Thailand First Aid Kit: What to Bring vs Buy When You Arrive

Your first aid kit should weigh under 500 grams and cover roughly 90% of the health issues you'll face while backpacking Thailand. The key is knowing what Thailand pharmacies stock cheaply (so you don't overpack) and what you absolutely must bring from home (prescription meds, specific health needs).

Thailand's pharmacies are excellent, abundant, and cheap — but they won't have every item you're used to. This guide walks you through what goes in your minimalist medical kit and when to rely on Thailand's thriving pharmacy culture instead.

What You MUST Bring from Home

These items are either prescription-only in your home country, brand-specific (like birth control), or critical for emergencies:

Prescription Medications

Bring your full trip supply plus one extra week. Include the original prescription label (shows your name, dose, and prescriber — helpful if you need to refill in Thailand).

Key point: Many Western medications exist in Thailand under different brand names or require a Thai doctor's prescription to purchase. If you run out or lose your supply, getting a refill can take days of hospital visits.

EpiPen (if you have severe allergies)

Bring your own. While major Bangkok hospitals (Bumrungrad, Samitivej) stock epinephrine, emergency response times vary by location. If you're in rural areas or islands, your EpiPen is your lifeline.

Prescription Antimalarials

If your doctor prescribed antimalarials for your trip, bring them from home. Thailand's malaria-endemic zones are limited (mainly northern border areas in rainy season), but if your itinerary includes these areas, having your specific prescribed medication is safer than buying unknown brands locally.

Birth Control

Continue your current brand from home. Thai pharmacies stock some hormonal contraceptives, but selection is limited and brands differ by country. Running out mid-trip is inconvenient and stressful.

Mental Health Medications

SSRIs, anti-anxiety medications, mood stabilizers — bring your full supply. Thailand's psychiatric care is developing, but accessing the right medication quickly if you run out is challenging.

Other Prescription Items

Inhalers for asthma, autoimmune medications, or any condition requiring ongoing prescription management.

What You Can Cheaply Buy in Thailand (Don't Overpack)

Thai pharmacies and 7-Elevens stock these items at a fraction of Western prices. Bring nothing — buy it there:

| Item | Thailand Price | Why Buy There | |------|---|---| | Paracetamol (acetaminophen) | 15-25 baht for 10 tablets | Available everywhere, extremely cheap | | Ibuprofen (Ibuprofen, Ponstan) | 15-25 baht | Any pharmacy | | ORS/Rehydration sachets | 30-50 baht for pack of 10 | Essential for diarrhea — buy multiple packs | | Antihistamines (cetirizine, chlorpheniramine) | 30-50 baht | For allergies and itching | | Antiseptic cream (Betadine, Fucidin) | 50-80 baht | Every pharmacy stocks multiple brands | | Antifungal cream (Clotrimazole) | 40-70 baht | For athlete's foot and heat rash — cheap and effective | | Mosquito repellent DEET | 60-100 baht | Available at 7-Elevens and pharmacies | | Sunscreen SPF50+ | 80-150 baht | Banana Boat and Nivea at 7-Eleven | | Anti-diarrhea medication (Loperamide) | 20-40 baht | Available without prescription | | Antacid tablets | 15-30 baht | Common stomach relief |

Money-saving tip: Don't buy these items abroad. Thai prices are under 10% of what you'd pay at home. Pack light and buy locally.

Compact Items to Bring from Home

These are lightweight, multipurpose, and either harder to find in Thailand or worth having your preferred brand:

Blister Care

Blister plasters/moleskin (under 50g)

Thailand's heat and long walking days in Bangkok mean blisters happen fast. Moleskin reduces friction and allows you to keep walking. Thai pharmacies stock basic blister pads, but moleskin is less common.

Wound Closure

Sterile wound closure strips (Steri-Strips) — 20-30g

Better than bandages for cuts on hands, feet, or joints. They hold edges together without needing stitches. Buy a pack at home (about 20 strips take minimal space).

Tweezers

Small stainless steel tweezers — 20g

Essential for splinters, sea urchin spines, and coral cuts. Thai pharmacies sell them but low quality. Your tweezers will save you hours of pain.

Thermometer

Digital thermometer — 30g

Checking for fever is critical. Thai hospitals have them, but if you're staying in guesthouses and need to monitor fever at 2am, yours is faster.

Needle

Small sewing needle — 1g

Sterilize with a lighter before using to properly drain infected blisters. This prevents abscess formation. Pack one needle.

Surgical Tape

Small roll of medical tape (1 inch × 5 yards) — 20g

Multipurpose: holds bandages, covers blisters, secures Steri-Strips, waterproofs wounds for swimming. Better than Thai pharmacy tape.

Activated Charcoal Tablets

Optional — for severe stomach upset — 30g

Some backpackers swear by it for food poisoning symptoms. Thailand pharmacies stock it, but if you prefer your brand, bring a small packet.

Hand Sanitizer

Small 30ml bottle — 40g

Refill from 7-Eleven when empty. One bottle gets you started; Thai convenience stores have it everywhere.

Scenario-Specific Additions

Customize your kit based on your planned activities:

Island/Diving Trips

• DAN dive insurance card copy (laminate it)
• Waterproof plasters (special adhesive for wet conditions)
• Decompression sickness reference card (if diving beyond resort shallow dives)
• Extra sunscreen (reef-safe preferred)
• Extra ORS packets (heat and sun exposure increase dehydration)

Trekking in Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Pai, Mountains)

• Extra DEET mosquito repellent (higher altitude, more insects in certain seasons)
• Water purification tablets (Micropur or iodine tablets — for remote hiking)
• Extra moleskin (multiple days of hiking means multiple blister risks)
• Knee support or compression bandage if you have weak knees (tough downhill sections)
• Extra antiseptic for trail cuts and scrapes

Rainy Season (May-October)

• Antifungal powder (Tinactin or Zeasorb-AF) for athlete's foot and fungal rashes
• Extra blister care (humidity speeds up blister formation)
• Moisture-absorbing packets or silica gel for your bag (electronics and documents stay dry)

How to Pack It

Use a clear ziplock bag or small dedicated pouch (no larger than a small cosmetic bag). Clear lets you find items in low light:

Section 1 — Daily Use (top)

• Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, hand sanitizer

Section 2 — Wound Care (middle)

• Blister plasters, Steri-Strips, tweezers, needle, surgical tape, sterile gauze

Section 3 — Stomach/Pain Relief (bottom)

• ORS packets, paracetamol, ibuprofen, anti-diarrhea tablets, antacids, activated charcoal

Section 4 — Prescription Meds (separate sealed pocket)

• Original bottles with pharmacy labels

Total weight: under 500g. Total volume: roughly the size of a paperback book.

Thai Pharmacy Phrases Card

Print or memorize these five phrases. Pharmacists in Thailand speak limited English, especially outside Bangkok:

Essential Phrases

"ฉันปวดท้อง" (I have stomach pain) Pronounced: "Chan puat tang" When: Food poisoning, gastritis, cramping

"ฉันมีไข้" (I have a fever) Pronounced: "Chan mee kai" When: Asking pharmacist for fever reducers or checking if you need a doctor

"ฉันเป็นแผล" (I have a wound) Pronounced: "Chan pen plaew" When: Asking for wound care products

"ฉันแพ้ยา..." (I am allergic to...) Pronounced: "Chan pae ya..." When: Explaining allergies — then name the drug or ingredient

"ยาอะไรดี?" (What medicine is good?) Pronounced: "Ya arai dee?" When: Asking for a pharmacist's recommendation for common symptoms

Pro Tip

Write these phrases in your phone's notes app with English pronunciation. Take a screenshot so you can show it to pharmacists who don't understand spoken English.

When to See a Doctor Instead

Pharmacists in Thailand are helpful for minor issues, but some situations require a hospital or clinic:

• Fever over 39°C (102°F) lasting over 12 hours
• Severe abdominal pain or vomiting that won't stop
• Signs of infection (wound with red streaks, swelling, pus)
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Head injury with dizziness or confusion
• Allergic reaction with swelling of face or lips
• Severe dehydration (extreme dizziness, no urination for 8+ hours)

Thailand has excellent hospitals in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other tourist areas. Tourist-oriented hospitals like Bumrungrad (Bangkok) have English-speaking doctors.

Final Packing Checklist

Before you leave home:

• □ Prescription medications (full supply + 1 week extra)
• □ Birth control (if applicable)
• □ Mental health medications (if applicable)
• □ EpiPen (if allergic)
• □ Antimalarial prescription (if needed)
• □ Moleskin blister pads
• □ Steri-Strip wound closures
• □ Tweezers
• □ Thermometer
• □ Needle
• □ Surgical tape
• □ Hand sanitizer (small bottle)
• □ Activated charcoal (optional)

• □ Paracetamol
• □ Ibuprofen
• □ ORS/rehydration sachets
• □ Antihistamines
• □ Antiseptic cream
• □ Antifungal cream
• □ Mosquito repellent
• □ Sunscreen

Total weight: Under 500g

Your compact first aid kit is ready. Buy the rest on arrival, save weight, and rely on Thailand's pharmacist-friendly culture for common issues.

Want a guide to navigating Thai pharmacies? See Thailand Pharmacy Guide.