weird packing question

Bismuth is banned in some countries, perhaps someone more traveled than i will chime in. However, you can buy pepto here as a chewable tablet.....would be another way to go

sounds like the doc holds stock in Pepto Abysmal!

I would ignore his/her advice and simply buy something from a local pharmacy in the unlikely event you get the runs. You can't bring everything with you.

Ask MD how many tablets equal an 8 oz bottle. Much easier to pack and not a TSA issue for carry on.

it will even cure Norovirus

So that can kill a virus? That's new.... US medicine is much advanced over us here the other side of the puddle.

Does your doctor think that you will be traveling deep into the third world?
I recently returned from 7 weeks, some of which were in Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy (including Venice.). These are highly civilized countries and the water is safe to drink and the food is delicious.
Personally, I think sunburn would be a bigger cause for concern than diarrhea!
Happy travels!

I think you need to find a new doctor.

Geez--nothing "cures" Norovirus. I doubt Pepto would stop the symptoms, which people say just make you want to die, and I wouldn't want to be near you if you had it. It's highly contagious. If you're truly sick or have food poisoning, it's just got to pass on through.
We do carry a pill against the diarrhea, in case we eat too much fried food, or stuff like that. It sounds like your doc has traveled mainly on cruise ships where Noro and overeating are big threats.

horse,

You might also check with a travel medicine clinic, as something like Dukoral might provide some protection against "travel bugs". They may have other recommendations specific to the countries you'll be visiting. The travel med. Doctor here also provides a prescription for Ciprofloxacin for use "as required", but I've never had to use it.

You may also want to check into Hep. A vaccination, as that can be a concern even in developed countries.

Medical questions are not weird, just complicated. If diarrhea is your concern, you can purchase loperamide tablets for cheap at Wal-Mart, Walgreen's, or Dollar Tree without a RX. They come in a blister pack and are labeled on the back. Just peel-off 4 - 8 tablets and pack. You don't need the whole package. Calcium tablets like Tums, Rolaids,or generic are most helpful for stomach cramps/indigestion. These come in a small "lifesaver roll" type package. Or, you can just pack 4-8 tabs in a small pill bottle. I wouldn't bother with peptobismo. It's a liquid - bulky - adds unnecessary weight. You can purchase something from a pharmacy when traveling. The pharmacies in Italy typically have a green colored cross sign (same shape as the Red Cross or cross on Swiss flag). Germany and Italy have modern medicine, similar to USA. I can't comment on the other countries - ignorant about them. Don't worry about Norovirus. Just enjoy!

Does your doctor think that you will be traveling deep into the third world... These are highly civilized countries and the water is safe to drink and the food is delicious.

Simple changes to your regular diet can result in diarrhea.

My doctor and my kids pediatrician aren't crazy about Pepto-Bismol. They both recommend Culturelle (probiotic). I never did like the taste of Pepto-Bismol and my kids can't stand it either. However, I continue to take the chewable tablets when I travel. Sometimes new and exciting foods just don't agree with my tummy and system.

I always bring a number of over the counter meds with me when I travel. The last thing you want to do when you aren't feeling well is to go out and get medicine.

Is it possible your doctor was just making a suggestion of something you could take if you develop diarrhea? Do you have a specific medical condition that puts you more at risk for severe diarrhea or makes you intolerant of other anti-diarrhea medications? If the answer to both of those is yes, then take bring the pepto and declare it as a medical liquid before going through security!

But if you are able to take other medications, loperamide (imodium) is much more travel friendly.

I have been able to get loperamide, Bentyl (good for cramping), and pepcid in Italy, all over the counter. I cannot speak for the other countries.

And as others have said, nothing cures a virus. All you can do is take medication to help with the symptoms while the virus runs its course. Prevention is key- wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer, especially before you eat.

An above poster made a good point about probiotics. I like eating some yogurt when traveling. If you fear dehydration issues from diarrhea, you can buy something like pedialyte powder packets to add to water. The pedialyte packets are easy to pack.

Man, I love pepto bismol. I used to beg for it when I was a kid. My parents had to lock it up or I would drink the whole bottle. Even to this day, I just love the taste of it. Is that weird??

My Uncle always traveled with a full bottle of Pepto Bismal, until one time he had a giant mess when it leaked/exploded. There are pharmacies in all the countries you are visiting. Buy something when you arrive. Take some antibacterial wipes and wipe down airplane and hotel rooms. Wash your hands to prevent the norovirus!!! Good luck!!

Your doctor probably said the pepto would help with the symptoms NOT cure a virus. It turns out that Europe has medicine in case you get sick on your travels. Don't pack stuff in case you might need it because that's a slippery slope.

You know your body best. If you're concerned & tend to have digestive issues, pack pepto tablets. (I wouldn't bring the liquid.) I pack sinus headache meds "just in case" because that could be the difference between a wonderful vacation day for me or a miserable day.

CDC suggest:

Reduce your exposure to germs.
Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

Wash your hands often, especially before eating.

If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer
(containing at least 60% alcohol).

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face,
make sure your hands are clean.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your
hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need
medical care.

there is some data that says pepto may help prevent some forms of travelers diarrhea. CDC discusses this here: CDC on travelers diarrhea You have to read the whole article carefully. But thats not the same thing as saying it will cure a case of something like norovirus.

Dukoral still not available in the US. Just take a box of pepto tablets with you. Its the same active ingredient as the liquid pepto.

I'm with Stan. Some people do get diarrhea easily and the pepto tablets work well. Travellers to Africa will sometimes do the one or two tabs a day for prevention. The chewable tabs don't taste great, but chase it down with plenty of water and you are done. The water is the added bonus of hydration which also helps your gut and may ward off the side effect of too much Pepto which is constipation. Starting probiotics and continuing during travel is often recommended for good gut health, otherwise.
I wouldn't do the daily Pepto for Europe, butnuou will know your gut tendencies better than we.

If you are traveling with another person, I wouldn't worry about having too many over the counter meds as the other person can run out for meds if you need them. However, when traveling solo I started being more prepared, and from reading what other people bring on this forum, I started traveling with Peptobismal tablets. I never needed them before, but I didn't want to have to catch a plane or train or whatever with the big D. and no one to run out for meds for me. Oddly enough, never having taken Peptobismal in my adult life, on my two most recent trips I needed some. So, I would say, if traveling solo, make sure you have peptobismol tablets...you don't need many...and I'd also suggest an aspirin/ibuprofen type tablet. Just my 2 cents from my experience.

If you like bismuth subsalicylate, then consider taking it in caplet form. Also, something like loperamide hydrochloride, as an anti-diarrheal, might be included with your travel medicine. Both are very light, compact and don't bust your budget.. Illnesses do not always respect open hours and locations of pharmacies.

Thanks everyone except the snarky answers. Yes I have a troublesome tummy, prone to colitis and diverticulitis. Will be taking med's for that just in case. Now will add pepto tablets to the med bag.
I love my GP and will not change until he retires.

OP -

My other half doesn't have the same stomach issues which you described, but he does have a very sensitive stomach. I suggest that you try smaller meals at first since you'll probably be eating dishes that are different from you what make at home. It gives your system a better chance of getting used to the food and water in another area. Helps him at any rate!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!!!

PS - I have read many articles extolling the virtues of taking two Pepto-Bismol tablets before each meal on a trip. I've never tried it myself, but maybe ask your MD if that's okay for your stomach? (As opposed to an entire bottle later in the trip?)

We were just in Ireland where one of us needed Pepto Bismal. I can vouch that they do not sell it in Ireland. We also needed it several years ago when 1/2 of our students came down with stomach troubles in the Middle East. Steady doses of Pepto were reccomended by our campus doctor as a preventative and benificial measure against diarrhea. We don't take the bulky liquid form but will once again pack a box of tablets.

EDIT: our doctor's reccomendation of Pepto Bismol was in addition to Imodium (to get the diarrhea stopped quickly). This summer's episode was precipitated by fever and chills for a couple of days. I now have new first hand knowledge about doctors' visits in Ireland. You can walk into any clinic, fill out some simple paperwork, be seen within 10-15 minutes, pay between 50-60€ and walk out with a prescription. Two people on our trip last month had this experience--two different people, two different ailments.

I find Imodium works very, very well, and they come in small tablets. I usually bring a few along on my trips. Pepto doesn't work very well or very fast from my experience, but the Imodium will stop the runs after the first dose.

I have digestive issues and always travel with Pepto. It is available in the UK but is kept behind the counter. I have heard it may not be available in other countries. I buy the tablets in the U.S. before I leave.

Given your recent comments, then another consideration is to stick to bottled water. I am personally not an advocate to all the plastic it entails and I have a fairly strong gut, but even when safe to drink, the different minerals in local water, or the levels of chlorine may be asking too much for your system. You wouldn't want to miss the variety of local cuisine, but smaller servings would help to get acclimated. Remember you can also pick up fresh fruit or veg at market stalls for a change of pace and maintaining fresh food in your diet.

Start having some probiotic yogurt each day for a week or so before your trip. It's easy to find in supermarkets or on breakfast buffets while you travel, too.

A Gastroenterologist once told me to only take Immodium as a last resort. We want the bad germs in our gut to flush itself out (no pun intended LOL). When you take Immodium, your body stops everything. That's a good thing if you are getting on a long flight with limited access to a bathroom. But we want to get the bad germs out and Immodium prevents that.

I also like to bring the Pepto Bismal tablets with me when traveling. I understand we can find them in Pharmacies, but it's nice to have them in the hotel room when we need them in the middle of the night and a pharmacy isn't available.

I started noticing on my last trip that certain bottled water with high mineral content upset my stomach. Now (thanks to Frank) I check before I buy.

Like so many things with traveling, looks like there are different schools of thought on whether it's more comfortable to pack the meds or seek them out. For me and my family, I always pack a travel bottle of Tums, some Imodium, Advil, a tube of Pepto tablets (agree with the others, the tablets work just as well and are much more packable), a small tube of antibiotic ointment, and a handful Band Aids. The whole thing plus some other supplies fits easily in a 1-cup Tupperware container and weighs hardly anything at all. My thinking here is that if one of us is bleeding, in pain, or having digestive troubles, I'd much rather just grab what I need and keep on vacationing than have to take time seek out supplies in a moment of need. I don't have everything we could possibly want on hand but just the few things I think we are likely to want and would be burdened by seeking once we already needed them. On our recent 2 week trip I used all but one of the above and we were glad to have these things available without searching.

Rick Steve's tour guide Laura (of the famed packing light video) talks about carrying something similar when she travels so even among Rick Steves style travelers you'll find different takes on this.

I don't doubt that someone else who also packs light and enjoys wonderful vacations would not want to bring these things, I think it really just boils down to what's best for you as a person. Some people are more comfortable not having the extra stuff, some people can relax better and enjoy their trip knowing they can quickly deal with moderate medical needs should they arise--only you know type of person you are!

Thousandsofkates, I have the same packing list as you with a few additional items. I also bring DayQuil tablets, NyQuil tablets, and a few cough drops (enough to hold me over until I can purchase more). I hope I don't need them, but they will make my day (or night) much more enjoyable if I do need them.

I agree about a small first aid kit. For a family size kit, buy a fabric pencil pouch that has clear vinyl on one side. (about $3 for pouch) For something even more compact, I found a small hinged plastic box at Dollar Tree that is a little bigger than a bar of soap. It's red and translucent enough to see the contents. I got a pack of 3 boxes for $1. I then just take the kit wherever I go - purse, daypack, suitcase, glove compartment box of car. I think it's a mom thing.

A few medicines and limited first aid supplies are always with us. Such consume very little space and are of limited weight. I know what works for us.

Traveling with an anti dirrareal is FINE: recommended, as a matter of fact. Strange water, different diet and all sorts of things can result in a case of Traveler's Tummy. It was the claim that drinking an entire bottle of Pepto could cure even Norovirus that I'm not buying. But packing some Pepto tablets - lightweight and take little room - is a good precaution if those work for your sensitive system.

We take Imodium along as there's never, ever been a day of vacation that we've had the luxury of letting nature run its course, however healthy that may be. We're just not going to spend a day stuck in a hotel room when we could be having fun? That hasn't even been an option when a day of road, train, or plane travel or heavy hiking was in the plan. Fortunately, we've each only needed it a single time, and were mighty glad to have had it on hand! :O)

While there are plenty of pharmacies that you can go into for medical needs, keep in mind that OTC medications we usually find here in the States...are behind the counter in Europe. I visited Italy during the winter one year and started to come down with cold symptoms. I was on a tight schedule and all I was looking for was something like Thera-Flu or, NyQuil to fortify me in the evening; went into the pharmacy and all they could give me without a prescription was chewable vitamin-C.

Now when I travel, I carry an assortment of things like pain-killers, aspirin, digestive relief, cold remedies and an ACE bandage for my knee should it act-up.

Interesting turn this has taken. Im going to revisit what Pilgrim said about germs and immodium.
I have a good friend who is a pharmacist & has told me something similiar about decongestants....if you really are SICK you want to thin that mucus out and get it out of yr sinuses.... she recommends drinking a whole bottle of robotussin , original formula (none of the fancy secondary formulas)

So, back to Imodium. If you have norovirus or the flu, then yes, its about germs and you want them out. When I'm suffering from an IBS flare up, am teetering on dehydration, and just desperately want things to normalize, then Imodium is my best friend. However, now being over 50 and on some other medications, getting "bound up" is more my traveling issue. Again, we all have unique belly issues, & different medical advisors.

I traveled italy w my 3 minimalist friends and im the one that had first aid stuff.... i dumped an 80 bandaid assortment into a zip lock sand wich bag & left in suitcase....it takes up less space than a pair of underpants. I also dumped 100 advil in another zip lock bag.....we used about 70.

I have a quilted cosmetic bag about the size of the plastic soap box someone else mentioned..... its full of one or 2 sheets of every Otc i ever use that comes in a blister pack. Its like an over stuffed filing cabinet.... and i have decided that tablets tolerate this better than capsules. A tube of antibiotic ointment lives w my toiletries.

All that i carry w me during the day is 12 advil, 4 bandaids and 4 immodium. In the winter i add 4 cough drops or hard peppermints. Peppermint is also great for a mild acid tummy

Pilgrim, great minds think alike!

Find the non-liquid Pepto. I always take Imodium too. I do pack a bunch of OTCs in an Eagle Creek packing cube. Magnesium powder packs, Reactine, Senokot, DayQuil capsules, plenty of Ibuprofen, a few bandaids, tagaderm. It works for me.

So, here's another wierd question.....where do you put those liquid Caps Dayquils if carry on only? The blister packs will take up some precious room in your 3-1-1 bag, which is where I believe you should put them.....

We take Imodium along as there's never, ever been a day of vacation
that we've had the luxury of letting nature run its course, however
healthy that may be. We're just not going to spend a day stuck in a
hotel room when we could be having fun? That hasn't even been an
option when a day of road, train, or plane travel or heavy hiking was
in the plan. Fortunately, we've each only needed it a single time, and
were mighty glad to have had it on hand! :O)

I completely agree! My thought process on trying to "not" take the Immodium when needed is when we have the luxury of being at home.

I use a red Micro Packing Cube to hold my small medical kit. I like it because it's lightweight and flexible. I use another one (in yellow) to hold my teabags, sugar packets, dry milk. They work perfectly!

So, here's another wierd question.....where do you put those liquid
Caps Dayquils if carry on only? The blister packs will take up some
precious room in your 3-1-1 bag, which is where I believe you should
put them.....

I put the liquid DayQuil and liquid NyQuil capsules in my 3-1-1 bag. I never have put my blister packs in my 3-1-1 bag and I have never had a problem with them (I never thought about putting them in the 3-1-1 bag). Although I ALWAYS get called out for a secondary look through my carry-on bag. I must look like I'm hiding some contraband or something because my husband flies through security without issue and I always get my bag pulled aside and reviewed.

she recommends drinking a whole bottle of robotussin , original
formula (none of the fancy secondary formulas)

This comment scares me. I don't think anyone should drink a whole bottle of robotussin in one sitting. Maybe your friend recommends drinking the whole bottle - but in the necessary small amounts at a time.

All that i carry w me during the day is 12 advil, 4 bandaids and 4
immodium. In the winter i add 4 cough drops or hard peppermints.
Peppermint is also great for a mild acid tummy

If anyone does decide to take an Immodium pill - be careful on the quantity. One pill will stop everything - it can also bind you up for a week - which can be just as painful! If you haven't taken it before and if you are very sensitive to medication, you may want to take a half a pill at first. That stuff WORKS - but sometimes it can work too good :O

I do like the idea of bringing peppermint hard candy for upset tummies. I'm going to add that to my list right now. Great suggestion!

Now when I travel, I carry an assortment of things like pain-killers,
aspirin, digestive relief, cold remedies and an ACE bandage for my
knee should it act-up.

Zcorsair, I travel with an ACE bandage as well. We hope we never need it, but it would come in handy to use as a tourniquet, or knee, ankle or wrist support. I've even used it to cover a wound when a bandaid was too small.

I always travel with neosporin too. It has to go in the 3-1-1 bag, but I think it's and important item to carry. It came in handy when my husband cut his knee in France. We kept applying it to the wound to prevent infection. In retrospect, he probably should have gone to the doctor to get stitches - but that would have messed up our vacation day LOL.

Pilgrim, I take bandanas for being a 'one hundred and one uses' sort of thing. I have used it as icepack, bandage, damp as a neck cooler, instead of a tensor...they came in very handy after a jeep accident in the Serengeti. After spraining an ankle in Arusha, I now always carry a Tensor. I was able to borrow one when I needed it, but it would have been very difficult to have to wander around an African town from chemist to chemist looking to buy one. As a solo traveler, one needs to have a basic kit on hand though many lodgings would try to help out. I spent a day indisposed in Egypt. When I mentioned it to the check out clerk, they said I should have called down. By the time I had done my paperwork and short meeting (20 minutes) he had two types of meds for me from the pharmacy down the street. Amazing stuff and they waived the cost...though it was equivalent of $1.60. I carried that medicine until it expired around any country I might be susceptible to bad stomach issues. Too bad it has no replacement in North America.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and experiences. My meds bag is quickly growing. Added 4 vials of Dramamine (it's a bus tour and I get very car sick), Pepto B tablets, Exlax tablets (you never know which problem you'll have), Gax-X, blister and sensitive skin bandaids, cortisone cream, Neosporin, ace ankle brace, knee brace, Benefiber, Emergen C, diverticulitis antibiotics just in case, lots of Advil, a little Oxycodene for very bad achy days and all my usual meds. Whew - that list is sounding like I'm old lady, but I can't be getting old. Hey! Who's that old lady in the mirror following me around the house? She doesn't quite look like my Grandma.

horsewoofie, have you ever tried Bonine for dizziness? I believe it's similar to Dramamine, but it doesn't have the sleepy side effects of Dramamine.

Maria, I bring a bandana as well. I've used it for various reasons as well. My most recent use was in the Dominican Republic. I wrapped it around the bathroom faucet to remind me NOT to drink the water - even brushing my teeth. Only bottled water! It seemed to work as we were a group of 21 and 7 got REALLY sick. I was one of the lucky ones and did not get sick.

Pilgrim: "the sleepy side effects of Dramamine"
Dramamine now has a non-sleepy formula. I bought 2 vials of that and 2 of regular. Since I also get airsick, I figured regular Dramamine on the plane may help me sleep.
If today is any indication, I will also be adding Imodium to my bag.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Pilgrim: "the sleepy side effects of Dramamine" Dramamine now has a
non-sleepy formula. I bought 2 vials of that and 2 of regular. Since I
also get airsick, I figured regular Dramamine on the plane may help me
sleep.

Good to know - thanks! Have a great trip!

Sounds like you're ready to go. The best part is we can hope these meds will act as a good luck omen, so you won't need them. It's like carrying an umbrella so it won't rain.
(I carry the full variety with me too, including antihistamines, sprained ankle braces....)

Your Doctor claims Pepto Bismal cures Norovirus? Perhaps you should consider your choice of physicians.
https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/treatment.html

Zcorsair, I travel with an ACE bandage as well. We hope we never need it, but it would come in handy to use as a tourniquet, or knee, ankle or wrist support. I've even used it to cover a wound when a bandaid was too small.

I'm sorry but I find this to be a scary statement. Where are you going that you need a tourniquet? A war zone? Do you even know how to correctly apply a tourniquet? If you don't know when or how to apply one then you have no business doing so.

Practically, it's more useful to just have a scarf and duct tape around a water bottle. Take a wilderness medicine class to learn how to apply tape for sprained ankles etc. if you have truly sprained your ankle bad enough for an Ace bandage then Europe has doctors. If not, tape will do. I'm saying this as an outdoors person that finally realized I was carrying around extra weight of the bandage. Not once did I use it.

It sounds like the OP has a sensitive stomach. I'd recommend the Pepto Bismol Chewables. I normally take 1-2 sheets (6 tablets per sheet). In the OPs case take more. But take them out of the cardboard box to save space and weight.

Hey OP,
I think it's time to pare back your pharmaceutical kit. If you are bringing Advil, leave the Oxycodene at home. Only take as much Advil as you think you will need. Leave out Ex-Lax. (That one you can get easily when traveling and won't stop you from leaving your hotel.). Emergen-C not sure you need that one. Not sure you need Benefiber. Only pack the essentials in a first aid kit. Things that you need immediately like a bandaid. Or, things that will help you if you can't leave your hotel room easily like for diarrhea.
Neosporin is nice, but not necessary. A cut can easily just be bandaged or cleaned with soap and water before bandaging. You get the idea.

Your suggestions are well meaning, Sun Baked, but I know my stomach and colon so my list will not change, just maybe the quantity. Most days is IBC so benefiber helps, laxatives are often needed. A few Oxycodene for arthritic back pain will be packed for when Advil fails. Don't like taking the stuff but sometimes it's needed. If you haven't tried EmergenC when you feel a cold coming on, it really helps.

To those who said change doctors, that isn't going to happen. Since you don't know him, your snarks are not appreciated.
As previous said, I appreciate your useful suggestions and experiences.

I keep a roll of KT Tape in my suitcase. I start watching their videos on how to fix various aches and pains, and end up taped all over!

antibiotics just in case

You can get those? And know when to use them? Is this from the same doctor who says Pepto bismol will cure a virus? horse, I know you love your doctor but some of these things are way out there. There is a big campaign to eliminate random use of antibiotics because the little creatures are getting resistant to them and people are dying because there is no longer an antibiotic that works. They should only be taken in specific cases, under guidance of a doctor. They only work on bacteria, are useless on viruses.

We all have different needs.

When packing my first aid kit, I ask myself: "It is midnight, and I need ????. Do I need it right away, can it wait until morning, are there pharmacies nearby and do I have the time to get it?

Then I ask myself how easy will it be to get certain items. One is Pepto. Not that easy to get in certain parts of Europe so I bring my own supply because I know I will need it.

Lastly, I go to http://www.minimus.biz and buy small one dose packets of antibiotic cream, cortisone, cold tablets, etc. They take up less room and give me just enough until I can get to a pharmacy. I put all of this in my small aid kit and no airport security has ever stopped and questioned it. The little packets are mixed in with the bandages.

The other thing to note is if you are a fan of Alleve (Naproxen Sodium), it is not easily available in Europe without a prescription.

Regarding immodium....it is good if you need to be somewhere and are having problems. However, if you have never taken it be aware....some people, including me, get a rebound effect once it wears off.

I'm sorry but I find this to be a scary statement. Where are you going
that you need a tourniquet? A war zone? Do you even know how to
correctly apply a tourniquet? If you don't know when or how to apply
one then you have no business doing so.

Cindy H, guess I have to choose my words more carefully. We have used bandannas when my husband cut himself on a hike in a remote region. We tied a couple together and it stopped the blood until we could get back to home base and deal with it properly.

"A war zone" - one doesn't have to venture to a war zone to suddenly be in one. In 2013 many were simply walking along Boylston Street in Boston watching the Boston Marathon when the area suddenly became a war zone. Scary times :(

Clearly many do not understand the difficulties of the OPs ailments. One may well need all that has been packed and being restricted to the bathroom means purchasing enroute very unlikely.
I do ask about the oxycodene. It may be illegal in some of the countries you are visiting. You may be able to check before you go and decide from there how to proceed.

Nigel, if you suffer from colitis and diverticulitis, you would know the symptoms and which drugs to use. Without them, diverticulitis can be deadly. A coworker's wife died from it.

As a former Peace Corps volunteer (ethiopia) and as someone who travels/works a lot in developing countries, I LOVE pepto! My travel nurse always laughs when I tell her this is my favorite drug EVER. I never travel without it. Not even in the US and I have used it in the US on multiple occasions. I don't have a particular sensitive stomach, but I have had tummy troubles both in the US and outside. Pepto serves multiple purposes for me. It not only eases my tummy pain, it stops me up (maybe TMI but there you have it). I hate the liquid - really nasty stuff. I always have some tablets on me (4-6 is more than enough). Just my 2 cents.

And to add to what others have said, I also always carry Nyquil and Dayquil and cough drops - a cold is the thing I suffer from most often when travelling on the plane long distances. I carry immodium but it's generally too potent for me and I only use it in an emergency. It's a good ER drug to stock IMHO. I also have a few bandaids, a bottle with allegra and ibuprofen. Additional pills are melatonin (helps with jet lag), zofran for nausea, echinacea and zinc. I don't take much of any of these except ibuprofen - just enough to tie me over. Fits in a small zip lock.

Please don't drink an entire bottle of ANY medication all at once.
The people giving this advice are scary sounding, and should not be trusted; and: you should read labels about dosing very carefully.
Also, antibiotics have never cured a virus yet, in all their history.
Speaking as a nurse of 40 years full time work.
Thank you, and travel safely!

S Jackson, I wish there was a "Like" button to your comment. People need to adhere to the recommended medication dosages. Just because over-the-counter (OTC) medication isn't prescribed by a doctor doesn't mean it should be taken lightly. OTC meds are still medicine and they should be taken with precaution and only in the recommended dosages. A lot of OTC meds were previously a prescribed medication. And some OTC meds sold in the United States can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription in other countries.

Please be careful with any medication - even OTC meds.