Health

Travel Pharmacy: The Complete Packing List

A well-organized travel pharmacy saves nerves - especially abroad, where medications have different names or require prescriptions. This guide shows you what belongs in every travel pharmacy, plus special additions for tropical destinations, families, and long-distance travel.

Why a Travel Pharmacy at All?

Even in well-developed travel countries, there are reasons to bring your own medications: Foreign pharmacies often lack German-speaking staff, brand names differ (Aspirin in the USA is not identical to the European one), and on holidays or in remote areas, there simply is no pharmacy.

A good travel pharmacy covers four scenarios:

  • Acute complaints: headaches, colds, gastrointestinal issues
  • Injuries: cuts, insect bites, blisters
  • Chronic medication: your own prescription in original packaging
  • Travel-specific: jet lag, motion sickness, tropical

Basic Equipment for Every Trip

This basic kit belongs in every travel pharmacy - whether it's a city trip or a world tour:

Pain & Fever

  • Paracetamol (500 mg) - for pain and fever
  • Ibuprofen (400 mg) - anti-inflammatory
  • Note: Aspirin is not recommended for trips with blood-thinning risk

Gastrointestinal

  • Loperamide (Stop Diarrhea) - for acute emergencies during flight/bus
  • Electrolytes to dissolve in water (powder sachets)
  • Charcoal tablets or Perenterol (biological yeast strain)
  • Acid blockers (Omeprazole or Ranitidine) for sensitive stomachs

Cold & Cough

  • Nasal spray (decongestant, max. 7 days in a row)
  • Throat lozenges
  • Cough syrup or tablets

Wounds & Skin

  • Plasters in various sizes + blister plasters
  • Gauze bandages, sterile compresses
  • Wound disinfectant (Octenisept or equivalent)
  • Wound healing ointment (Bepanthen or similar)
  • Zinc ointment for sunburn

Allergy & Skin Reactions

  • Antihistamine (Cetirizine or Loratadine)
  • Cortisone cream (1%, low dosage) for skin reactions
  • Anti-itch cream/gell (e.g. Fenistil)

Additions for Long-Distance Travel

From 5 hours of flight time or when local pharmacies are not easily accessible, supplement with:

  • Travel tablets (e.g. Dimenhydrinate) - for motion sickness on bus/boat
  • Melatonin (available over the counter in Germany in low doses) - for jet lag
  • Eye drops with moisturizing tears (dry air from air conditioning)
  • Eye mask & earplugs - on the plane and in hotels with thin walls
  • Thrombosis prophylaxis - compression socks for flights over 5 hours.
  • Personal toothbrush, toothpaste, dental hygiene - in case of emergency

Tropical Addendum: Asia, Africa, Latin America

For travel to tropical areas (Thailand, Indonesia, Caribbean, Africa, South America) additionally:

  • Insect protection: DEET product (at least 30%, better 50%) - brand products like Nobite, Autan or Anti-Brumm Forte
  • Permethrin spray for clothing - longer lasting than skin repellent
  • After-bite gel or ammonia solution
  • Sun cream: SPF 50+, waterproof, Reef-Safe (coral-friendly near the sea)
  • Wound disinfection - infections heal more difficultly in the tropics
  • Disposable gloves - for more severe injuries
  • Fever thermometer - for malaria control
  • Fine tweezers for tick removal
  • Emergency antibiotic after consultation with a tropical medicine specialist (e.g., for diarrhea diseases away from civilization)
  • Malaria prophylaxis (depending on the area - travel medical advice!)

Important: Special tropical medications such as malaria prophylaxis (Malarone, Lariam) should only be taken after travel medical advice. An appointment at the tropical institute or with a travel medicine-trained family doctor 4-6 weeks before departure is advisable.

Traveling with Children

  • Children's versions of basic medications (paracetamol syrup, ibuprofen syrup)
  • Fever-reducing suppositories (paracetamol 125/250 mg)
  • Ear drops (for the airplane)
  • Children's wound healing ointment, dexpanthenol
  • Nasal drops for children
  • Antibrumm Kids / special insect repellent for children's skin
  • Sunscreen with high SPF (50+) - specially for children's skin
  • Fever thermometer (digital, ear/forehead)
  • Some well-known stuffed animals are better for tooth gaps: bring favorite toothbrush & toothpaste

Prescription Medications Abroad

Traveling with your own medications (blood pressure, thyroid, antidepressants, diabetes, etc.) requires preparation:

Basic Rules

  • Original packaging with package insert - never transfer to another container
  • Certificate / multilingual confirmation from your family doctor with active ingredient name (generic, not just brand name)
  • Sufficient quantity for the entire trip + 7 days reserve
  • Carry in hand luggage - not in checked baggage

Countries with Strict Import Regulations

  • USA: Medications with active ingredients such as ADHD medications (Ritalin/Adderall) or painkillers with codeine often require a doctor's certificate
  • Japan: Strict rules! Codeine, pseudoephedrine, and some ADHD medications are completely banned or require 'Yunyu Kakunin-sho' (pre-entry application)
  • Singapore: Diazepam, many sleeping pills, and certain opioids require prior approval
  • UAE (Dubai): Codeine, tramadol, some antidepressants require approval from the authorities
  • Australia: Customs declaration for prescription medications

Before a long trip, check the Foreign Office's information sheet AND consult the embassy of the destination country. Each country has its own rules - the certificate from your family doctor is often not sufficient.

Practical Tips for Your Travel Pharmacy

  • Documentation: Have a list of all medications (active ingredient + dosage) in German + English
  • Temperature: Insulin and certain vaccines require cooling - check cool bags / cool packs in advance
  • Expiration: Check expiration dates before each trip and replace expired medications
  • Size: Don't overdo it - most items are available in pharmacies in any tourist destination
  • Cabin baggage: Important medications in carry-on luggage; max. 100 ml per container for liquids (except medically necessary with certificate)
  • Insurance: Check foreign health insurance - standard trips usually not included

Printable Checklist

Compact checklist (the 15 most important items):

  • Paracetamol + Ibuprofen
  • Loperamid + Elektrolyte
  • Pflaster + Blasenpflaster
  • Wunddesinfektion
  • Wundheilsalbe
  • Antihistamin (Cetirizin)
  • Cortison-Creme (bei Insekten)
  • Nasenspray
  • Reisetabletten
  • Insektenschutz (DEET) - Tropen
  • Sonnencreme (LSF 50+)
  • Zeckenentfernungs-Pinzette
  • Fieberthermometer
  • Persönliche Dauermedikation + Attest
  • Mehrsprachige Medikamenten-Liste

Häufige Fragen

Are medications allowed in carry-on luggage?

Yes - medications are allowed and should be in carry-on luggage. Liquid medications over 100 ml usually require a doctor's certificate and must be shown separately.

What travel pharmacy should I take for Thailand?

Basic supplies + insect repellent (DEET 50%), wound disinfectant, anti-diarrheal medication, sunscreen SPF 50+, possibly malaria prophylaxis (only after travel medical consultation for specific regions).

Do I need a certificate for medications abroad?

For prescription medications always - ideally with the active ingredient name (generic, not just brand name) and in English. In the USA, Japan, UAE, Singapore it is strictly necessary.

Where can I buy prescription medications abroad?

This varies by country. In some countries (e.g., Thailand, Mexico), many medications are available over the counter that would be prescription-only in Germany. In other countries (USA, Canada, UK), the rules are stricter. Finding the same active ingredients often goes through the generic name.

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