Travel pharmacy – what medications and vaccinations are needed for the trip?
Even a good travel medicine kit can be packed into a fairly compact space. Photo: DLG Images, CC
A decent travel medicine kit can save the day. In some travel destinations, medicines are cheaper than in Finland – and you don't need a prescription to get them – but the easiest way to get them is to prepare for a sudden illness before you travel.
A small first aid kit for travel
In case of a major emergency, you can call an ambulance abroad, but it is worth preparing for minor bumps and scratches yourself.
A first aid kit doesn't have to be massive, but rather as small and simple as possible so that you feel like carrying it with you. My travel medicine cabinet fits in the side pocket of my toiletry bag.
The most important survival kit is carried in a daypack or trouser pocket: a couple of plasters, a disinfectant wipe, some painkillers and a couple of anti-diarrhea medications.
Plasters are needed for small scratches and a roll of gauze for larger wounds. Compeed blister plasters work best for blisters.
A disposable disinfectant wipe is suitable for disinfecting wounds and scratches. In the tropics, even a small scratch or blister can easily become infected. In these situations, antiseptic cream has proven to be absolutely brilliant.
You should also pack a thermometer, a small roll of sports tape, tweezers and small scissors, wet wipes and hand sanitizer, and mosquito repellent.
The most important medicines for a traveler
Painkiller: ibuprofen or paracetamol. Both can also be used to reduce fever. Painkillers are available at every travel destination – but it’s best to keep a few tablets with you in case of a sudden sunstroke (or hangover), for example.
Diarrhea medicine: loperamide (e.g. Imodium). When you need this, the journey to the nearest pharmacy is far too long! Read our article about tourist diarrhea and other stomach ailments that lurk while traveling. At the end of that article, you will find more detailed information on treating stomach ailments with medication.
Antibiotic: azithromycin. A proven addition to the travel pharmacy’s selection is azithromycin, which is used for respiratory infections, among other things. The medicine is taken as a three-day intensive course. Azithromycin is not suitable for everyone, so check with your doctor (and ask for a prescription).
Mountaineers should familiarize themselves with the use of Diamox, which helps with altitude sickness, but this medicine is not needed for regular mountain hiking (unless you are hiking at a very high altitude).
Duact, a medicine for allergic rhinitis, can save a diver's day, as it effectively unblocks a blocked nose.
Other medicines that may be needed on a trip include motion sickness medicine, nasal spray, eye drops, and heartburn or constipation medicine.
What is the best malaria medicine?
Malaria is a serious disease that can even kill a tourist. There is no vaccine, but malaria can be protected against with preventive medication.
Malaria preventive medications include Lariam, Malarone, Rumbabor and doxycycline. The medicine is chosen depending on the type of malaria that occurs in the area: remember that there is no single malaria medicine that will protect you everywhere.
Preventive medication must be started before the trip, and a prescription from a doctor is required for malaria medicines. So find out well in advance whether malaria occurs in your destination. A list of countries in Finnish can be found in the Traveler's Health Guide on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
Traveler's vaccinations
Basic vaccinations include tetanus, diphtheria, MMR and polio. In addition, travelers should be vaccinated against hepatitis A+B and typhoid. One of the most important vaccinations is yellow fever, as many African and South American countries require a vaccination certificate upon arrival.
More detailed country-specific vaccination recommendations can be found in the aforementioned Traveler's Health Guide.
Remember travel insurance!
A personal travel pharmacy will save the day if it's a relatively minor accident. Insurance will help when the situation is serious. Read our article about getting sick while traveling and travel insurance.
