As Bill and I have traveled the world over the past few years, we’ve learned a lot—especially about how to travel with medications. And I don’t mean one or two kinds of pills; I’m talking about 12 to 15 different prescriptions, several of which need refrigeration. So, how do we do it?
In this post, I’ll share everything we’ve learned from personal experience. I’m not a medical professional, but I am someone with multiple chronic conditions who doesn’t let that stop me from checking things off my travel Bucket List. I have figured out how to travel the world with all my meds and supplies—and you can too.
You might be wondering “how do I carry medication on a plane?” or “how do I travel with medications that need to be refrigerated?” Google will give you answers from all the government agencies, which are totally valid. But here are 7 Important to tips know, from someone who has actually done it:
#1 – Plan Ahead
Months before you travel, you need to research the following:
- Are any of my meds restricted or prohibited in the places I will be traveling? For us, so far nothing we take has been an issue. But my children take ADD (attention deficit disorder) meds, some of which are classified as “controlled substances.” Always check the immigration website for each country you will be visiting.
- Do I need any vaccinations before I go? Some countries require certain vaccinations before you will be granted entry. So far, we have only needed vaccinations for Southeast Asia and Africa.
I also highly recommend meeting with your Personal Physician in advance of your travel to determine:
- Are there any adjustments I need to make to my meds due to time zone differences? This usually only affects the first day or two until your body adjusts.
- Are there any traveler’s drugs you want to prescribe for me? My doctor has prescribed an anti-diarrhea drug for me in case I get traveler’s diarrhea and an antibiotic drug in case I get another UTI while traveling.
- Can I get a signed letter to carry with me for the drugs I take? See #4 below for a template.
#2 – Bring Extras
I always take 15-20% more medicine than my trip plan indicates I’ll need. What if our return gets delayed? What if one of us ends up in the hospital and we have to stay longer? Or what if we love the place so much that we decide to stay longer?
Did you know that many insurance companies have a “Vacation Override” program where you can get a larger amount of drugs to take with you? So if your trip is more than 30 days, or you’re leaving before your next refill, ask them about that. We once traveled with 12 months worth of drugs!
#3 – Plan for Refrigeration (if needed)
Maybe we’re unique, but four of our medications need to be refrigerated or kept chilled. So we ALWAYS book accommodations that have a refrigerator (which also comes in handy for my Diet Pepsi addiction!).
If our trip is longer than 30 days, then we bring a medical grade cooler as an extra carry on, packed with frozen ice packs, our drugs and my doctor’s note (see #4 below). The bonus is we get to have a cooler along for our travels too! Here’s a less expensive alternative cooler that would also work, and the red medical tags we attached.
#4 – Have Good Documentation
It’s actually a myth that the TSA requires everything to be in the original container. They do not. But you know what we’ve learned? It’s really smart to do so anyway. It cuts down on questions when everything is labeled with your name and the drug name. And it shows that you were legitimately prescribed those drugs.
I also carry a printed paper copy of all my prescriptions AND a letter from my doctor that states my chronic conditions, the list of drugs and supplies that are required for my conditions. It’s very short and straightforward. Here’s a template:
Date
To Whom It May Concern:
My Patient [Name] is has [conditions requiring treatment]. It’s necessary for her to have access to the following medications/equipment:
– [Drug 1]
– [Drug 2]
– [Drug 3]
Please allow her to keep these medications.
Signature
Dr. Name, title, address
The first page is in English, and then translated into all the other languages of the countries we will be traveling to. I keep one copy with my meds in the cooler, and a backup copy in a separate piece of luggage.
#5 – Pack it Well
That time we set out to travel for a full year, our drugs and medical supplies took up almost a whole suitcase! It didn’t weigh much, but it was very bulky. So I have learned a lot of tricks to consolidate and and make things smaller when we’re traveling for extended periods of time.
- If I have multiple bottles of pills (same medication), I put them into a larger bottle. If I still have multiple bottles (like when we travel for 6-12 months), then I number them with a Sharpie pen, according to their expiration date.
- Some of my medications, like injectable insulin pens, come in boxes of 5. I fit as many pens as possible into each box – usually 7-9 pens – as long as I can still close the lid. I number the boxes in expiration date order.
- These pens come only 2 to a box with a whole bunch of cardboard packaging. I take them out of the box and put them in a ziplock quart-sized baggy, with the front of the box in the baggie so it’s clear what the medication is and that is was prescribed to me.
#6 – Prepare to Go Through TSA/Immigration
Pack all of your medications in your carry-on luggage in clear, Zip-lock style bags. When you get to the TSA screening, take them out of your carry-on and place them separate in the bins, just like you do with your computer or tablet or shoes.
This makes it transparent and easy for the inspectors to see. Most of the time, they don’t even bother to look at them. But if they did, everything is labeled and clear what the drug is and who its prescribed for.
The only time we get stopped by TSA or Immigration in other countries is when we bring our medical grade cooler. Every single time. They always want to open it up to see what’s inside. Then when they see it’s medications, they send us on our merry way.
And we are allowed to bring a frozen plastic ice pack, as long as there are medications in the cooler.
The TSA and FDA both offer some helpful information about traveling with medications.
#7 – Don’t forget to take your meds once you get there!
Once you arrive at your destination, with the jet lag and the excitement of sightseeing, don’t lose track of your medication routine.
Set alarms and try to stick to your schedule as closely as possible.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you feel more confident about how to travel with medications—whether it’s for a weekend or for a year.
It may seem overwhelming the first time, but I promise you: it gets easier. Once you develop your system—packing, planning, refrigeration, and documentation—it becomes second nature.
You’ll no longer be traveling “with a condition.” You’ll just be traveling and exploring the big wide world. 😊
More Info on How to Travel With Medications
Here are some more posts about traveling with drugs and medical supplies, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.
- Coming Soon: Traveling the World as a Diabetic
- Coming Soon: Seeking Medical Care in other Countries
- Coming Soon: Staying Healthy while Traveling
- Coming Soon: Navigating TSA and Immigration When You Travel with Medications
- Coming Soon: Traveling with Medications that Must Stay Refrigerated
- Coming Soon: Long-term Travel with Medications – how to get a 3-12 month supply of drugs and how to pack them as small as possible