They call me the walking pharmacy

[madaroch]

On cruises mind you I'm the sailing pharmacy. Anybody as bad as me for bringing every last pharmaceutical item from home and not knowing how to keep it in a small pouce. Any really good ideas out there. I pack Tylenol, Advil, Cold and Sinus medication, stuff for diarrhea, plus my real medications, hand cleaners, etc., and the list goes on.

[Bookish Angel]

I bring the usual suspects plus sunburn/burn ointment, Midol, cold and flu meds, stuff for Plantar's Warts, several types of bandages, a finger splint, etc.

My preparedness gene must run in the family as on a school trip to Mexico, my daughter (the only freshman) was voted "Best Prepared" in a group of mostly junior and senior high school girls. I was so proud!

[WindyCity]

We bought the Personal Organizer from LL Bean - they have 4 different sizes to suit your needs

[ger_77]

I usually take the items out of their original boxes to make them more portable, leaving them in the foil sealed pouches, then put them all into a clear zip-lock bag. We bring Imodium, Bonine, Pepto-Bismol, Robaxacet (DH has a bad back), Advil (for the morning after), a small tube of antibiotic cream, and another of anti-fungal in case of athlete's foot. I put the creams into a small "snack size" zip lock and place it into the slightly larger one. This reduces the amount of space required, and you can see what you've got. Hand sanitizers go into our carry-ons or in my purse.

DH also brings his meds (he's a heart patient) in tiny zip lock bags (you can get those at a craft store) with the meds required in the morning and evening in separate bags, 2 for each day. He always bring enough for a few days extra in case of delays. In addition to the meds he brings a letter from his cardiologist indicating what he's taking. I've always read that you should bring along the bottle the prescriptions came in, but we've never had a problem packing them this way and we've been through security checks and customs both in North America and Europe.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[madaroch]

What I thought about doing is putting everything in baggies/ziploc and labelling and then stuffing in a shoe bag to hang on the back of the door, than I can roll it up, but in my suitcase I'll have no room for my clothes the way I pack the pharmacy.

[marybeach]

I do the same thing! I just resupplied the medicine kit. I have everything covered from sunburn to shoe blisters to bug bites to upset tummy to headache -- It's like a girlscout being prepared.

I also take the foil blister packs out of boxes and put in a ziplock bag. The name of the medicine is on the foil. Nothing is worse than needing something and the ship's store is not open and you're sick. Not to mention, you'd pay 10 times what you did at home.

The best part is if you take it, chances are you won't need it.

However, do remember to put your prescription meds in your carry on and keep it with you. That can't be replaced, sometimes even on the ship or an island.

[bkreader]

Last cruise we made good use of the Dr. Scholl pads I had brought - my mother got some blisters from all the sightseeing. We had also, luckily, brought a little pair of scissors to cut the pads to the right size and shape - Jane :)

[user8]

I use those small bottles that medical samples come in. I put masking tape across the labels and write on it which medicine it contains and how many I should take each day.

I take out each morning's needs and take them first thing. Then, for those medicines which I need two per day, I put them all in a single small sample bottle which I have labeled "DAY" and take them in the evening.

I have one medication which I take 3 times per day and for it, I place the third pill in one of those tiny zip lock bags.

With this system, I can always tell at a glance if I have taken every thing as I was supposed to and it is works for me without taking up a lot of space in my carry-on.

[palmgirl]

ger_77, having the letter from the doctor listing what meds are being taken is a great idea.

I think the reasoning behind taking the Rx bottles with you is that in case of a problem there is no doubt about what meds and dosage you are taking. In the case of controlled drugs, proof that they are prescribed to you and not for recreational usage.

In addition to the already mentioned OTC stuff and my daily prescriptions, I also travel with a 10 day supply of an antibiotic and pain killers. My DH is not sure which is larger, my medication case or my jewelry case. :eek:

[madaroch]

Another thing I do is take film containers and just label the container with what's inside. If you don't use film anymore just go to your nearest film developer, like Costco, or Drug store and ask them if you can 10. They are happy to get rid of them. They stay sealed and water tight.

[dexter]

I would not put prescription medicine in another container without the written prescription info showing. Some island immigration officials might question you on what the meds are and how you obtained them. That would be a hassle.

[jazzsea]

I have a travel first aid kit. The normal stuff plus bee sting swabs, formula 44, Emitrol, Immodium, ginger, ace bandage, zip lock bags and ice pack. I also purchase meds over the counter in Mexico. Z- PAK, 600 and 800 mg Motrin, Amoxicillan and others that I might find.

DH thinks I am a little obsessive about the first aid kit. Once I even took a pair of shoes out of my suitcase to make room for it.

[peaches from georgia]

You should NOT take your prescription meds out of their original pharmacy containers. It isn't whether you know what is in each bottle; it is whether any government official in a foreign country knows what is prescribed for you by a doctor.

We also take a list of all docs names and phone #'s and all meds taken, when, and the dosage. If ship's or foreign medical personeel need to know what you are taking and who to contact in an emergency it is all available on one sheet of paper. I keep this on my computer and revise as necessary so it can just be printed out before we leave on a trip.

[Esme]

Another thing I do is take film containers and just label the container with what's inside. If you don't use film anymore just go to your nearest film developer, like Costco, or Drug store and ask them if you can 10. They are happy to get rid of them. They stay sealed and water tight.

If you get your drugs from Shopper's, ask the Pharmacist for smaller containers and he will also labelthem for you. I then put however many pills I will need, plus a couple day's extra, in each container. That way they are labelled by the Pharmacist and the RX # is on them.

[user8]

Taking along a current list of all the medications you are taking is a good idea which I also do. I even go one step further. I also include on my lists any medications to which we are allergic.

I make separte lists for me and my wife and keep them updated on my computer.

[trubey]

Pharmacy? I take 13 pills every morning and 4 at night, all prescription (in the US anyway). I get them in blister packs and put them in a couple of big ziplocks. I always bring at least two sets as they are sine qua non.

Nobody ever hassles me.

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[cruzincurt]

I just break up my pills into a 7 day container. I keep them on board the ship, so I don't see any problem with immigration officials at any other port except for some pills for that day that you might take off the ship? I'm not off the ship long enough at any port to have to carry any meds off the ship.

[temple10]

I also have back problems, and besides the soma,vicidin,motrin. I have paced THERMA-CARE HEAT PADS I recomend them highly It helps my disks relax and the inflamation ease up quicker. I was so happy to see this post -because I was wondering the same thing. I have the three pills mentioned above and zestril,cardura,midol,bonine,sudafed,breathe strips,ibprofen,claritin,neosporin,deep-heating rub,ginger tablets,dimatapp, the list goes on and on. I figure I have every aspect covered. I will defenetly take things out of there boxes now I have read you can get them on board no problem that way. Thank you for your advice.:) Christine

[Krazy Kruizers]

DH takes 13 medications a day. We keep each one in their own medical bottle. About 2 weeks before we are ready to leave on a trip, I have the pharmacy make small prescription bottles of each of his medications with a few days extra supply. When I go in with my request, they just laugh and ask if we are getting ready to go away again. I keep all prescription medicines in a small black bag which of course goes into my carry-on.

Then I pack another small bag with Contact, Tylonal, Icy Hot patches, and all that kind of stuff and put it into my carry-on as well.