What medicines to take on vacation

Planning a vacation is not limited to choosing a hotel, buying plane tickets, or packing a suitcase. The medical aspect is a key element, ignoring which significantly increases the risks of a ruined vacation. With a sudden change in climate, diet, level of physical activity, and even time zone, the body experiences stress. Digestive disorders, adaptation colds, and skin reactions occur. Therefore, the question of which medications to take on vacation requires a clear, thoughtful, and logical answer. The contents of the first aid kit should take into account the destination country, duration of the trip, weather conditions, route specifics, and the presence of chronic illnesses.

Essential First Aid Kit: What Medications to Take on Vacation

The basic composition of a travel first aid kit is designed with a focus on typical threats that tourists face when changing their environment. It includes medications that alleviate the most common symptoms such as fever, pain, inflammation, stomach upset, and allergic reactions:

1. Fever and pain relievers – ibuprofen 200-400 mg, paracetamol 500 mg. They reduce fever, headache, muscle, and joint pain.
2. Antidiarrheal – loperamide 2 mg, enterofuril capsules 100 mg. They alleviate acute symptoms of intestinal infections.
3. Sorbents – smecta, activated charcoal, enterosgel. They absorb toxins, reduce gas formation, and spasms.
4. Antiseptics – chlorhexidine, miramistin, iodine wipes. Suitable for treating abrasions, insect bites, burns.
5. Antihistamines – cetirizine 10 mg, loratadine 10 mg, fenistil gel. Help with insect bites, skin rashes, food reactions.
6. Motion sickness remedies – dimenhydrinate 50 mg, aviamore tablets No. 10. Used during sea trips, bus rides, flights.
7. Antiseptic wipes, adhesive plasters, bandage, sterile gauze dressings. Basic protection for injuries.

These are the medications that should be taken on vacation to any part of the world, regardless of the climate and continent. This is a universal minimum that helps deal with initial signs of discomfort.

Special Cases: Medications Based on Vacation Type

The type of vacation determines potential risks and requires individualization of the first aid kit. A beach resort, trekking in the mountains, a city sightseeing marathon in Europe, or a safari in Tanzania – each route has its own requirements for medical preparation.

Beach Vacation

A tourist first aid kit for a seaside resort must include:

• Sunscreens with SPF 30-50, thermal water, burn cream (panthenol, bepanthen);
• Eye drops for irritation from salty water – albucid, visine pure tears;
• Ear drops – Otipax, Otinum, especially for diving;
• Medications for intestinal infections – nifuroxazide, rifaximin;
• Electrolyte solutions – Regidron, Humana electrolyte, especially in hot climates.

Active Tourism and Mountain Routes

An alpinist’s or trekker’s first aid kit additionally includes:

• Medications for altitude sickness – acetazolamide 250 mg;
• Antispasmodics – magnesium asparaginate, potassium orotate;
• Stretch mark creams – diclofenac gel, fastum gel;
• Thermal patches and warming plasters – for joint stress;
• Bactericidal dressings – for protection against wound infections.

City Tourism and Extended Excursions

City tours require fewer medications, but support for fatigue and colds is important. The list of medications to take on such vacations includes:

• Nasal drops – xylometazoline, nazivin;
• Throat lozenges for pain – septolete, strepsils, lizobact;
• Immunomodulators – ergoferon, ingavirin 90 mg, anaferon;
• Vitamin complexes with zinc and selenium – to support immune defenses;
• Portable gel antiseptics – sanitel, desiscrub.

Chronic Illnesses: Well-Planned Packing Without Risks

When dealing with chronic illnesses, the question of which medications to take on vacation requires particularly careful planning. It is important not only to bring the necessary amount of medications but also to prepare prescriptions, instructions in English, and store everything in the original packaging with labeling. This applies to:

• Antihypertensive drugs – prestarium, lorazid, enalapril;
• Insulins and glucometers;
• Inhalers for bronchial asthma – salbutamol, berodual;
• Anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents – warfarin, xarelto, clopidogrel;
• Antiepileptic drugs – carbamazepine, depakin;
• Hormones – euthyrox, dexamethasone, prednisolone.

When traveling abroad with these medications, a separate package is prepared, and the legality of importing them into the destination country is checked in advance.

Which Medications to Take on Vacation for Children: Age-Appropriate Protection

A child’s first aid kit is based on age, body weight, allergy tendencies, and the nature of the vacation. The approach is fundamentally different from that of an adult. It includes:

• Syrups for fever – ibuprofen, nurofen, panadol;
• Ear and nasal drops;
• Children’s forms of antihistamines – zyrtec, fenistil, cetirizine;
• Plasters with pictures, electronic thermometers, suspensions;
• Repellents with an allowable concentration of DEET (not exceeding 10% up to 12 years old).

A child’s first aid kit is packed separately and always kept in an accessible area of the luggage, regardless of the child’s age.

Platforms for Purchasing: Where to Buy Verified Medications

When assembling a first aid kit, it is important not only to know which medications to take on vacation but also – where to purchase them. A list of online pharmacies with verified licenses, assortment, and fast delivery:

• “Apteka.ru” – the largest aggregator with the option of self-pickup from 17,000 pharmacies;
• “Eapteka” – focus on branded medications, possibility of purchase without registration;
• “ZdravCity” – generic drug recommendation system, operates in 80 regions;
• “Sber Eapteka” – fast courier delivery and synchronization with online prescriptions;
• “Planeta Zdorovya” – advantageous selections, promotions, checking expiration dates in stock.

The More Well-Thought-Out the First Aid Kit, the Safer the Vacation

The choice of which medications to take on vacation forms not just a first aid kit but insurance against derailing the itinerary, unforeseen expenses, and nervousness. The more precise the composition, the higher the mobility in emergency situations. Proper packaging, duplication of prescription medications, understanding dosages, and storage conditions protect travelers on any continent. A first aid kit is as essential for a confident vacation as insurance or hotel booking.