A Real Packing List: For Your Health

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First Aid Medication

Nearly everyone will get sick in their travels, whether it is the usual cold or flu, or something related to adjusting and being exposed to a different environment. Here are the drugs I will take:
  • Simple analgesia (paracetamol)
  • Decongestant (phenylephrine)
  • Anti-reflux (aka Anti-Asian Flush medication, ranitide)
  • Anti-diarrhoeals (loperamide)
  • Gut antibiotics (norfloxacin, tinidazole)
  • Broad spectrum antibiotics (roxithromycin)
  • Drops for ear and eye infections (soframycin)
  • Antiemetics (stemetil)
  • Malarial prophylaxis and treatment (malarone)
  • Altitude sickness tablets (diamox)
  • Anti-inflammatory ointment (cortisone)
I went to Dr Deb The Travel Doctor for my Yellow Fever shot and other shots. Along with the indispensable yellow vaccination certificate, I have a medical authority listing all the drugs I am bringing with me to facilitate border crossings. The Travel Doctor is pricey compared to other clinics that will bulk-bill your visit, but travel specialists also have a wealth of knowledge for those with questions.


Retrospect: The only drugs I actually used during my trip were simple analgesia, decongestants, and antihistamines. Other drugs I would continue to pack are the anti-diarrhoeals and eye drops, as I am susceptible to allergies.

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