Essential OTC Medicine Checklist for Home and Travel

After snapping up a bargain flight, the next question is always the same: which medicines should you pack? Most households already keep some over-the-counter medicines on hand, typically paracetamol and cold and flu remedies. We have put together a comprehensive checklist of essential medicines for both home and travel, so that whether you are heading overseas or simply managing everyday ailments at home, you can look after yourself and your family, even when you cannot see a doctor straight away.

Which over-the-counter medicines should you keep at home?

"Keeping medicines at home" is, as the Cantonese expression goes, having remedies ready "just in case." Apart from prescription medications required by those with chronic conditions, we all experience minor illnesses from time to time that call for immediate relief, and even a bout of COVID-19 can be managed with the right over-the-counter medicines. Below are the most common household essentials:

Paracetamol: One of the most widely used analgesic and antipyretic medicines in Hong Kong, paracetamol is primarily used for pain relief and reducing fever. Although it is safe at standard doses, patients with impaired liver function should exercise caution, as it may cause further liver damage or, in severe cases, prove fatal.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers: Ibuprofen is a commonly used, non-prescription anti-inflammatory painkiller that helps relieve muscle pain and sprains, and can also ease menstrual cramps. Like paracetamol, ibuprofen has fever-reducing properties. This type of painkiller should not be taken on an empty stomach. If you experience stomach pain or heartburn after taking ibuprofen, you should stop using it and ask a doctor for advice. Ibuprofen may also interact with certain prescription medicines, so if you are unsure whether it is appropriate for you, consult your doctor or pharmacist first.
Antihistamines: These are a class of oral anti-allergy medications categorised as either sedating or non-sedating. When you have an allergic reaction, your body releases histamine as part of its defence against harmful substances, and histamine triggers inflammation. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, thereby relieving allergy symptoms. They can also ease hay fever and other allergic reactions, including hives, itching, sneezing, watery eyes and a runny nose, and can reduce pain and swelling caused by wasp or bee stings.
Antacids: These help neutralise stomach acid, relieving indigestion and heartburn, and are commonly used to treat peptic ulcers. Common antacids include magnesium trisilicate and aluminium hydroxide. However, taking antacids may slow the absorption of other anti-ulcer medicines, tetracyclines and iron supplements, thereby reducing their effectiveness.
Hydrocortisone cream (topical corticosteroid): A relatively mild corticosteroid that helps treat skin inflammation, insect bites and eczema. It is important to note that hydrocortisone cream should not be applied to a large surface area, or for longer than 7 days unless prescribed by a doctor. Although there are many types of topical corticosteroids, only hydrocortisone acetate 1% and clobetasone butyrate 0.05% can be purchased under the supervision of a pharmacist; all others are prescription-only medicines. Prolonged use of corticosteroids may cause skin thinning, stretch marks, worsening of skin infections and acne, so they must always be used in accordance with the instructions of your pharmacist or doctor.
Antiseptic cream: Used to treat minor grazes, cuts and bites, and to help prevent infection.

Which medicines should you pack for travel?

Having adequate medicines at home can address many minor ailments. Packing a well-prepared travel medicine kit gives you extra reassurance when you are abroad:

You may face language barriers that make it difficult to purchase medicines suited to your needs
You may be unable to read the ingredients listed on medicine packaging
Medicine quality can vary from country to country
Not every city has pharmacies or convenience stores as readily accessible as those in Hong Kong, and finding one in an emergency may take time
Public hospital systems and ambulance response times vary significantly between countries

Even if you hope never to use your travel medicines, having them on hand helps you respond to emergencies and provides timely symptom relief, making for a smoother trip. Below is a checklist of common over-the-counter travel medicines:

Anti-diarrhoeal medication (e.g. loperamide /Imodium, or bismuth subsalicylate chewable tablets / Pepto-Bismol)
Antacids
Antihistamines
Motion sickness tablets
Cough suppressants or expectorants
Decongestants
Pain relief and fever-reducing medication (such as the paracetamol discussed above)
Mild laxatives
Mild sedatives or sleep aids

Other first aid essentials

Rubbing alcohol (for disinfection)
Adhesive plasters
Aloe vera gel
Cotton buds
Eye drops

You can adjust these items according to your travel needs, including the climate of your destination and the risk of infection in the region.

Important precautions

Although we all hope to stay healthy and never need to take medication, prevention is better than cure. It is important to regularly check that your home medicine supply has not been damaged or expired, and to prepare your travel medicine kit and first aid items before departure. If you are unsure which medicines to bring on your trip, consult your family doctor before making any purchases. Pregnant women and those with chronic conditions should seek advice from their family doctor before travelling, and carry sufficient supply of their current medications (e.g. patients with diabetes should bring their insulin), along with a medical summary and medication list prepared by their doctor, so that prescriptions can be arranged promptly should an emergency arise during the trip.

Dr Shiba Poon

General Practice, Family Medicine

LMCHK
MBBS (Lond)
DRCOG
DCH (RCPCH)
PGDipClinDerm (Lond)
MRCGP
Honorary Clinical Assistant Professor In Family Medicine (HKU)

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References

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Lohr, J. (2018). 'Health Guidelines for Travel Abroad.' Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice, 45(3), p. 541. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pop.2018.05.012.
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