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Medicines to Carry While Travelling Abroad from India

Team AckoDec 5, 2025

Travelling abroad from India is an exciting experience, but it’s also important to be prepared for changes in weather, food, and routine that can sometimes affect your health. Having the right medicines on hand ensures you can handle common issues like fever, stomach upset, or allergies with ease. That’s where the importance of a travel first aid kit comes in; it helps you stay healthy and confident, whether you’re exploring a remote village or a busy international city.

Read on to understand what medicines to pack and how to prepare a smart, travel-ready medical kit for your trip.

Contents

Why Carry Medicines While Travelling Abroad?
How to Plan Your International Travel Medicine Kit Based on Your Needs
What to Include in Your Medical Kit for an International Trip?
Tips for Carrying Medicines Abroad
Final Thoughts
Frequently Asked Questions

Why Carry Medicines While Travelling Abroad?

Depending on the country you are travelling to, you may encounter different climate conditions, food, and water. Even a different time zone may affect your body. All this change can sometimes cause mild health problems such as:

• Headaches from jet lag or dehydration

• Upset stomach due to new food

• Allergies due to pollen or weather

• Fever or cold from temperature change

In such unfavourable situations, having some basic yet essential medicines handy can make a huge difference when you’re travelling abroad. Along with carrying a medicine kit on your trip, buying a good travel insurance policy is equally important. It provides financial protection for hospitalisation, medical emergencies, and any unexpected, expensive treatments during your journey.

How to Plan Your International Travel Medicine Kit Based on Your Needs

When it comes to packing medicines for an international trip, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your destination, the activities you plan to do, your diet, and your personal health conditions all play an important role in deciding what to include.

Type of trip

Adventure activities like hiking and trekking may require ORS, pain-relief sprays/patches, and basic first-aid supplies.

Food habits & sensitivities

If you have lactose intolerance, IBS, or food allergies, carry digestive enzymes, antacids, anti-allergy tablets, or doctor-advised drops.

Climate & destination

In cold places, you may need cold-and-flu medicines; in humid regions, antifungal creams or mosquito repellent.

Existing health conditions

If you have asthma, diabetes, thyroid, or blood pressure issues, pack your regular medicines and essential devices with a few extra doses.

Travel duration & access to pharmacies

In remote areas, access to medical care and amenities may be limited; in big cities, you can carry a lighter medical kit for a longer stay.

Also, if you often face motion sickness, acidity, or migraines regardless of where or how you’re travelling, always pack the medicines that work for you.

What to Include in Your Medical Kit for an International Trip?

Your medical kit for an international trip should be well-organised and easy to carry. It doesn’t have to be big or complicated, just a smart mix of basic and personal medicines.

Here’s what you should include:

1. First-Aid Items

Basic first-aid supplies are especially useful when you’re outdoors or far from quick medical help.

• Band-aids: For covering minor cuts and blisters.

• Cotton, gauze pads, and medical tape: To clean wounds and dress slightly deeper cuts.

• Antiseptic wipes or liquid (like Dettol or Savlon): For cleaning wounds and preventing infection.

• Small scissors and tweezers: Useful for cutting tape, removing splinters, or handling dressings.

• Digital thermometer: Helps monitor fever accurately.

• Hand sanitiser: Keeps hands clean when water isn’t easily available.

2. Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

Packing some over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help you manage common travel-related issues like fever, headaches, or indigestion.

• Paracetamol or Ibuprofen: For fever, body ache, or mild pain.

• Cetirizine or Loratadine: Helps relieve allergies caused by pollen, dust, or weather change.

• Antacids (like Digene) and ORS sachets: For acidity, indigestion, or dehydration.

• Loperamide: Controls sudden diarrhoea.

• Dimenhydrinate or Cinnarizine: Useful for motion sickness during flights, buses, or boat rides.

• Cough Syrup or Lozenges: For sore throat or mild cough.

• Antibiotic Ointment: Helps prevent infection in minor wounds.

It is vital to understand that some OTC medicines do not suit everyone. This is the reason you must consult your doctor before you pack medicines.

3. Prescription Medicines

Medicines that you take regularly for any chronic health conditions are basically non-negotiable. These should take the first priority in your travel medicine kit list while travelling abroad from India. Pack enough prescription medicines for your entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of travel delays.

• Carry medicines for conditions like diabetes, asthma, thyroid, blood pressure, etc.

• Keep them in original packaging to avoid customs issues.

• Always carry a doctor’s prescription, both physical and digital.

• Check for possible drug restrictions as some countries have strict rules about certain medicines (including painkillers, sleeping pills, or inhalers).

4. Travel-Specific Medicines

Depending on your destination, you may need vaccines or preventive tablets. For example:

• Malaria tablets if you’re visiting tropical countries

• Altitude sickness medicine for mountain regions

• Insect repellent cream or spray for mosquito-prone areas

• Sunburn gel or soothing cream for beach destinations or sunny climates

5. Health Devices

These devices help you monitor your health while travelling, especially if you have chronic conditions.

• Glucometer: For travellers with diabetes.

• Blood pressure monitor: Useful for hypertension or heart-related issues.

• Pulse oximeter: Helpful for high-altitude trips or respiratory problems.

• Inhalers & spacers: To help manage asthma.

6. Important Medical Documents

Having these documents makes medical assistance, customs checks, and insurance claims easier.

• Doctor’s prescription: For all prescription medicines; should follow the prescription format for international travel.

• Medical history summary: Helpful in emergencies.

• Vaccination records: Required by some countries.

• Travel insurance details: For quick access during emergencies.

• Digital & physical copies of all prescriptions: Useful for refills abroad.

Tips for Carrying Medicines Abroad

Here is a rundown of some tips you must know while carrying medicine abroad.

1. Carry a doctor’s prescription: Always keep a copy of your doctor’s note listing all your medicines, doses, and medical conditions.

2. Keep medicines in original packaging: Avoid transferring pills into unlabelled boxes; customs officers may question unmarked medicines.

3. Check local rules: Some countries have restrictions on certain drugs (like sleeping pills or painkillers).

4. Pack in hand luggage: Keep your medical kit in your cabin bag, not your checked luggage.

5. Temperature-sensitive medicines: If you use insulin or similar drugs, carry a small cooling pouch.

Final Thoughts

When travelling from India to any other country, carrying the right medicines is as important as your passport or visa. So, count on a small travel first aid kit while you travel. This small kit will help you handle common health issues with ease. Also, it is advisable that you consult your doctor to get a better idea of which medicines to carry and when to take them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I carry prescription medicines on an international flight?

Yes, you can. Just make sure to carry a doctor's prescription and keep medicines in their original labelled packets.

Do I need vaccines before travelling?

Some countries require you to get vaccinated against diseases like yellow fever or hepatitis, so it depends on where you'll be going.

Should I include antibiotics in my medical kit?

Only if your doctor prescribes. Do not self-medicate with antibiotics.

Can travel insurance cover my medical expenses abroad?

Yes, most of the travel insurance policies cover hospitalisation, medical bills, and even medicine costs for emergencies.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before taking any medication. The list provided is intended as general guidance and may not be suitable for everyone.