HEALTH BEAT 4-1-2003

Meetings & Conventions: Short Cuts April 2003 Current Issue
April 2003
Short Cuts:
HEALTH BEAT

Traveling With Medicine

When traveling with medications, especially to international destinations, heed the following advice.

Carry separate prescriptions for brand-name medicines and their generic counterparts.

Know a medication’s trade name in the destination country. On the Web, Mosby’s Drug Consult (www.mosbysdrugconsult.com) includes a free list of foreign names for 200 common medicines.

Bring a typed, signed doctor’s note and the original packaging for diabetic syringes and controlled substances such as sedatives and tranquilizers.

Keep medications in carry-on luggage, and bring an extra week’s supply in the event of unforeseen delays or last-minute changes in plans.

If buying medication abroad, purchase only enough for the duration of the trip, because U.S. Customs might not allow it back into the country.

For more information and advice, consult Medication Tips for Travelers by Joy Nyquist, R.N. (866-880-5963; www.non-books.com).

• JONATHAN VATNER