The #1 Traveling Scare: Losing Your Medication & What To Do

The #1 travel nightmare for older adults and adults with chronic diseases is to forget, lose or misplace medications. What do you do when you're on the road or even overseas without your daily medication? If you're in the United States, it should not be much of a problem but if you're traveling abroad, it could be a much more serious issue. The seriousness of the missing medication depends on your health condition. For some travelers, missing medication is a mild issue but for others it can be life threatening. Before we get started with what to do when your medications go missing, let’s look at how to avoid the problem.

Prepare to Travel With Your Medications

• Before you start your trip have a conversation with your doctor and let him or her know where you’re going and ask for an emergency prescription in case you lose your medication. If you tend to take last minute vacations than signing up with a direct primary care practice may suit your needs better with same-day appointment scheduling.
• Always carry your prescription drugs in their original labeled packages. Do NOT put medicines in unmarked containers.
• Prepare for any possible questions the airport security or boarder patrol could ask you about the medications you are carrying. It's wise to have a spare prescription and a doctor’s note for document support. 
• Purchase travel insurance. Most travel insurance companies include prescription replacement as part of their service.
• Know how to safely store the medication 
• To minimize theft, pack your medication in your carry-on luggage and not your checked bag.
• Be prepared with a backup plan if your medication is confiscated. Have an original prescription and a letter from your doctor to facilitate the consultation.
• Make sure you have travel medical insurance and check that it will cover lost, stolen, or confiscated medications.

Losing Medications During Domestic Travel

If you're away from home but still in the United States and you lose your medications than call your primary care doctor. They can call in a prescription to local pharmacy closest to your location. Many domestic pharmacies have locations across the country, so you may be able to find a local branch of your pharmacy and order a refill there. The best way to keep from having to make this call is to plan ahead. 

If you're a member of a direct primary care practice (recommended) than your doctor will be availble day or night to take your call and he/she will have your medications ready within 12 hours. 

Losing Medications During International Travel

Even if you plan wisely and follow the best advice, you might still forget a medication or lose it along the way during your travels. 

To find a doctor or clinic where you can get a new prescription, contact the nearest American embassy or consulate. Take your emergency prescription form (assuming it didn’t get lost or stolen) to a local pharmacy. It may be a hassle and you may have to visit a few pharmacies to find the one that will fill your prescription. Get contact information before you leave through the U.S. State Department.

Another way to find a doctor or clinic abroad is to contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. 

Be aware that some prescriptions may be hard to refill in foreign countries. Even worse, newer medications might not be available and foreign brands may have different doses. 

Hopefully you never have to deal with losing medication during a trip. But prepare for the worse because if you do, it’s easier to handle if you’ve put in the time and energy to plan for this possibility before your trip. Following the tips here should take care of most of those preparations.

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If you experience difficulty contacting your primary care doctor during an emergency situation such as losing your medications while traveling than consider becoming a member of a direct primary care practice. With direct primary care, you have 24 / 7 access to your doctor's cell phone - day or night. Your direct primary care doctor can communicate with the hospital, send over any relevant records, and coordinate your care during and after discharge. Direct primary care doctors can coordinate hospital and emergency care remotely, working with other doctors and care providers over the phone and touching base with you and your family members. Direct primary care can save you time and money during medical emergencies, especially during travel.