As you prepare for your trip to Mexico, you'll probably start packing a travel first aid kit. Today we will tell you what medications it will cost to put there so that the disease in Mexico does not take you by surprise.
Mexico is not a country with a difficult epidemiological situation, including infectious diseases. Consequently, there are no recommendations for specific standards of behavior in Mexico to prevent diseases. However, you should remember that you are heading to a country with a tropical climate, moreover, with very intense sun. Fruits and hands must be washed, and be sure to use sunscreen with a high degree of protection and insect repellent.
Below we present a standard set of medications that are strongly recommended for any trip. In addition, we took into account the recommendations of the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) when traveling to Mexico.
Medicines
- Painkillers: nise, nimesulide, nosh-pa, ketanov, spasmalgon, citramon, analgin, pentalgin, baralgin, etc.
- Antipyretics: aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), paracetamol, Nurofen, ibuprofen (they are also painkillers), etc.
- For diarrhea: mezim, imodium, loperamide, activated carbon, etc. Levomycetin is also suitable for some
- For allergies: antihistamines (tavegil, suprastin, claritin, citrine, etc.)
- Anti-colds: coldrex, flu-cold, etc. In addition to this, we include remedies for runny nose, cough and sore throat: septolete, rhinostop, neoangin, decatylene, albucid and similar nasal sprays
- Dressing material: bandage, plaster
- Antiseptics: iodine, brilliant green, chlorhexidine, miramistin, etc., wet disinfectant wipes
- Antibiotics: better broad spectrum, amoxicillin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, etc.
You don't need to take everything with you to Mexico. From this list, select only the essentials or replace them with medications you trust. Check contraindications. Instead of liquid medications, take their tablet counterparts, they take up less space.
Add those medications and medical supplies (syringes) that may be needed for specific diseases in your case and that you take regularly. In some cases, it is recommended to take a medical card if you suspect that you will have to see a Mexican doctor.
The composition of a travel first aid kit will also depend on the age of the travelers. For children this will be one set of medications, for older people — another.
In Mexican pharmacies you can purchase almost any medicine known to us. They may be called differently (but aspirin is also aspirin in Mexico), but the active ingredient will be the same. Antibiotics are only available with a doctor's prescription. If you are sick and your insurance does not cover minor expenses or you do not consider it necessary to go to a Mexican clinic, go to the doctor at any chain pharmacy. It is possible to communicate even on your fingers. The doctor will examine you and prescribe the required medications, which can be purchased at the same or any other pharmacy, or, in more serious cases, will refer you to a specialized specialist. We wrote about this in the articleDoctors in pharmaciesMexico. An appointment with such a doctor, who is quite highly qualified, will cost from no payment to 55 MXN (less than $3).
In case of a more serious illness, take advantage of the medical insurance that is included in the tour packages of all organized tourists flying to Mexico on vacation. You can find the right medical specialist on our website in the sectionHealth and medicine.
It makes no sense to bring your prescriptions to Mexico to buy medicines here. Most often, it is not allowed to buy medications using them in Mexican pharmacies — you will still have to get a prescription from your local doctor.
If you still decide to buy something from your own list at a Mexican pharmacy, take the instructions for the previously purchased drug in Russian. Based on the Latin name of the active substance, it will be easier to find a Mexican analogue.
Here are approximate analogues of some domestic medicines that can be bought in pharmacies in Mexico.
Digestion:
- enterosorbents — Iprikene (analogue of smecta), Smecta Diosmectita, Carbon Activado (activated carbon),
- Immodium — Immodium,
- bowel dysfunction — Libertrim, Liberan, Meteospasmyl, Espaven (analogue of Espumisan), Lactulax (dufadac),
- laxatives — Ciruelax laxante, Microlax, Forlax, Supositorios Senosiain (glycerin suppositories),
- antispasmodics — Bromuro de Pinaverio, Dicetel, Divelgel (relieving intestinal spasms), Duspatalin (duspatalin analogue), No-Spa (No-spa),
- normalization of microflora — Sinuberase (probiotic), Enterogermina, Probvioptal, Floratil,
- enzymes — Creon, Pancreátina, Zimeton (Creon/Mezim/Festal),
- For heartburn (antacids, acid secretion inhibitors) — Riopan (rennie), Galaver gel (Magaldrato, Dimeticona), PeptoBismol, Melox (Maalox), Omeprazol, Espaven.
Poisoning:
- universal remedy for poisoning Nesajar,
- vomiting, dizziness — Bonadoxina, Vontrol, Carnotprim,
- diarrhea — Hidrasec, Immodium, Loperamida.
Antimicrobial:
- Stopdiar — Topron,
- Amoxicycline, ciprofloxacin — Ciprofloxaciono.
Allergies/antihistamines — Antialérgico/Antihistaminico:
- Cetrin, Zyrtec — Cetirizina, Zodac, Zyrtec,
- Claritin — Clarityne/Claritin, Loratadina,
- Suprastin — Cloropiramina, Cloropiramina, Avapena,
- Suprastinex, Zodak — Levocetirizina,
- Diphenhydramine — Benadryl (tablets, syrup),
- Hormonal antiallergic/anti-inflammatory drugs — Dexametasona, Prednisolona, Prednisona,
- Pulmicort, salbutamol (for asthma) — Pulmicort, Salbutamol oral,
- to relieve itching from mosquito bites — ByeBites After,
- Triderm ointment (for any skin damage) — Triderm crema, Betametasona crema, Alclometasone Dipropionate crema,
- Hydroxyzine — Hidroxin, Hidroxizina.
Painkiller/antipyretic:
- Ibuprofen — Ibuprofeno, Actron, Advil, Motrin, Days, BiProfenid,
- Paracetamol — Paracetamol, Tempra, Sedalmerck, Mejoral,
- Aspirin — Aspirina, Acido acetilsalicilico,
- Citramon — K-Aspirina,
- Nurofen — Metamizol,
- Dualgos (paracetamol, ibuprofen), Excedrin (aspirin, paracetamol, caffeine), Flanax (naproxen),
- For menstrual pain — Analgen Fem, Syncol Max, Buscapina Fem,
- Antispasmodic for colic — Espacil compuesto,
- Theraflu — Theraflu
- Coldrex, flu-cold, antigrippin — Antiflu-Des, Perrigo,
- Ketanov — Ketorolaco.
Wounds, injuries, burns/decontamination and healing:
- iodine — Isodine,
- bandage — Venda,
- cotton wool — Bata,
- hydrogen peroxide — Agua Oxigenada,
- patch — Curitas,
- Neosporin powder (Baneocin analogue: Neomycina/Bacitracina), Sulfatiazol,
- ointment Vitacilina (Neomycuna/Retinol), Berniver (Mupirocina 2%), Chlorhexidin protec,
- ointment Bepanten — Bepanthen Pomada Regeneradora,
- Panthenol — Pamex Panthenol espuma en aerosol,
- analgesic, anti-inflammatory — Gel antiinflamatorio: Flanax gel, Bengay,
- healing/scars, scars: Contractubex gel/cream — Contactubex (gel/pomado),
- bruises — Hermatrix gel, Gel para golpes moretones y dolores,
- potassium permanganate — Permanganato de potasio,
- Fukortsin (Castellani liquid) — Castellani pintura fenol.
- Microdacyn — antiseptic for treating skin, stitches, piercings.
Diuretics (diuretics):
- Furosemide — Furosemida.
Ear/throat/nose:
- otitis: drops in the ear — Soldrin Otico, Infalin Duo, Synalar-O, Sodrimax, Gotalgic, Uvega (pure lidocaine), Oto Eni (otipax), Alemar, Sophixin (sofradex),
- sore throat: gargling solutions — Vantal bucofaringeo, Isodine, Bencidamina; lollipops — Broncolin Bronco Fresh, Ricola; spray — Gargax, Difflam Spray, Benzirin Verde Aseptic Solución Oral Spray; Alosol (strepsils),
- nose: sprays for runny nose — Oximetazolina, Afrin Lub; nasal drops with antibiotic (analogue of Polydex/Framinazine) — Alin Nasal, Biodexan (nazivin),
- Dry nose — Neilmed naso gel, Rinovitex,
- Cough syrup (Jarabe para la tos) — Histiacil, Dimacol, Mucosolvan, Jarabe Broncolin, natural herbal — Jarabe de Bugambilias, Jarabe de Mejorana, Bugambilia y Propóleo,
- Sputum discharge (SCC) — ACC.
From:
- gel for gums (gingivitis, periodontal disease) — Bexident (Gel Dental Bexident Encías),
- rinse — Perioxidin Lacer (chlorhexidine, xylitol), GUM Paroex (gingivitis), Listerin,
- disinfection (rinsing mouth/throat) — Ecodine (solution with iodine),
- antiviral/herpes — Aciclovir, Cicloferon (tablets and ointment).
Eyes:
- Tobrex — Tobrex solution (antibiotic/antiseptic drops),
- Natural tear — Tears naturale.
Haemorrhoids:
- ointment — Procto-Glyvenol, Proctoacid, Preparation H,
- candles — Proctis-M, Relief,
- tablets — Phlebodia, Daflon, Elatec (Detralex), Nikzon.
Hemostatic:
- Dicinon — Dicynone.
Sedatives, for insomnia:
- tablets — Taflavix, Dalay (capsulas), Simplex,
- medicines — Motherwort Tintura, Agripalma and valeriana,
- drops — Multiflor M-ocho (Mezcla de plantas solucion).
No analogues found:
Enterosgel (but it is allowed to use Riopan), Polysorb, Corvalol, Vishnevsky ointment, Ichthyol ointment, Levomekol, Miramistin, Canephron, Sinupret.
The list has been preparedOleg Pavlov.
Vaccinations
In addition, we wrote about what to dovaccinationsbefore traveling to Mexico you should not. Sometimes you can read recommendations to take antimalarials (Delagil) to Mexico. However, cases of malaria in Mexico are extremely rare. At the same time, antimalarial drugs have many contraindications and side effects. Malaria — The disease is quite serious, and self-medication is not appropriate, but you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Mosquito-borne diseases
This year, there are an abnormally large number of mosquitoes in Mexico, which is due to a combination of climatic conditions favorable for their development. Despite ongoing preventive measures and constant fumigation, the number of dengue fever cases in 2019 increased by260%. The Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where the popular resorts of Cancun and Playa del Carmen are located, — one of the «leaders» by the number of sick people. Dengue fever is transmitted through mosquito bites and there are no vaccines or specific medications against it.
The disease is more acute than the flu and ends with recovery after a week. A person who has recovered from the disease develops lifelong immunity to a specific serotype of the virus. Many Mexicans do not go to the doctor and treat themselves at home. Many of them already have immunity. But you don't have it. For this reason, it is highly recommended to take with you to Mexico or buy here insect repellents, the strongest ones at that, and use them constantly. Protective bracelets and mosquito patches sold in pharmacies in Europe are most often powerless in Mexico.
In Cancun and other resorts on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, the risk of contracting dengue fever is minimal. But you will probably go on excursions outside the city, to the jungle, to the pyramids or to cenotes, and there can be a lot of mosquitoes there. Therefore, wear closed clothing and use repellent.
The situation with Zika fever and chicugunya, which are also transmitted by insect bites, is quite favorable this year in Mexico, but it is not recommended to forget about caution.
Sunburn
Mexico has very intense sunshine. Even in winter. Therefore, take sunscreen with you, and with a protection level of at least 50. Do not forget to use it when you are in the open sun, on the beach, on excursions, even if it seems to you that it is not hot at all.
Importing medicines into Mexico
Mexico does not strictly restrict the import of medications by tourists for their own consumption. Exception — narcotic substances, the import of which is completely prohibited. At the same time, there are some peculiarities here.
Below we provide the official conditions for importing medicines into Mexico. However, it is not appreciated to be afraid and take what is written literally. There is no need to declare medications to customs officers! If visually the amount of imported medicines does not look excessive, no one will check any prescriptions upon entry, and most often they will not pay attention to the medicines at all.
«Passengers traveling with medications for personal use (regardless of the active ingredient) are permitted to enter the country if they carry a prescription or a letter from their general practitioner, which must indicate the amount of the substance being followed during her or his stay in Mexico, the amount of medication being brought into the country and the daily dose.
At the point of entry you must declare to customs authorities and present a medical prescription or license issued by a competent authority. The first must indicate the name of the doctor who issued the prescription, his signature, contact details (telephone, address) and number in the professional register. The medical prescription or license must also state the amount of the substance the patient will need during her or his stay in Mexico, the amount to be brought into the country, and the daily dosage. Medicines should not exceed the amount necessary for your stay in the country. The recipe must be translated into Spanish.»
The quantity of imported medications must correspond to the requirement for personal consumption during the trip to Mexico. It is believed that «sufficiency» — this is no more than 1-3 months of regular use.
When importing psychotropic and similar substances, or when a Mexican customs officer has doubts about the need for a particular drug for your health, you may be asked to show a doctor's prescription or medical record. In practice this happens extremely rarely. The prescription must indicate the active ingredient of the drug.
When importing syringes, in particular by diabetic patients, it is highly recommended to have a medical certificate on the form with you.
For those drugs that may raise doubts among a customs officer, it is not recommended to throw away the packaging. This will make it easier to identify them and confirm the expediency of import.
It is advisable to place medications in checked luggage and not in hand luggage. Please remember that it is prohibited to carry containers with liquids larger than 100 ml in hand luggage.
So, get ready for a trip to Mexico and stay healthy!