USC Health Thought Prescription for Travel

Along with the extra socks, suntan lotion and hiking boots packed in the suitcases of travelers this summer, care should be taken to remember adequate or even extra doses of medications needed while traveling.

Kari Trotter Wall, Pharm.D., director of the USC University Park Campus Pharmacy, advises travelers on “maintenance medications” such as those to regulate blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes or birth control, to plan ahead.

“Talk with the insurance benefits office to verify if they allow multiple months' supply of medications in the event of traveling,” says Trotter Wall. “The pharmacy may also be able to help patients determine if their insurance plan will cover a multiple month supply should they not have access to a pharmacy while traveling.”

Trotter Wall advises investigating these options at least two weeks before departing for the trip, in the event of any problems.

A second option for people vacationing away from home within the United States for more than a month is to transfer prescriptions between pharmacies over the phone. This enables them to be refilled on schedule at a pharmacy nearby.

Trotter Wall also recommends seeking pre-travel advice from a traveler's clinic or physician, particularly if you will be leaving the country. “Most travelers are exposed to diseases in other countries and become ill when a little pre-travel information and proper precautions could have avoided it.”

During travel, particularly if it is by plane, Trotter Wall advises keeping all medications in a carryon bag that you can keep close at hand. She also reminds people to read the instructions on the medications for proper storage.

“Some medications warrant refrigeration, so for those items it is good to check with the flight attendants to see if they can store items that absolutely need to be refrigerated,” says Trotter Wall.

It is also important to keep prescription drugs in their original containers. “For international travel, customs agents may at times be leery of the pill box with unlabeled medications,” says Trotter Wall.

In the event of a lost medication, travelers within the U.S. can call their home pharmacies to have their prescription transferred nearby, however they may have to pay for the replacement (unless their insurance has a provision for lost medications). International travelers may need to visit a travel clinic in the region for a new prescription, if their medications are available in the countries in which they are vacationing.

“If you are traveling internationally, it is best to treat your medications like you do your passport. Guard them carefully,” says Trotter Wall. “It is always a good idea to travel with a list of your current medications' doses and your physician's name and phone number.”

source: www.usc.edu