It's Medical Monday

Today is Medical Monday at Aortic Hope.

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, many in the community will be traveling to spend time with friends and family. Often times, traveling with medications can seem like a daunting task.

As seen in the article How to Manage Your Medications While You Travel, written by Amanda Gardner, here are ways to get you and the medicine you need safely to your destination and back again.

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗢𝗻 Going to Honolulu? Don't let your medications end up in Timbuktu. Keep them in your carry-on bag for safety -- and for easier access en route. Remember, though, it will need to get through security.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 On plane trips, using carry-on bags will help protect your meds from sitting out in extremely hot or cold temperatures, which can affect how well they work.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿?

Never leave medicine in the glove compartment or the trunk, even inside luggage. For medications that must be refrigerated, like some liquid drugs or meds you inject, put them in an insulated lunch bag and add a freezer pack.

𝗧𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗦𝗔 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 For carry-ons, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration will allow liquid medicine over the usual limit of 3.4 ounces, but you must tell officers at the beginning of the security check. They may want to X-ray it.

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝘀 Make your way through customs more easily. Be sure your pills and liquid meds stay in their original, labeled containers. Take a copy of the prescription along. Also bring a letter from your doctor explaining your condition, especially if you're taking a medicine you inject or a controlled substance such as painkillers. This holds true for needles, syringes, and oxygen tanks, too.

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘄 Just because a medication is legal in the U.S. doesn't mean it's allowed in other countries. Before you go abroad, check with the U.S. embassy at your destination to make sure.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 Make sure you have enough meds to get through the trip -- plus a little extra. It's a good idea to bring an additional 2-week supply in case you stay longer than expected.

𝗔𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: ask your pharmacy about ordering pills in "multi-dose" packages. Your meds will be grouped into packets according to the day and time you need to take them. It makes it easier to pack into your bag and keep track of your medicine schedule.

In case you need a refill while you're away, write down the generic name of the medicine. Brand names may be different in other countries. Sometimes, drugs with the same brand name could contain different ingredients.

Worried about having enough or want to plan for all situations? Ask your doctor for a new prescription and tuck that in your bag.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 Traveling across time zones? That may complicate your medication schedule. Set an alarm on your smart phone to help you keep the same interval between doses.

It's usually safe to take medicine 1-2 hours early or late, but don't double up doses. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to see how to handle the switch to a new time zone.

𝗔𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 Some drugs, including certain antibiotics and statins, can make you more sun-sensitive and increase your risk of sunburns. Find out if any of your medications are "photosensitive."

Too much heat can be a problem, too, especially for medicine patches. So if you're going to a warm climate, be aware that the meds in your patch may be released too quickly.

When in doubt, check it out by asking your doctor or pharmacist for advice.