7 Essential OTC Medications to Carry When Traveling
I am a big fan of natural medicine and have more than once found that a natural form of medicine has healed me permanently where the traditional Western doctors could only dull my pain. That being said, everything has its place and when you are traveling, you want to get out and see things, not stay stuck in a hotel room or hostel, miserable. In these situations, an over-the-counter (OTC) pill might just be the answer to giving you enough relief to get out there and take that picture of you holding the Eiffel Tower between your thumb and forefinger.
I do not have a strong stomach and Sara is allergic to everything, so, over time, we have developed our little kit of OTC medication that we do not leave home without on long trips overseas. Please keep in mind that we are not doctors, so please consult your own physician before embarking on your dream trip.
We usually like to bring along our own meds because finding its comparable version in a foreign language, or explaining your symptoms to a pharmacist who does not speak your language is sometimes challenging.
Below is a list of the best OTC medications that we take with us without fail. Obviously, if you have a specific medical condition or problem, you should take any normal medication with you that you might otherwise need at home, such as allergy or asthma drugs.
1. Ibuprofen. Otherwise known as Advil or Motrin. This is my number one go to medication for any kind of pain. When I was in the Navy, this was what they gave for everything under the sun, from toothache to herpes (just kidding about that last one, no, Mom, I don’t have herpes). The reason that I choose ibuprofen over acetaminophen is that you can actually poison yourself very easily by taking too much acetaminophen. It is a common pain reliever in hospitals, and if you have already loaded up on it, have to go to the hospital, and then cannot speak the language, you might get more, which could kill you. This is possible with any medication including ibuprofen, but it is actually more likely with acetaminophen.
2. Phillips Milk of Magnesia (in tablet form). As I mentioned before, I tend to have a weak stomach, and one of my problems when traveling is to become stopped up. My first visit to a hospital overseas (Taiwan) involved this problem. To head off this situation in subsequent trips, I have tried many types of laxatives over the years and have found Phillips Milk of Magnesia to be the most mild and highly recommend it.
3. Imodium. The other end of the spectrum and a problem I am also very familiar with, although I do not want to go into these multiple events at all (Egypt, Bali, Huangshan, etc.), involves not being stopped up enough. Hands down, Imodium is the best choice for this and I absolutely do not travel without it.
4. Benadryl. Even if you do not have any known allergies, I would recommend bringing along a few tablets or capsules of Benadryl. A few years ago, Sara was having lunch at a local sushi restaurant and suddenly developed a splitting headache. She was able to drive herself home, but determined that she was having an allergic reaction to something. She took some Benadryl and was eventually ok, but after some extensive testing, the doctor found she was allergic to tuna. She had eaten tuna hundreds of times before. He also said that if she had not taken the Benadryl, she might have died. She now carries an Epipen with her everywhere, but the Benadryl is what made the initial difference.
5. Sudafed (single-action pseudoephedrine). This can be a lifesaver for the sinus headache. However, it can also be useful if you are going to be flying or SCUBA diving and your nasal passages are stopped up. The pressure changes associated with both flying and diving can play havoc with your sinuses and Sudafed usually can bring fairly quick relief. This can be the difference between actually diving and sitting on the boat helping people on and off with their gear.
6. Pepcid AC. Another one for the weak stomach. Although, I personally rarely use this, Sara swears by it as she gets extremely painful gastritus from time to time. This will bring relief within 10 or 15 minutes and can prevent a trip to the hospital. With all of the exotic foods out there that your body is not used to, it is better to be safe than sorry.
7. A general daytime and nighttime multi-symptom cold medicine (combo pack). Although it is rarely good to take too much medicine, or medicine for symptoms that you might not have, it is difficult to pack for every instance. In this case, I like to carry along medicine that is designed to help with virtually anything. I would try to steer clear of anything with acetaminophen in it for reasons listed earlier, but something is often better than nothing. For this, go with something you have tried before and has worked for you. The best product I have found is a version of Robitussin from Taiwan, and we try to stock up whenever we visit.
As I said before, I really do try to not use medicine if I can avoid it. However, when traveling, I really do not want to be knocked out by a simple head or stomach ache and I don’t always trust the ability to find the correct medicine when I cannot read the packaging. If you are ok with taking OTC medicine for your aches and pains, these are the ones that we recommend. We would love it if you would share your personal recommendations/experiences in the comments.
Image provided by e-MagineArt.com.
Read MoreGear Review: Vibram Five Fingers KSO (4.5 out of 5 stars)
I had been reading about these amazing new shoes that make you feel like you are walking barefoot, but still somewhat protect you from the elements. I am referring to the Vibram Five Fingers line of shoes. They are designed to be like gloves for your feet, fitting a sleeve around each of your toes, and having a very thin sole, so you can really feel the ground as you walk. I love to go barefoot and I had read that running in them is incredible. I was apprehensive, as they are not inexpensive, however, last Spring, I decided I would try a pair and I went to the local REI to pick out one that I liked. After talking with the salesperson and trying on several styles, I decided on the KSO (Keep Stuff Out).
Each style varies in features and benefits, but I chose the KSO because it has a protective mesh covering to keep sand and debris out of the shoe, but a thin sole, so I still felt barefoot. Once I settled on the exact style, I needed to choose the size. I read that you really need to size it correctly, because if it is too large, you will develop blisters, but too small, you will be uncomfortable. They did not have my exact size in the KSO, but through trying on other styles, I felt that I had a good fit and could order a pair. Two months went by and I finally received them.
Not to spoil the review, but the wait was well worth it.
The Good
The KSO is just as advertised, it really comes close to feeling like you are barefoot when walking around or running. I can walk or hike all day in these and my legs are still fresh. The body was designed to work without shoes and once you retrain your leg muscles to work properly, they do just that. If you have any kind of knee, hip or leg problems, I would encourage you to try them out and see if they might help. I am a big believer in natural medicine and these shoes seem to be one method to try to overcome long-term nagging injuries.
I love to run, but I have had knee and hip problems for many years. They really flair up when I run too much (luckily, I’m kind of lazy, so that doesn’t happen too often). These shoes definitely help me. I took them on our trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and spent many days hiking in them in China and Mongolia and I absolutely loved them.
When we were in Datong, China, a fairly remote city, Sara could overhear many people commenting in Mandarin about these shoes. “Monster feet”, “Alien feet”, “Look, look, look, look, look. What happened to his feet?” were all heard. A bonus is learning what Brad Pitt must feel like on a regular basis. We had several people ask for us to pose for photos with them and one young boy even asked for my autograph.
The Bad
The biggest problem that I have had with these shoes is something that is unavoidable, due to their biggest strength. When the weather turns cold, it feels like you are barefoot. They provide absolutely no protection against the cold. I have bought some socks that work with the shoes, but because the shoes fit so well, the socks make them tight and quickly uncomfortable. I would still wear them in a pinch, but you cannot travel to a cold climate with only these shoes.
Conclusion
I have given these shoes a 4.5 out of 5 stars simply because they cannot replace any of my travel shoes (although they do replace bigger, bulkier running shoes, but I generally do not travel with those). I really wanted to be able to carry them as my only pair, but they are just too uncomfortable in the cold. They also are, through no fault of their own, not socially acceptable in certain situations, so it is necessary to have a decent pair of shoes along as well.
If you are going to run in them (and I highly recommend it), be sure to break your legs in gradually. You will work muscles that do not normally get worked. On your first run, I would not go for more than a mile or two and then build from there to your normal distance. For sure do not enter any races until you are very comfortable with them.
I would love to wear these shoes everywhere I go and maybe someday I will be able to, at least in the warmer climates. They still earn a place on my Ultimate Travel Gear list, but they are not a perfect 5.
Disclaimer: I paid for these shoes myself and was not given, nor do I receive any ongoing compensation for this review or any links herein.
Read MoreGear Review: SCOTTEVEST Fleece 5.0 Jacket (4.9 out of 5 Stars)
Let me start by saying that I love travel gear and am always on the lookout for the next perfect thing to add to my collection. I also travel light, so most things that I buy need to either be multi-functional, or be really good at what they do. I purchased the SCOTTEVEST Fleece 5.0 Jacket and can say that it is almost the perfect travel jacket. It is a welcome addition to my gear list and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Description
The Fleece 5.0 Jacket is available in any color that you want, as long as that color is black. It has 24 pockets, zip-off sleeves, inside wiring guides for your iPod, and an internal pocket big enough to carry a magazine (or the iPad). It has a special strap inside one pocket that will hold a water bottle upright, a key chain, several pockets to hold small memory sticks/cards, a see-through pocket so you can control your iPod/iPhone without removing it, and several hidden pockets. I was walking somewhere with Sara the other day and she was a bit annoyed as I was not paying attention to what she was saying. Finally, she asked me what was on my mind. I smiled and said, “I think I just found another pocket!”
The Good
Almost everything about this jacket is good. There is a place for everything. On a recent trip to San Francisco, at the airport I just took off my jacket and slipped off my shoes when going through security. I didn’t even have my normal backpack. Everything was in my jacket. I was a bit concerned because I have long and gangly arms and many long sleeve shirts or jackets are too short. SCOTTEVEST does not have Tall sizes, but the jacket fits well. It is very comfortable and warm. I took it on a trip to Big Bear, CA and I was quite warm in 20 degree weather with two long-sleeve shirts, this jacket and a wind-breaker. It also did great in Siberia (although it was September, so not the full winter force, but still darn chilly).
The Bad
The only slightly bad thing that I can come up with is that it is just a bit too heavy for a fleece jacket. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any way around this and still have so many pockets, but it does seem to be just a bit bulky.
Also, if you get carried away and really fill the pockets, it will get heavy. That is not too bad when you are wearing it, but if it gets hot and you have to take it off, then it can be a bit cumbersome.
The price is also a bit steep at $140, but if you check on the Sale Page, you can sometimes find it at a 20% or more discount.
Conclusion
This jacket goes on my Ultimate Travel Gear List and comes highly recommended. I carried it with me on the Trans-Siberian Railway trip and I would not have wanted anything else. If you need a jacket that looks good, is very functional, keeps you warm and can hold all of your little travel gadgets, look no further.
Disclaimer: I paid for this jacket myself and was not given, nor do I receive any ongoing compensation for this review or any links herein.
Read MoreHow We Evaluate Gear
Minimalist travel requires some thought when it comes to gear. In order to travel light, it is necessary to evaluate everything that one carries for true need and functionality. Most items should fill several roles or be compact and lightweight, or both. One of the things that I love about travel is the idea that I will carry very few things and everything that I have is something that I need. Consequently, I spend a great deal of time thinking about ‘stuff’.
I am the type of person that does not like to own many things, and if I do buy something, I want to use it until it wears out. What this means is that I generally do a good bit of research before I buy something, because once I buy it, I’m stuck with it.
One of our themes here at FlyingCoach.org is how to travel light. Through our gear reviews, we are going to share our experiences with gear in real world trials. Most of the items that we review will be things that we have purchased for our own use, with our own money. If, however, we happen to be asked to review something by a manufacturer, or any third-party, we will fully disclose that in the review itself. We will also disclose if that party is an advertiser or contributor to the website.
Our goal is to provide true unbiased reviews of items that you, the light traveler, can use and rely upon as you do your research, so that when you buy something, you, too, can use it until it wears out. We welcome any and all comments to the reviews and are anxious to hear other travelers’ experiences with the same gear that we use.
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