Packing for an overseas holiday can be a daunting task. It’s easy to remember the essentials like clothes and toiletries, but what about those unexpected situations?
Planning for every eventuality isn’t always straightforward, and sometimes you might find yourself in need of something that’s not readily available. According to one pharmacist, there are certain medications you should consider packing from home to avoid any unnecessary stress on holiday.
Irish Pharmacist Ashley Ó Dubháin, also known as Ash the Pharmacist on social media platforms, revealed that he frequently gets asked “in the summer months” which medications people should pack. While he reassures travellers not to “freak out”, as pharmacies will be accessible at their destination, he does suggest six items to consider based on his “own experience” and knowledge of what’s available abroad.
If you’re heading to a destination with a hotter and more humid climate than you’re accustomed to, Ashley suggests packing some electrolytes, regardless of the brand. Electrolytes are crucial for maintaining fluid balance and ensuring muscles and nerves function properly.
As we lose electrolytes through sweat, it’s important to replenish the sodium lost, especially if you’re sweating profusely.
Furthermore, he recommends bringing along an antihistamine such as Zirtek, Telfast, Clarityn or any other brand that suits your body.
Ashley highlighted the benefits of a common remedy: “This will be good for insect bites but also if you take a reaction to food or the sun, for example. It can help with that heat rash.”
For travellers unaccustomed to local cuisine, Ashley advises stocking up on Imodium, an essential over-the-counter medication that can swiftly halt diarrhoea and “stop” any disagreeable outcomes.
When discussing treatment for insect stings, Ashley typically prescribes Fucibet but notes you can easily obtain hydrocortisone cream, like Cortopin, without a prescription.
Nevertheless, Ashley warned: “Ask your pharmacist if you’re allowed to take it, as not everyone is. If steroid creams aren’t suitable for you, you can get some Anthisan cream.”
In preparation for travel destinations with questionable food and water quality, Ashley suggests starting on probiotics a few weeks prior as they’re said to reset your gut’s natural flora and fauna, as per NHS advice.
Ashley further recommended packing pain relief options, listing alternatives like paracetamol, Panadol, Nurofen, or ibuprofen as necessities for any trip.
It’s important to speak to your doctor or a pharmacist if you’re unsure before taking any medication, as what’s suitable for others might not be for you.