going. If you have a medical emergency, they can provide a list of local doctors and hospitals to help you get the medical attention you need. You can read more about what the Government of Canada can and can’t do for you in an emergency via the Canadian Consular Services Charter. Canadian officials provide consular assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week in 150 countries.
- Sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad service before you leave. This will make it easier for the Government of Canada to contact you in case of an emergency while you’re away.
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