Travel Medicine Kit: Complete Packing List for Adults and Children
Travel Medicine Kit: Complete Packing List for Adults and Children
Packing a travel medicine kit isn't just "throw in some paracetamol just in case." A well-prepared kit can save you hours in a foreign pharmacy with a language barrier and inflated prices. Here's what you actually need and how to organise it.
The golden rule: stick to what you know
Don't experiment with new medications while travelling — bring what you've already taken and know your reaction to. In an unfamiliar country, an allergic reaction or unexpected side effect is the last thing you need.
Bring medications in their original packaging with patient information leaflets. If flying with prescription medications — especially controlled substances — carry the prescription. Some countries strictly regulate the import of certain drugs.
Core travel medicine kit
Pain relief and fever Paracetamol · Ibuprofen / Nurofen Useful for fever, headaches, toothache, and muscle pain after active days.
Digestive issues — top priority Food poisoning while travelling is common. Pack:
Absorbent (activated charcoal, or equivalent)
Oral rehydration salts (Dioralyte or equivalent)
Anti-diarrhoeal (Loperamide / Imodium) — for when you need to stop diarrhoea urgently in transit
Antispasmodic (Buscopan) — for stomach cramps
Allergy An antihistamine — new foods, insect bites, unfamiliar plants. Non-negotiable.
Cold and throat Throat tablets or spray · Nasal decongestant spray · Saline nasal rinse Air conditioning in hotels and on planes dries out mucous membranes — a holiday cold is very common.
Skin and burns Panthenol spray — essential for beach holidays · Antiseptic gel or spray · Insect bite cream / antihistamine gel
Wound care Adhesive plasters (several sizes) · Sterile bandage · Elastic bandage (for active holidays and hiking)
Motion sickness If prone: Dramamine or equivalent
Eyes Lubricating eye drops — especially useful on flights and in air-conditioned rooms
If travelling with children
Add to the base kit:
Children's Paracetamol (suspension or suppositories by age)
Children's Ibuprofen
Children's nasal drops
Ear drops (Otipax or equivalent) — children often react to pressure changes
Nappy rash cream (Bepanthen)
Children's sunscreen
Before travelling with a child — especially for the first trip — consult your paediatrician. They'll advise on specific dosages and may add to the list based on your child's age.
If you take chronic medications
This is the most critical point. Bring enough for the full trip plus 30–50% extra — in case of delays or loss. Finding your specific medication in another country may be difficult or impossible.
If flying, keep part of your chronic medication supply in your carry-on — don't put everything in checked luggage.
How to organise your travel kit
Your kit needs to be accessible, not buried at the bottom of a suitcase. Best option: a small pouch or organiser that stays within reach.
Take slightly more than you calculate — 1.3 to 1.5 times the amount. In some countries, familiar medications are hard to find or sold under different names.
PillApp helps you pack your travel kit: create a list of medications to bring, tick off what you've packed, and the app continues sending reminders for your chronic medications — even in a different time zone.