If you’re traveling and your medications get lost or stolen, panic won’t help. What will help is knowing exactly what to do next - and doing it fast. Millions of travelers lose prescriptions every year, and many end up without vital drugs for days or weeks. But with the right steps, you can get back on track without risking your health.
First, Don’t Panic - But Act Immediately
The moment you realize your meds are gone, start moving. Time matters. If you’re on insulin, blood pressure pills, or psychiatric medication, even one missed dose can cause serious problems. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Don’t hope your bag turns up. Start the replacement process now.Check Your Carry-On and Contact Your Airline
Before assuming your meds are gone, double-check every pocket, bag, and compartment. Checked luggage gets lost more often than you think - 1 in 150 bags are mishandled, according to IATA. If your meds were in checked baggage, go straight to the airline’s baggage service office. File a report within 24 hours. Airlines are required to respond quickly under IATA Resolution 701, and they may be able to track down your bag before it’s shipped to another city.Call Your Travel Insurance Provider
If you have travel insurance, this is your fastest path to getting new meds. Most comprehensive plans - about 68% of them - include prescription replacement coverage. Companies like Allianz, AIG, and World Nomads have 24/7 emergency assistance lines. When you call, they’ll connect you with local medical providers who can help. They’ll also handle the paperwork and billing so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. Don’t assume your insurance covers this - check your policy before you leave. But if it does, use it. Travelers who use insurance assistance get their meds within 24 hours 78% of the time. Those who go it alone? Only 42% succeed.Get a Copy of Your Prescription
You need proof of what you were taking. This isn’t optional. Pharmacies abroad won’t fill a prescription from a foreign doctor without documentation. If you have a digital copy saved on your phone, email, or cloud storage, pull it up. If not, call your pharmacy back home. Chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS can email or fax a copy of your original prescription to you - they have shared systems that let them do this even if you’re overseas. If your doctor prescribed the medication, call them. But here’s the catch: 37% of U.S. doctors aren’t available for same-day emergency calls. So if you’re in Europe at 3 a.m. and your doctor’s asleep, you’ll need another plan.Carry a Doctor’s Letter - Always
The U.S. Department of State and the International Society of Travel Medicine both say this: carry a letter from your doctor. It should list your condition, the generic names of your medications, dosages, and why you need them. No brand names - use generic terms like “metformin” instead of “Glucophage.” This letter is your lifeline. Travelers with it are 3.7 times less likely to face delays. In many countries, pharmacists won’t even look at you without it. Print two copies. Keep one in your wallet. Put the other in your carry-on with your meds.
Local Doctors Can Prescribe - But Only If You Have Proof
Most countries won’t fill a foreign prescription. That’s the rule in 89% of nations, according to the International Pharmaceutical Federation. But they can write you a new one - if you give them enough information. A local doctor will need to see you in person. They’ll want to know your medical history, your diagnosis, and your dosage. That’s why your doctor’s letter matters. Without it, they might refuse. Even if they agree, they may want to run tests first. This can take hours or even a day. In Western Europe, 82% of travelers get new meds within 24 hours. In Southeast Asia, that number drops to 54%. Why? EU countries have standardized systems. Other regions don’t.Controlled Substances Are a Different Story
If you take Adderall, Ritalin, OxyContin, Vicodin, or any other Schedule II drug, you’re in a tough spot. U.S. law doesn’t allow refills for these, even at home. And most countries treat them like illegal drugs. Thailand bans pseudoephedrine. The UK lets you buy codeine over the counter. The U.S. requires a prescription. You can’t just walk into a pharmacy and ask for your usual pills. You’ll need to see a doctor who understands your condition. Some telehealth services like MyUSADr can help U.S. travelers get non-controlled prescriptions via video call - but they can’t prescribe controlled substances. The Ryan Haight Act blocks that. So if you’re out of Adderall in Japan, you’re not getting a refill. You need a local doctor who’s willing to evaluate you and write a new prescription - which may take time.Watch Out for Counterfeit Drugs
In some countries, especially in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, up to 30% of medications are fake. The World Health Organization says counterfeit drugs cause about 500,000 deaths every year. Don’t buy meds from street vendors, hotel pharmacies, or unlicensed kiosks. Stick to hospital pharmacies or chains with clear branding. Look for sealed packaging, clear labels, and a pharmacy license posted on the wall. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, ask your local doctor where they get their meds - and go there.Temperature-Sensitive Meds Need Extra Care
Insulin, epinephrine, and some biologics can spoil if they get too hot or too cold. Forty-one percent of travelers report issues with these drugs after long flights or exposure to heat. Always carry them in your carry-on. Use a portable cooling pack if you need to. Some travelers use insulated pouches with ice gel packs - but never freeze them unless the label says it’s safe. Keep them away from direct sunlight. If your insulin looks cloudy or has particles, don’t use it. Get a replacement.
Lisa McCluskey
January 30, 2026 AT 09:55Always carry a doctor's letter. I learned this the hard way in Thailand. No brand names, just generics. Saved me when my bag got lost.
Two copies. One in wallet, one in carry-on. Done.
owori patrick
January 30, 2026 AT 12:23This is gold. I’m from Nigeria and we have so many fake meds here. I always check the pharmacy license now. Never buy from street vendors. My cousin almost died from fake malaria pills.
Also, learn the generic names. I used to say ‘Amoxicillin’ and they’d stare. Now I say ‘amoxicillin’ and they nod. Small thing, huge difference.
Sarah Blevins
January 30, 2026 AT 19:55The statistic about 37% of U.S. doctors not being available for same-day calls is misleading. It’s not that they’re unavailable-it’s that most don’t have systems to handle international emergencies. The real issue is systemic underinvestment in cross-border telehealth infrastructure.
Also, blockchain-verified prescriptions? 17% acceptance rate? That’s not a solution. It’s a marketing buzzword.
Marc Bains
January 31, 2026 AT 14:47As someone who’s traveled to 42 countries, let me tell you: the doctor’s letter is non-negotiable. I’ve had pharmacists in Japan, Brazil, and Egypt refuse to even look at me without it.
And don’t even think about flying with insulin without a cooling pack. I once left mine in checked luggage in Dubai. Took 18 hours to get a replacement. Never again.
Kelly Weinhold
February 1, 2026 AT 09:15Okay but can we just talk about how amazing it is that you can get insulin in Bangkok for $12? I was so scared I’d be stuck without it, but the hospital pharmacy had it in stock and the nurse even gave me a free sample pack because she saw I was panicking.
Also, if you’re on antidepressants? Don’t skip doses. I did once in Portugal and felt like I was falling through a black hole. Just… don’t.
And yes, the letter helps. I carry mine laminated. It’s my travel MVP.
Kimberly Reker
February 3, 2026 AT 00:19For anyone reading this: save your prescriptions on your phone AND email them to yourself. I lost my bag in Rome, pulled up the email, walked into a pharmacy, and got my meds in 20 minutes.
Also, use Medisafe. It’s free. It saved me twice. No hype, just facts.
Eliana Botelho
February 4, 2026 AT 11:57Wait, so you’re telling me I can’t just walk into a pharmacy in Italy and say ‘I need my Adderall’? That’s ridiculous. I’ve seen people do it in Mexico. Why is the U.S. so paranoid about meds?
Also, why does everyone keep saying ‘generic name’ like it’s some secret code? I’ve had pharmacists in Spain look at me like I’m speaking alien when I say ‘atorvastatin.’ They just want the bottle.
And who even uses blockchain for prescriptions? That’s like using a fax machine to send a selfie.
calanha nevin
February 5, 2026 AT 12:34It is imperative to underscore the significance of carrying a physician-authored letter detailing one’s medical regimen. The absence of such documentation has, on multiple occasions, resulted in protracted delays in pharmaceutical acquisition across international jurisdictions.
Furthermore, the assertion that 30% of medications in certain regions are counterfeit is not merely an estimate-it is a documented public health crisis endorsed by the World Health Organization. One must exercise extreme caution and prioritize licensed institutions for procurement.
Lastly, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals require adherence to manufacturer guidelines. Deviation may result in irreversible degradation and subsequent therapeutic failure.
Claire Wiltshire
February 6, 2026 AT 12:06Just wanted to say thank you for writing this. I’m a nurse and I travel a lot for work. This is exactly what I tell my patients before they leave.
Also, if you’re on thyroid meds, don’t forget to pack extra. They’re super sensitive to heat. I’ve had mine turn to jelly in my purse in Greece. Not fun.
Darren Gormley
February 6, 2026 AT 15:49😂😂😂 I once tried to get OxyContin in Spain. The pharmacist asked if I was a drug dealer. I said no, I’m just a guy who broke his back. He called the police. 🤦♂️
Also, ‘blockchain verification’? Bro. That’s not a thing. 😂
But yeah, doctor’s letter? Yes. Always. 🙌
Mike Rose
February 7, 2026 AT 19:03bro why so many words. just carry extra pills. done.
also dont fly with insulin. its too much work. just get it there. easy.
Russ Kelemen
February 9, 2026 AT 01:01There’s something deeper here than just logistics. Medication isn’t just chemistry-it’s identity. When you’re abroad and you’re without your pills, you’re not just physically unwell. You’re disconnected from your routine, your stability, your sense of self.
That’s why the doctor’s letter matters. It’s not just paperwork. It’s proof that you exist beyond the symptoms.
And if you’re stuck? Talk to someone. Not just a pharmacist. A human. You’d be surprised how many will go out of their way to help if you just say, ‘I’m scared.’
Diksha Srivastava
February 10, 2026 AT 22:36I’m from India and I travel to the U.S. for work. I take blood pressure meds. I used to panic every time I flew. Now I carry my letter, my extra supply, and a screenshot of my prescription on my lock screen.
Also, the Indian pharmacy chain Apollo has a global network. They can fax prescriptions from U.S. pharmacies to India. Didn’t know that until last year. Game changer.
Sidhanth SY
February 12, 2026 AT 09:50Been to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The best tip? Go to the hospital, not the pharmacy. Hospitals have real meds. Pharmacies? Maybe. The hospital pharmacist in Hanoi gave me my insulin for $5 because I showed him my letter.
Also, learn to say ‘I need my medicine’ in the local language. It helps. I learned it in Vietnamese. They smiled. I got my pills.
Niamh Trihy
February 13, 2026 AT 03:43One thing no one mentions: check your destination’s customs rules before you fly. I got detained in Australia because my insulin pen had a U.S. pharmacy label. They thought it was a syringe. Took three hours to explain it was insulin.
Print a copy of the country’s medication entry rules. Save it on your phone. I keep mine in my passport sleeve. No more surprises.