For the most part, you’re likely to be able to find everything you need at your destination, so there’s no use in over-preparing for a trip. But the one thing I always like to have handy when I’m traveling? Medication.
While Michael and I are fortunate to not need to take any daily prescriptions, we do both try to stick to a vitamin and allergy medicine routine – and I always want to be ready to treat any ailments that arise ASAP so we can get back to enjoying our trip.
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Previously, my toiletry case would be filled with mini-tubes (and sometimes full-size bottles) of our OTC medications, and I’d wind up sounding like I was traveling with a set of maracas. I’d searched for a solution on and off over the years but never landed on anything designed for OTC medications (most pill cases on the market are designed for sorting daily prescriptions and labeled with the days of the week – you know the ones I’m talking about). So I continued to rifle through my case before every trip, deciding which pill bottles to bring and which to leave behind. Do we need motion sickness medicine? Will we get enough sunshine? If not, should I pack the Vitamin D supplement? And then there’s the matter of expiration dates – sometimes the travel pills would expire without me realizing it, leaving me to choose between taking a less-than-effective pill or trying to find a replacement at my destination.
What a headache.
(pun intended)
Fed up, I decided to resume my search again last year. I finally found the solution on Amazon – a place where I try not to shop frequently, but every once in a while I have no choice but to do so.
MY FAVORITE TRAVEL PILL ORGANIZER
There are various versions of this Travel Pill Box floating around on Amazon under different brand names, but this is the three-pack I purchased. Each organizer is compact with eight compartments, and the set includes a sheet of labels. Although I wish it weren’t made of plastic, it apparently has cereal shell fiber mixed in to reduce the amount of plastic used – a small win, I suppose. A quick clean of the compartments, and it was time to load.
Choosing which pills to include in each section made for a fun little puzzle. I worked out which medications we needed the most when traveling, and which ones were large enough to need to occupy the largest compartments. I trimmed the labels down to a more reasonable size, and hand-printed the generic medication names and dosages in pen and the expiration dates in pencil for easy updating. Now, rather than purchasing a second bottle of medication to travel with, I can simply decant it into the organizer from our home medicine cabinet. Easy-peasy!
WHAT I STORE IN MY ORGANIZER
It feels pretty personal to open up someone’s medicine cabinet, but we’re all friends here, right?
Bearing in mind that everyone’s needs are different and I am not qualified to make health claims, these are the medications and supplements I travel with:
- Calcium Carbonate (aka Tums) | I love spicy food, but it doesn’t always love me back.
- Ibuprofen (aka Advil) | For headaches and pain.
- Diphenhydramine (aka Benadryl) | For allergic reactions (fun fact: I am allergic to squirrels)
- Simethicone (aka Gas-X) | Feeling uncomfortable mid-flight? It’s not just you – jet belly occurs because of changes in the cabin pressure, and this helps.
- Loperamide (aka Imodium) | The pill I hope you never need, but always have on hand.
- Loratadine (aka Claritin) | For keeping the sniffles at bay.
- Multivitamin | To make sure I’m getting all the nutrients I need when my travel diet is 100% tacos.
- Bismuth Subsalicylate (aka Pepto-Bismol) | You’ve heard the jingle.
OKAY, BUT IS IT ILLEGAL TO TRAVEL WITH UNLABELED MEDICATION?
That answer depends on where you’re located and where you’re headed.
Here in the U.S., the TSA does not require medications to be in their original bottles, but state and local governments might – particularly in the case of prescription medications. In any and all cases, I’d advise leaving your prescriptions in their original bottles and having a copy of your prescription on hand. In my personal experience of traveling domestically with OTC medications, I’ve never encountered any issues flying or driving with my pills corralled in a smaller container.
Traveling internationally is a different story – many countries have strict regulations on carrying medications (and some OTC medications available here in the U.S. aren’t permitted abroad), and I wouldn’t want to risk any unfortunate legal encounters. So for example, when traveling to Guadalajara, I conceded to purchase just a couple of mini vials or blister packs of ibuprofen, heartburn tablets, and anti-diarrheal medications. This doesn’t encapsulate all the medications I’d have liked to have on hand during that trip, but they provided a little peace of mind.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON TRAVELING WITH MEDICATION
Traveling with over-the-counter medications can add a little more stress to your packing process, but planning ahead and getting organized can ease that burden. Filling this Travel Pill Box with the necessary medications for my trips was a cinch, and keeping it permanently stored with my travel bags means I’ll never forget it. I’ve made it a habit to replenish any toiletries in my bag immediately after returning from a trip and checking dates and quantities of medications was an easy addition to that practice.
Not in the U.S.? Or planning to travel internationally? Do a little research beforehand – including noting where the nearest pharmacy to your hotel/rental is located. As always, the goal here is to make your time away from home as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
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What packing dilemma are you still trying to solve?
Hi, I recently wanted to get one of these multicompartment containers to organise the medication I need to take every day. (So I wouldn’t forget whether I took it or not.) A pharmacist then told me that not all medication can be unpacked and stored in a plastic container as it can degrade. If it originally comes in opaque packaging, I would double check whether you can put it in your travel container or not, it might affect the expiry date. Best, Kathrin
Hi Kathrin – that’s such a great point! As this case is fully opaque when closed it’s likely not an issue, but definitely worth checking with your pharmacist just in case!
Have you ever tried using/adapting these for makeup? I was thinking depot cream makeup & use these……what are your thoughts since you have them? I get they aren’t for liquids, but solids?
I personally haven’t tried it, but I have seen others do this with success. Like your hunch, I would try it with thicker creams versus runny serums and oils – and maybe test it out at home before popping it in your travel bag, just in case of spills!