Travel tips: How to safely take medications abroad

According to a report from Statistics Canada, Canadians take more than 25million trips abroad each year, and it’s a safe bet that a large percentage of them travel with prescription medications, which can get lost or stolen.

If you are travelling with prescription medications, be sure to keep your medications in their original containers. Don’t try to save space by putting all of your prescriptions in one bottle. It is a good idea to keep copies of the original prescription from the doctor, in case your medication becomes lost or stolen and you need to have it refilled at your destination. Also, be sure to take additional doses of your medication with you. It’s better to come home with extra than to be in a foreign country and run out.

Be aware that prescription medications can be a hot commodity on the black market in certain countries, which may leave you open to being an easy target for thieves. Keep your medication with you in your carry-on luggage or purse, so that you can keep a close eye on it.