When packing a suitcase, paracetamol and Imodium don’t quite have the same holiday feeling as a new bikini and summer dress. But just like a new two-piece and floral midi, they can definitely make or break a holiday.
Between different temperatures, rich new foods and, predictably, a little too much booze, our bodies can go a little haywire when we travel abroad.
And if you’re going on holiday somewhere in the countryside (or where you don’t speak the language), it’s always a good idea to pack your own belongings.
Is it possible to dice ‘Paracetamol’ in Spanish?
But when I look in my medicine cabinet, it’s hard to imagine what not to bring. So we asked pharmacist Abraham Jacobson Khodadi, if ‘Abraham the Pharmacist’ as he’s known to his 850,000 social media subscribers, for his top tips on what to pack…
Abraham Jacobson Khodadi is a pharmacist with over 850,000 online subscribers.
Painkillers
This may seem obvious, but Khodadi says this is something most people don’t pack well.
He says: ‘Paracetamol and ibuprofen are not interchangeable’, news to me!
Khodadi explains that while acetaminophen is for general pain, ibuprofen is for anything swollen or inflamed.
So pack both and remember that paracetamol is for everything from sunburn, hangover or a sprained ankle and ibuprofen for a rolled ankle, toothache or backache.
Oral rehydration salts
As Khodadi puts it, “These are for when you’ve been sick in a hot country.”
If you are traveling somewhere hot these are essential to take with you.
He says, “This is the one that actually keeps you out of the hospital.”
After a day of vomiting or diarrhea in a hot country, you have lost not only water, but also the salt your body retains, according to Khodadi. In that case, plain water or a carbonated drink simply won’t get the problem back.
Instead, you should take a sachet of oral rehydration salt, which allows sodium and salt to reenter the body even when everything else is turned off.
Oral rehydration salts can help with both vomiting and diarrhea.
Loperamide
“This is the one that stops the running,” Khodadi said, “the tablet you take when you’ve gotten something from food or water and you can’t be more than three meters from a toilet.”
And while loperamide won’t treat the infection, it does give you some control that may be especially needed if you’re traveling home on a long flight.
This is not intended for children or those with intestinal disorders, so Khodadi says to consult your pharmacist before taking them.
Khodadi also warns: ‘If there is a high fever or blood in the stool, then that is a doctor’s visit rather than a tablet situation.’
Non-drowsy antihistamine
Khodadi recommends packing a non-drowsy antihistamine for bites, stings, and pollens you haven’t encountered before.
He says, “The non-sleepy ones are the daytime choice,” as you don’t want to miss any sights while you’re busy napping in the hotel.
Khodadi also recommends a tube of 1 percent hydrocortisone cream to treat the problem topically.
Non-drowsy antihistamines are a lifesaver during the holidays for new types of pollen and insect bites.
Antacid
Khodadi says to pack an antacid for the indigestion and reflux that vacations all but guarantee.
He says: ‘Rich food, more alcohol, eating much later than at home and then lying flat is a perfect recipe for acid to come back up, and in an airplane the drop in cabin pressure also causes the trapped gas to expand.’
According to Mr Khodadi, ‘an antacid is the quick fix’, neutralizing the acid present and ensuring that the stomach contents stay in place!
If you suffer from digestive problems most nights while on vacation, Khodadi suggests an acid-reducing tablet that works slower but lasts much longer.
He also mentions that it is worth reporting to your pharmacist any other tablets you are taking, as antacids can prevent other medicines from being absorbed properly.
