At The Family Chemist, our travel health services which we offer includes advice and treatments for travel-related health risks such as malaria prevention, jet lag, and travel sickness treatment. Offering consultations to help you prepare for your trip whether travelling for work or a family holiday.  

Depending on your destination, length of stay, mode of travel, and personal health, it may be beneficial to order anti-malarial medication, travel sickness, or jet lag treatment.  

• Anti-malarial treatment is recommended if you are travelling to areas where malaria is present, such as parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and some Pacific islands. To find up to date information regarding countries and precautions to take visit NaTHNaC – Country List.  

• Melatonin for jet lag can be useful if you’re crossing multiple time zones, where sleep can be disrupted. It can support your body’s adjustment to a new time zone and help reduce fatigue and sleeplessness.  

• Travel sickness treatments can help manage nausea, dizziness, or discomfort caused by motion sickness during travel. This may be especially helpful for long car journeys, boat trips (particularly cruises), or flights.  

Travel health medication should be ordered in the weeks leading up to travel. Some medications such as anti-malarials may need to be started in the lead up before entering the high-risk area. Jet lag medication is to be taken once arriving in the new time-zone, and travel sickness treatment can be taken between a couple hours to a few minutes before travelling as well as during your trip, however it is always best to plan ahead to ensure there are no disruptions to your trip. 

We can advise on age-appropriate medication for children and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding as long as long as full information has been provided in the consultation. We offer specific anti-malarial treatments for younger travellers. However, travel sickness and jet lag treatments are currently unsuitable for children under the age of 18. Jet lag treatment should also not be taken if yourself or your partner are pregnant or planning for a baby. This applied to both men and women.  

It is essential to include all relevant information regarding the health of travellers in consultations.  

When preparing for your trip, it’s important to think about more than just medications. General health precautions are a great way to ensure you stay feeling well while you are away. Simple tips such as staying hydrated, using sun protection, applying insect repellent, maintaining good food and water hygiene, and managing your sleep can all contribute to feeling well, and enjoying your trip.