Medications: Tips for Traveling Internationally

What to consider when traveling internationally with medications

Individuals who use daily medications may wish to consider the following questions when planning for an overseas exchange experience. It is important for exchange participants to do research on this topic themselves as they are most familiar with their medical history and medication regimen. They also have direct contact with their home doctor and insurance company, both of which may be able to address many of the following questions. International exchange program staff can be helpful in connecting participants with facilities and resources in the host country, and in considering additional issues that have come up for exchange participants in past years.

A successful international exchange experience requires preparation. Plan ahead to ensure that you will have access to your medications abroad, as well as sufficient time to resolve insurance issues, research the availability of specialists abroad, or address other issues. A good place to start is the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ online information and resources on traveling with medication and filling prescriptions abroad.

For those who use insulin, please see Diabetes Resources for more information. For information and resources on travel with mental-health related disability medications, and tips on arranging services and support abroad, please see Mental-Health Related Disabilities: Considerations for Exchange Participants.

Questions

1. Is the medication I use available and permitted in the host country? Is it available in the same dosage that I take at home? Tip: Research common differences in medication names, brands, and dosages, and regulations about traveling with certain prescriptions before leaving for another country. Please see Travel Health Information and Resources below for more information.
2. If my medication is unavailable or not permitted in the host country, what actions do I need to take in order to gain approval of its use? Is there an appropriate substitute medication that is permitted?
3. What documentation do I need to bring my medication through customs? Note: All medications should be transported in their original, labeled containers along with documentation of the prescription. For Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines on traveling with prescription and over-the-counter medications, please see Travelers with Disabilities and Medical Conditions.
4.  What immunizations or vaccinations, if any, will I need to obtain a visa to the host country? Can I receive those if I am taking my current medication or with my medical condition?  Visit the CDC website or contact the consulate/embassy of the destination country to find out what vaccinations are required or recommended.
5. Are there any medications that I will need to take while abroad (e.g., anti-malarial medication) that could interfere with my current medication?  If so, what is the best way to manage this?
6. What are some of the medications given to people if they become sick with common travelers’ illnesses, such as travelers’ diarrhea, so I can ask my home doctor if those can safely be taken simultaneously with my current medications?
7. How do I adjust my medication regimen when crossing time zones?  Note: Some travelers start to adjust their schedules gradually while in transit, while others change to a new schedule after adjusting to the new time zone.  Your doctor and experienced travelers with similar conditions can provide guidance on making these adjustments.
8. How can I get a letter from my doctor (written in generic medical terms) translated into the language used in the host country?
9. Is contact information available for local doctors near the site where I will be living? Do they speak my native language? Do they have certain specialties?
10. If I need assistance taking my medication, who on-site can assist me?
11. Is contact information available for pharmacies near the site where I will be living? Will my medication cost more in the host country? Will they accept my prescription? Note: Some countries require that the prescribing doctor be licensed in that country before a prescription can be filled. Also some medications purchased abroad, such as those not approved by the FDA, will be confiscated upon return to the United States. Read more information in the "Regulations for International Travel by U.S. Residents" booklet, published by US Customs and Border Protection.
    
12. Is there refrigeration available on the airplane, at my living accommodations and at the host site? Will I have any difficulty securing short-term means of keeping my medication cool, for example while on a bus excursion? Will ice be readily available, for instance? 
13. Does my medical insurance cover the cost of prescription medication purchased overseas and/or overseas doctor visits?
    
14. How much medication will I need to bring and can I get a prescription for that quantity? Note: Find out if your insurance places a limit on the amount of medication dispensed at one time. You may need documentation from your doctor and/or study abroad advisor that details the dates and duration of the program and the need to have sufficient medication to cover the entire period, and possibly extra, in case of delays or other unexpected occurrences. If your medication is a controlled substance, amounts you may carry with you may be restricted when crossing borders (see #17  below).
    
15. What travel / emergency insurance should I have and what will that insurance cover? What will it exclude? If the program provides health insurance, are there preexisting conditions exclusions or waiting periods? Will it cover daily medications as long as there is no change in my medications? See more on our tipsheet Insurance Considerations for People with Disabilities.
16. What is my back-up plan if I run out, lose or have stolen the medication I bring with me?  Note: It may be illegal to send some prescription medications to certain countries through the mail. Check with the postal service and customs office before doing so. International exchange program staff often can provide information about transporting and obtaining medications abroad as well.
17. What if my medications are controlled substances? How do I find out if my medications are considered controlled substances in the country to which I am traveling? See Guidelines for Patients Traveling with Controlled Substances and contact the consulate/embassy of the destination country or your travel insurance company for more information. See if the medications are controlled and other names for it at the U.S. Department of Justice's Drug Enforcement Agency website. Then see about dosages and the letter format to bring with the medications in the Annex section of this International Narcotics Control Board website.
    
    

Travel Health Information and Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC website includes travel health information for over 200 international destinations, including tips on vaccinations, disease outbreaks, illness and injury abroad, and preparing for international travel. Click on Travelers with Special Needs for resources for international travelers with mobility or sensory disabilities, travelers with chronic medical conditions, Immunocompromised travelers, and others.

1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov

International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT)
IAMAT provides travel health advice, coordinates an international network of doctors and clinics, and seeks to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. The IAMAT website includes a directory of full licensed, English-speaking doctors in 350 cities in 90 countries.

1623 Military Road, #279
Nigara Falls, NY 14304
Tel: (716) 754-4883

MedicAlert Foundation TravelPlus Program
MedicAlert Foundation is a nonprofit membership organization providing personalized medical identification bracelets and necklaces with a 24-hour emergency response and medical information service. MedicAlert members have access to TravelPlus, a travel assistance program that offers an array of medical, personal, and information services specifically designed to provide protection and care for all travelers, regardless of pre-existing medical condition or age. TravelPlus includes coverage for evacuation to a medical facility, assistance in locating a doctor overseas, and 24-hour access to information services including language translation, exchange rates, and visa, passport and immunization requirements for your travel destination.

2323 Colorado Avenue
Turlock, CA 95382
Toll Free: 1-888-633-4298
Tel: (209)-668-3333 (from outside the U.S.)

PersonalMD.com
PersonalMD.com provides health information and personal health management tools to Internet healthcare consumers. Members have access to resources including automated storage and retrieval of medical records, medication reminders, immediate access to health care professionals, and travel health services. The PersonalMD Emergency Card allows members to enter their medical information into a secure database that can be accessed anywhere in the world in the event of an emergency via the Internet.

7901 Stoneridge Drive
Suite 403
Pleasanton, CA 94588
Tel: (925) 460-1337

Shoreland's Travel Health Online
Shoreland’s Travel Health Online offers health and safety information in more than 220 countries, including information about travel-related ailments, immunization recommendations, how illnesses are transmitted and prevented, treatment guidelines and preparing for emergencies. The website also includes contact information for providers of pretravel health services in the United States and abroad, and links for information for travelers with disabilities and selected medical conditions, such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, stomach disorders, and HIV/AIDS.

Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE. Please advise NCDE of any inaccuracies you may find.