Travel Health Planning: What You Need to Know Before You Go

When you’re planning a trip, travel health planning, the process of preparing your body for the health risks of a new destination. Also known as pre-travel medicine, it’s not just about getting shots—it’s about making sure your prescriptions work where you’re going, avoiding dangerous drug interactions, and knowing what to do if you get sick far from home. Many people skip this step because they think it’s just for tropical destinations or long trips. But even a weekend in Mexico or a cruise to the Caribbean can expose you to bacteria, parasites, or medications that don’t mix with what you take daily.

travel vaccines, preventive shots like typhoid, hepatitis A, or yellow fever that are required or recommended based on your destination. These aren’t optional if you’re heading to areas where these diseases are common. But vaccines aren’t the whole story. What about your daily meds? If you take blood pressure pills, diabetes drugs, or antidepressants, you need to know if they’re legal abroad, if they’ll stay stable in heat, and if your pharmacy can refill them overseas. Some countries ban common U.S. medications—like certain painkillers or ADHD drugs—without a special permit. And if you’re taking opioids or antiemetics, you need to understand how they react with local food, water, or even altitude.

medication safety abroad, how to carry, store, and use your drugs correctly when you’re away from your usual healthcare system. This includes knowing whether to split pills, crush them, or keep them in original bottles with labels. It means understanding how timing affects side effects—like taking your thyroid med on an empty stomach in a hotel with no breakfast yet. It also means knowing how to report a bad reaction if you’re stuck in a foreign clinic with no access to your U.S. pharmacy records. The FDA doesn’t regulate drugs sold overseas, so what looks like your generic might be something entirely different.

You’ll find posts here that cover exactly these real-world problems. Learn how to use the FDA Orange Book to verify if a generic you buy abroad is truly equivalent. See why doctors sometimes write "do not substitute"—and when you should insist on it, even when you’re overseas. Find out how to manage nausea from diabetes meds like bromocriptine while jet-lagged, or how to avoid contamination when splitting pills in a hotel room. There’s advice on what to pack in your travel pharmacy, how to handle drug shortages while traveling, and how to recognize when a side effect is serious enough to seek help.

This isn’t theory. These are the exact issues patients face when they get sick abroad, or when their meds run out in a country where the pharmacy doesn’t recognize their prescription. Whether you’re flying to Cancún for a wedding, backpacking through Southeast Asia, or taking a cruise, the same rules apply: know your meds, know your risks, and know where to turn if things go wrong. The articles below give you the facts—not the fluff—so you can travel safely, confidently, and without surprises.