Are you travelling? Prepare before travelling

Make a detailed list of the medicines you take on a daily basis; 

Make sure you travel with enough medication for the length of your trip; Include extra medication supplies to cover for any incident (for example, medication loss, possible travel delays or other event that makes you stay a few days longer at your destination); 

Check if the expiration date of the drugs is compatible with the length of the trip; 

Carry the medication in their original packaging with the respective labels; 

If your medication requires the use of syringes, take enough syringes with you as well as a medical justification, if needed; 

Take the medical prescriptions with you and make sure the name of the active substance can be read, as well as the dosage, pharmaceutical forms, and administration method (useful in the security check at the airport); 

When you arrive at your destination, store medicines in a dry, cool place, away from heat and humidity (for example, the bathroom is not a suitable place). 

Make a travel kit with your medicines, which can be carried in a hand luggage so that you can access them during the flight, if necessary; 

Include extra doses of your medications in the hold baggage. However, be aware that extreme cargo hold temperatures can damage certain medications, so make sure your medications are not affected;   

If you are travelling with someone else split the medication to minimize loss or theft;  

Liquid medicines should be carried in bottles, in a transparent plastic bag, so that they can be opened by the authorities (for content checking). The medication must be accompanied by the respective prescription or doctor's declaration; 

The transport of insulin, test strips, blood glucose meters, lancets, needles, and syringes is authorized in hand luggage; 

Insulin must not be transported in the hold bag, as the extreme cold will denature the protein contained in insulin. 

Medicines that need to be stored in a cool place (between 2 to 8.º C), must be transported in a refrigerated isothermal bag. 

Do not put medications in the glove compartment or in the  luggage compartment (as high temperatures may damage them) ; 

Medicines that need to be stored in a cool place (between 2 to 8.º C), must be transported in a refrigerated isothermal bag. 

If high temperatures (higher than 25.º C) are expected, medicines  should be transported in non-refrigerated isothermal bags.