# What OTC drugs are in your travel kit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640 "2015-04-02T18:14:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/1 "2015-04-02T18:14:21Z")
I travel regularly and I take an anti-histamine (being prone to allergies) mostly, Allegra and an asprin or paracetamol type painkiller. What about you and why? No prescription medicine please, unless its taken only during travel as a precaution as opposed to regular meds. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/2 "2015-04-02T18:22:10Z")
Ibuprofen for gimpy ankle depending on where I’m going, antidiarrheal Allergy meds melatonin ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/3 "2015-04-02T18:26:32Z")
Advil Neosporin Menthol cough drops Inhaler - Never used at home or generally carried, so I think it meets your criteria All I need in life. (and the four antidepressants) ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/4 "2015-04-02T18:34:33Z")
Tylenol Pepcid Complete Allerclear Prilosec Immodium ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/5 "2015-04-02T18:35:59Z")
None. I very rarely need any. Last year I had to buy some dayquil on a trip. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/6 "2015-04-02T18:38:20Z")
Bonine Bonine abreva OTC allergy suppressant did I mention Bonine? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/7 "2015-04-02T18:53:33Z")
Prilosec and Ibruprophen ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/8 "2015-04-02T19:45:15Z")
Ibuprofen and Immodium. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/9 "2015-04-02T20:13:51Z")
Naproxim Sodium (Aleve) Immodium Benedryl (and an Epi-Pen, but that’s prescription) Nyquil/Dayquil - depends on the trip ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/10 "2015-04-02T21:22:50Z")
Ibuprphen Excedrin Claritin aspirin Midol ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/11 "2015-04-02T21:36:11Z")
An antacid A sleeping pill (Ambien/Benzo) I have to remind myself to take painkillers - I’ll sit in pain for hours before the light bulb flickers. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/12 "2015-04-02T21:50:14Z")
A foil of generic imodium equivalent A foil of Gaviscon A foil of Bisolvin (from some past ailment I guess) Eye drops Nasal spray I don’t actually use any of them but often stay at my brother’s place and he lives way out of town. Some of the stuff must be out off date because my travel bag sits there ready to go without me having to remember stuff like drugs, toiletries, phone charger etc. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/13 "2015-04-02T23:33:15Z")
Ibuprofen Immodium Diphenhydramine - I have some seasonal allergies, sensitive skin that is prone to hives, it doubles as a sleep aid, and I’ve found I can’t get it OTC in all countries ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/14 "2015-04-02T23:35:55Z")
Usually none, as any retailer is going to carry them and no matter where I am I’m probably only a few minutes from a store. And I don’t have issues come up much that require OTC meds. Having said that I do keep a med kit in my car with pepto, ibuprofen, dental floss, immodium, antacids, etc. You’d be surprised how often dental floss comes in handy. ---
**Author:** ![Enocavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e480ec/32.png) [@Enocavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enocavy)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2015, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/15 "2015-04-02T23:58:46Z")
Zantac Naproxin Claritan NyQuil Z ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/16 "2015-04-03T00:00:09Z")
related question, perhaps. Do you guys back these and use them frequently, or are they packed “just in case.” I can’t recall the last time I needed an OTC medication. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/17 "2015-04-03T00:41:44Z")
I generally don’t carry medicine unless I am in a malarial zone. I’ve just never found it all that useful, and I’m fanatical about packing light. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/18 "2015-04-03T00:47:36Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > related question, perhaps. Do you guys back these and use them frequently, or are they packed “just in case.” I can’t recall the last time I needed an OTC medication. Claritin and Benadryl and melatonin, daily even when I am home. Ibuprofen - I have bad arthritis in one ankle, which hurts if I’m on my feet a lot, which I generally am when on vacation. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/19 "2015-04-03T00:50:26Z")
Pseudoephedrine and a couple specialized ACE-like bandages/knee and ankle supports. I figure anything else can be found locally if I need it. ---
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640/20 "2015-04-03T01:16:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > related question, perhaps. Do you guys back these and use them frequently, or are they packed “just in case.” I can’t recall the last time I needed an OTC medication. I keep antacids everywhere, as wheat or any carbs will usually result in painful heartburn. I only take benzos for sleep, so they’ll only be on me when on a long flight. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-otc-drugs-are-in-your-travel-kit/716640.md?page=2)