Travel Smart This Holiday Season: Tips for Managing Your Medications

“Please review your medications before your trip to ensure you have enough supply to last the whole trip.”
 
WAUSAU, Wis. – The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and travel. As you pack your bags to visit loved ones, don’t forget to take extra care with your medications. Whether traveling to a snowy retreat or a sunny getaway, proper preparation can help you stay healthy during the holidays. Aspirus Pharmacy Resident Rebecca Thao offers helpful advice for managing medications while on the go.
 
“To maintain their efficacy, you want to keep them in an insulated container if you can and keep them in their original container… just keep it from freezing temperatures,” says Thao. Proper storage is essential to ensure medications work as intended, especially in extreme temperatures.
 
Here are tips for traveling with medication:
 

1. Protect Medications from Temperature Changes

• Cold Weather: Use insulated containers to prevent freezing.
• Warm Weather: Store medications in a cool, shaded place, away from direct sunlight.
• Refrigerated Medications: Pack insulin, biologics, and certain hormones in a cooler with ice packs if refrigeration is required.

2. Pack Extra Medication

3. Prepare for the Unexpected

• Contact your health care provider for a new prescription at a nearby pharmacy.
• Request a prescription transfer through a national pharmacy chain.
• Visit a local walk-in clinic to obtain a new prescription.

4. Review Medications Before Traveling