Travel Medicine: What A Travel Doctor May Prescribe For Your Trip
Heading overseas is exciting, but getting stuck in a hotel room with severe food poisoning, altitude sickness, or a preventable tropical infection can derail your holiday in a heartbeat.
While packing basic plasters and pain relief is a good start, a standard supermarket first-aid kit won't protect you against destination-specific health risks.
At 1Health Medical Centre our travel medicine team based in Wigram Christchurch provides tailored pre-travel consultations, immunisations, and prescription medical kits designed specifically for your itinerary.
Here is a plain-English guide to the essential prescription medications a travel doctor may evaluate and prescribe for your international journey.
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Why Custom Travel Prescriptions Matter
No two travel itineraries are identical. A resort stay in Fiji requires very different medical preparation than a three-week trek through the Peruvian Andes or a backpacking trip across Southeast Asia.
During a pre-travel health consultation, your doctor assesses:
- Your Destination & Region: Local disease outbreaks, water quality, insect-borne risks, and altitude.
- Planned Activities: Remote hiking, scuba diving, street food exploration, or urban business travel.
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Ensuring any temporary travel prescriptions don't interact with your regular daily medications.
Access To Medical Facilities: Providing "standby" emergency treatments if you are travelling far from reliable healthcare.
1. Managing Traveller's Diarrhoea & Stomach Bugs
Stomach upsets affect between 20% and 50% of international travellers. Depending on your destination, your doctor may prescribe targeted medications to treat symptoms quickly and prevent severe dehydration.
Anti-Nausea & Rehydration
- Ondansetron (Zofran): A prescription anti-nausea medication that controls severe vomiting caused by food poisoning, allowing you to keep fluids down.
- Cyclizine (Nausicalm): Effective for both motion sickness (boat, bus, or plane travel) and mild nausea.
- Oral Rehydration Salts (Hydralyte / Gastrolyte): Essential for replacing lost electrolytes. Mixing these sachets with clean, bottled water rehydrates your body far faster than plain water alone.
Symptom Relief & Standby Antibiotics
Loperamide (Imodium): Slows down bowel motility to relieve sudden diarrhoea symptoms during travel days. (Note: Should not be used if you have a high fever or bloody stools).
Azithromycin: The preferred first-line prescription antibiotic for moderate-to-severe bacterial diarrhoea, particularly in regions like Southeast Asia where older antibiotics face high bacterial resistance.
2. Malaria Prevention (Prophylaxis)
Malaria is a serious, potentially life-threatening mosquito-borne parasite present in tropical parts of Asia, Africa, Central, and South America. Depending on your risk profile, your doctor may recommend one of the following preventative medications:
| Prescription Option | Dosing Schedule | Key Advantages & Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Atovaquone-Proguanil (Malarone) | Daily tablet | Advantages: Short post-travel course (7 days after leaving high-risk area). Very well tolerated with minimal side effects. Consideration: Higher cost compared to daily alternatives. |
| Doxycycline | Daily tablet | Advantages: Cost-effective; also provides protection against other bacterial infections. Consideration: Requires 4 weeks of post-travel dosing and increases skin sensitivity to sunburn. |
| Mefloquine (Lariam) | Weekly tablet | Advantages: Convenient once-weekly dosing for long-term travel. Consideration: Not suitable for travellers with a history of anxiety, depression, or seizure disorders. |
3. Altitude Sickness Prevention
If your travel involves rapid ascent to high-altitude destinations (above 2,500 to 3,000 metres)—such as Cusco, Nepal, or the Swiss Alps—your travel doctor may prescribe medication to help your body acclimatise.
- Acetazolamide (Diamox): Acidifies the blood to stimulate deeper breathing, helping your body absorb oxygen more efficiently at high altitudes. Taken 24 hours before ascending, it significantly reduces the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).
- Common Mild Side Effects: Mild tingling sensations in fingers and toes and increased urination (which is a normal effect of the medication).
Essential Rules For Carrying Prescription Medicine Overseas
Customs regulations regarding prescription drugs vary significantly from country to country. To avoid delays or confiscation at international borders, follow these essential guidelines:
- Keep Original Packaging: Always leave medications in their original pharmacy boxes with your name and dosage instructions clearly printed on the label.
- Pack In Hand Luggage: Keep your medical kit in your carry-on bag to prevent loss if checked luggage goes missing. Bring a small extra supply in case of travel delays.
- Carry A Doctor's Letter: Request an official travel medical letter from 1Health listing your pre-existing conditions and prescribed travel drugs.
- Declare Controlled Substances: Certain pain relief or strong prescription drugs require formal customs declarations when entering countries like Japan, the UAE, or returning home to New Zealand.
When To Seek Emergency Medical Care Abroad
While a travel kit covers minor issues, you should seek immediate local medical assistance or contact your travel insurance provider if you experience:
- High fever (above 38.5°C) accompanied by severe shaking chills.
- Persistent bloody diarrhoea or unmanageable abdominal pain.
- Signs of severe altitude sickness (confusion, extreme shortness of breath at rest, loss of balance).
- Any fever during or up to 3 months after visiting a malaria region (requires an immediate blood test).
Book Your Travel Health Consultation In Christchurch
Don't leave your health to chance while exploring the world. Whether you need destination-specific travel vaccines, prescription health kits, or expert travel advice, 1Health Medical Centre is here to help.
- Open To All Travellers: Casual patients welcome—you do not need to be enrolled with our GP practice.
- Convenient Wigram Location: Easy access with plenty of free parking.
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Call Reception Directly: 03 662 9309
Visit Us: 1Health Medical Centre, Wigram, Christchurch
Have Questions About Your Health?
Our clinicians at 1 Health are here to help — whether it’s GP care, dental, travel vaccines, or facial aesthetics. Book a consultation anytime.
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Disclaimer:
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Every person’s health situation is different. For personalised guidance or diagnosis, please consult a qualified clinician.
