How to travel with medicines: a simple checklist
Last reviewed 23 October 2026
Short answer: Pack enough medicine for the whole trip plus a few spare days, keep it in its original packs, carry it in your hand luggage, bring a copy of your prescription, protect it from heat, and check the rules of the country you are visiting before you go. If you take a medicine regularly, speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you travel.
Why planning matters
Travel changes your routine, your climate and your access to a pharmacy. A medicine that you would normally buy at the corner shop may be hard to find, may have a different brand name, or may not be sold at all in another country. Planning ahead helps you avoid missed doses and avoid problems at the airport or border.
Before you go
- Talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Tell them where you are going and for how long. Ask whether your doses or timings need to change, especially if you will cross time zones, and what to do if you miss a dose.
- Pack enough. Take the full amount you need for the whole trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Do not rely on buying the same medicine abroad.
- Check expiry dates. Make sure each pack will remain in date for the whole trip. See medicine expiry dates explained.
- Check the rules of your destination. Some medicines, including certain painkillers, sleep and anxiety medicines and some everyday products, are controlled or banned in some countries. Check with the embassy or official website of the country, and with your airline, before you travel.
- Ask your doctor for a letter. For regular or important medicines, a short letter from your doctor naming the medicines and the reason you take them can be useful if you are asked questions.
What to pack
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Medicines in their original packs | The label shows the name, strength, batch number and expiry date, and it helps if someone checks what you are carrying. Do not decant tablets into unlabelled boxes. |
| A copy of your prescription | It shows that the medicine was prescribed for you. A photo on your phone is a helpful back-up. |
| A list of your medicines | Write the generic name, strength and what each is for. Brand names can differ abroad, so the generic name is what a foreign pharmacist or doctor will need. See brand vs generic medicines. |
| Any allergy information | Carry a note of known allergies in case you need medical help. |
| Basic supplies as advised by a pharmacist | For example, items for minor cuts, or oral rehydration salts. Ask what is suitable for you and for the places you are visiting. |
During the journey
- Keep medicines in your hand luggage, not in the checked bag, so that you still have them if the bag is lost or delayed.
- Keep them away from heat. Do not leave medicines in a parked car, in direct sun, or in a very hot or very cold hold. Read how to store medicines safely.
- Refrigerated medicines need a plan. If you use insulin or any other medicine that must be kept cold, ask your doctor or pharmacist how to carry it, and ask the airline what it allows.
- Liquids and injections. Check the airline and airport rules for carrying liquid medicines, needles and syringes, and bring the prescription or a doctor's letter.
- Keep your normal times in mind. If you cross time zones, ask your pharmacist how to space your doses.
If you need medicine while you are away
- Use a licensed pharmacy, and show the pharmacist your list of generic names.
- Be careful with unfamiliar products, and with sellers who cannot show a licence. See how to spot fake or unregistered medicines.
- Tell the pharmacist or doctor about every medicine you already take, to avoid doubling up. See how to avoid taking the same ingredient twice.
- Do not try to bring back large amounts of medicine without checking the rules, which can differ between countries.
A quick checklist
- I have spoken to my doctor or pharmacist about my trip.
- I have enough medicine for the trip plus extra days.
- Each pack is in its original box and in date.
- I carry a prescription copy, a medicine list and, if needed, a doctor's letter.
- I have checked the rules of my destination.
- My medicines are in my hand luggage and protected from heat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I carry my medicines in a pill box?
It is safer to carry them in the original packs, because the label shows what they are. If you use a pill box for convenience, also bring the original packs and the prescription.
Do I need a prescription copy for over-the-counter medicines?
Not always, but it is wise to carry the original packs, and to check the rules of the country you are visiting, since some everyday products are controlled elsewhere.
What if my medicine is not available abroad?
A pharmacist or doctor there can often suggest an equivalent, if you give them the generic name and strength. This is why a written list of generic names is useful.
Sources and further reading
- The embassy or official website of your destination country, for its rules on carrying medicines.
- Your airline, for its rules on carrying medicines, liquids and injection equipment.
- DRAP, dra.gov.pk, for official information on registered medicines in Pakistan.
- Your doctor or pharmacist, for advice about your own medicines.