Travelling with your medicines

We Recommend taking an adequate supply of meds in a carry-on…in the original, labelled containers if possible.

Suggest declaring all meds and supplies…especially liquids over 100 mL, syringes, ice packs, etc.

Emphasize bringing med lists…with brand AND generic names, indication, etc. Suggest translating the list to the destination language if possible…in case patients need medical care abroad.

Advise checking with the destination’s embassy about any med restrictions before travel…especially with controlled substances.

For example, it’s illegal to bring some ADHD meds (Adderall XR, etc) into Japan…or pseudoephedrine into Mexico.

If patients must buy meds abroad, recommend verifying the active ingredient with a pharmacist…and looking for meds in original packaging.

Travelling to Canada. If you’re asked about a med from abroad, search your drug database for alternate, global, or international names.

If needed, try an app or website (Google Translate, etc) to input text or take a photo for translation…or use an interpreter.

Be aware that drugs may have different names in different countries…or look or sound alike.

For instance, Flomax is tamsulosin in Canada but it’s the NSAID morniflumate in Italy…Diovan (valsartan) could be confused with the brand name Dianben (metformin) abroad…or Lasix (furosemide) could be mistaken for Losec, which is omeprazole in many other countries.

Double-check what the med is for, how it’s used, etc. If needed, recommend a similar med available OTC…or connect patients with a local urgent care centre or prescriber for a new Rx.