I’m putting together a small first-aid kit for my upcoming trip. Nothing fancy ,just basic stuff that’s actually useful while traveling.

So far I’ve added:

Paracetamol / ibuprofen

• ORS (oral rehydration salts)
• Antacid
• Basic cold & flu tabs
• Band-aids
• Betadine
• One broad-spectrum antibiotic (for emergency use only)

For those who visit Thailand often ,anything else you recommend carrying? Or anything I can easily skip because it’s cheap and available everywhere there?

 

Thanks in advance.

Out of those I’d only bring cold meds. 

Also Imodium Instants.

 

Edit: and Savlon

9 minutes ago, SonGoku said:

I’m putting together a small first-aid kit for my upcoming trip. Nothing fancy ,just basic stuff that’s actually useful while traveling.

So far I’ve added:

Paracetamol / ibuprofen

• ORS (oral rehydration salts)
• Antacid
• Basic cold & flu tabs
• Band-aids
• Betadine
• One broad-spectrum antibiotic (for emergency use only)

For those who visit Thailand often ,anything else you recommend carrying? Or anything I can easily skip because it’s cheap and available everywhere there?

 

Thanks in advance.

I do a lot of active activities such as bicycling, hiking, kayaking.  I carry a small kit with an assortment of bandages, triple antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone ointment, a couple ampules of eye flush saline, fine tweezers, small tube of rapid seal wound gel, some mole foam for the inevitable blisters, an ace bandage, some gauze and medical tape, and a few steri strips as well.  All fits within an old tumi amenity kit from Delta.  

I also keep some ibuprofen in my bag and some energy bars.    

51 minutes ago, davidge said:

Out of those I’d only bring cold meds. 

Also Imodium Instants.

 

Edit: and Savlon

Do they check this on immigration like any prescription is needed for that?

3 minutes ago, SonGoku said:

Do they check this on immigration like any prescription is needed for that?

I’ve never been searched at Customs in 38 years of visiting Thailand but none of those are prescription meds anyway.

Thailand is hot and sweaty; I find that baby powder or talc is very welcome after a shower as it will dry the skin well.

Reactine for allergies and polysporin for cuts in addition to most of the stuff already posted.

Thai pharmacies do a lot more available the counter than western ones. Most things you can buy

29 minutes ago, Yogi007 said:

Thai pharmacies do a lot more available the counter than western ones. Most things you can buy

I typically bring advil, which I'm sure you can get generic at a local pharmacy, but when hung over and feeling shitty don't want to deal with. I also commonly use some on the plane, keep it in my carry on.

And band aids, the more expensive padded ones. Cheap ones that fall off are worthless, and chances are I'm going to take a couple  showers a day that it needs to make it through. (massage shops / short time...)

I've been to the different pharmacies and are aware of how differently than the US they seem to work, I've gone in and discussed stomach issues with the pharmacists and been just given things I'm pretty sure they would send me to a doctor for in the US. As quick and convenient as that is, for a mild ache or cut needing advil or a band aid I'd rather be prepared enough that I don't need to bother.

No one has yet to mention condoms, shame on you all. They are an essential part of any emergency kit, you never know when you’ll need a second, third or fourth. 

1 minute ago, Fire Bar Matt said:

No one has yet to mention condoms, shame on you all. They are an essential part of any emergency kit, you never know when you’ll need a second, third or fourth. 

I was thinking to buy local one 😭lmao thanks for reminder 

I would skip everything on your list. It's all available over the counter. 

If you're a girthy fellow, and have a favorite condom brand. Bring twice as many as you think you need.

If you have a vaccination record, bring that. Make sure your hep, tdap, and rabies are up to date.

For the most part, anything you might need is available.

Oh, and leave your heart at home.

Edited November 17, 2025Nov 17 by SlowlyMan

8 minutes ago, SlowlyMan said:

I would skip everything on your list. It's all available over the counter. 

If you're a girthy fellow, and have a favorite condom brand. Bring twice as many as you think you need.

If you have a vaccination record, bring that. Make sure your hep, tdap, and rabies are up to date.

For the most part, anything you might need is available.

Oh, and leave your heart at home.

I don’t have any vaccination record but I have taken above mentioned vaccines , and lmao I thought condoms would be same everywhere 

1 hour ago, SonGoku said:

and lmao I thought condoms would be same everywhere 

Durex is the brand you find everywhere in Thailand, but only regular sizes or up to 56 mm. If you use anything else it's smart to bring your own.

For first-aid I only bring a few band-aids and some ibuprofene, for anything serious the hotel would be able to help or the nearest pharmacy. If however I plan to go other places than Pattaya that could involve trekking or other outdoor activities I bring a more comprehensive first-aid kit, but for Pattaya that is not necessary.

I also bring probiotics, and some other supplementations, but since that is for preventive measures, it's not really part of the emergency kit.

Eosin is unobtainium in Thailand so I'd bring that (for blisters).

Activated charcoal (in powder from so you can take it in big quantity) for food poisoning is a must, a table spoon diluted in a glass of water will save you from a lot of trouble.

Everything else is available.

3 hours ago, Bitorix said:

Eosin is unobtainium in Thailand so I'd bring that (for blisters).

Activated charcoal (in powder from so you can take it in big quantity) for food poisoning is a must, a table spoon diluted in a glass of water will save you from a lot of trouble.

Everything else is available.

Charcoal is available at 7-11 and all pharmacies.

As others have pointed out, everything on your list can be easily sourced here. But having it already in your first aid kit beats having to go out to the pharmacy when you need something.

The one item not on your list that I would purchase if available in your country is a triple antibiotic ointment as I have not found a source for it in Thailand. It can potentially be a lifesaver by preventing small cuts from becoming a life threatening infection.

10 hours ago, Fire Bar Matt said:

No one has yet to mention condoms, shame on you all. They are an essential part of any emergency kit, you never know when you’ll need a second, third or fourth. 

Just get a reusable one you can wash off. Help the environment out.

The big ones for me are:

- Tums/antacids - the ones I bought while in Thailand were horrendous. Eating chalk would have been more pleasant

- cold/sinus meds - I have 2 brands that work great for me (NyQuil caps & Advil Cold & Sinus, with Sudafed in it)

- I bring Imodium, but the stuff I bought in Thailand worked even better. Locked me down for days! 555

23 minutes ago, forcebwithu said:

As others have pointed out, everything on your list can be easily sourced here. But having it already in your first aid kit beats having to go out to the pharmacy when you need something.

The one item not on your list that I would purchase if available in your country is a triple antibiotic ointment as I have not found a source for it in Thailand. It can potentially be a lifesaver by preventing small cuts from becoming a life threatening infection.

Absolutely; I had a bitch of a time finding decent antibiotic ointment in the Philippines years ago … travel with a small tube now as part of my kit. 

Hydrocortisone cream is also useful for  minor sunburn, insect bites and other skin irritations. 

2 hours ago, momo5 said:

Absolutely; I had a bitch of a time finding decent antibiotic ointment in the Philippines years ago … travel with a small tube now as part of my kit. 

Hydrocortisone cream is also useful for  minor sunburn, insect bites and other skin irritations. 

That reminded me - I bring a small travel-sized sunscreen. 

That shit is far more expensive in Thailand than here.

15 hours ago, Fire Bar Matt said:

No one has yet to mention condoms, shame on you all. They are an essential part of any emergency kit, you never know when you’ll need a second, third or fourth. 

That was actually my first thought 😇 but then, first aid is after an accident, I think. Not sure it would help very much putting one on after the action. 

23 minutes ago, Thomaz73 said:

That was actually my first thought 😇 but then, first aid is after an accident, I think. Not sure it would help very much putting one on after the action. 

Yes; with that, perhaps a morning-after pill would be an appropriate addition. 

Trip Specific:

Truvada (PreP)

Doxy (for emergency only)

Durex Sensitive XL

Cialis

Anti-acid (for stomach)

Anti-Diarrhea

Probiotic

Regulars:

Pain Killer

Sleep Helper

Statin and BP Regulator

Multivitamin

L-Arginine

Cortisone Ointment

Triple Antibiotic Ointment

Antihistaminic

Band-Aids

etc.

Age 59.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2025Nov 20 by Dave1907

pain medication: paracetamol
anti-diarrhetic: Imodium (Carry 15 of these just in case! Probably too many...)
cough/flu: Dayquil/Nyquil (1 week supply)
alcohol wipes (about 5)
antibiotic ointment (small tube Neosporin)
bandages: hydrocolloid bandages (various sizes, can cut to shape)
tick remover