Emergency medication supply: building a reserve of your regular medicines

For someone who takes daily medicine for blood pressure, heart, diabetes, thyroid, epilepsy or asthma, a few days without treatment can be more dangerous than losing power or water. And in a crisis, pharmacies may close, supply chains break and doctors become hard to reach. That’s why a medication reserve is one of the most important parts of preparedness.

Step 1: Talk to your doctor

Don’t stockpile prescription medicines on your own and don’t change doses. Talk to your family doctor or specialist:

• explain that you want a 1 to 2-week reserve for emergencies;
• ask whether you can get repeat prescriptions slightly before the current pack runs out, so you always have a small surplus;
• ask what to do if you run out: are there alternatives, which symptoms to watch for, what is dangerous to stop suddenly.

Some insurers and health systems limit early refills; your doctor or pharmacist knows the rules where you live.

Step 2: Build the reserve gradually

The simplest way: at each repeat, collect your medicine a few days early (when allowed) and only start the new pack once you’ve finished the old one. In a few months you’ve built a reserve without buying anything extra.

Rotation is essential: use the older packs first so the reserve doesn’t expire.

Step 3: Store them properly

• At the temperature on the pack (usually below 25°C / 77°F). Not in the bathroom, not in the car, not on a radiator.
• In the dark, away from humidity, in the original packaging.
• Medicines kept in the fridge (insulin, some vaccines, certain eye drops): you need a plan for power cuts. A cool bag with frozen ice packs, an insulin cooling case or a portable power station for the fridge. Read the leaflet: many insulins in use can stay at room temperature for a limited time.
• Away from children.

Step 4: The written list

Make a card for each family member on regular treatment with:

• name, date of birth, blood group (if known);
• diagnoses;
• medicines (brand name and active ingredient), dose and times;
• allergies;
• name and phone number of the treating doctor.

Put a copy in their wallet, in the go bag and in the first aid kit. A photo of the card on your phone is useful but not enough.

Medical devices

Don’t forget the things the treatment depends on:

• glucose meter, test strips and lancets for diabetics;
• insulin needles or pens;
• inhalers and spacers;
• batteries for hearing aids and medical devices;
• spare glasses or contact lenses.

If someone depends on an electrical device (oxygen concentrator, CPAP, suction machine), talk to their doctor and the device supplier about backup power, and ask your electricity supplier whether it keeps a priority register for vulnerable customers.

Checklist

• I’ve talked to my doctor about an emergency reserve
• I have 7 to 14 days in reserve for each regular treatment
• I use the reserve in rotation
• I have a written card with each family member’s medicines
• I have a plan for medicines kept in the fridge
• I have spare batteries, test strips and supplies for medical devices