Travel health products you don't need

Holidaymakers are wasting their money on branded health products such as Imodium and Piriteze, according to Which? Travel.

Savings can be made by switching well-known remedies for generic, far cheaper alternatives available on the high street.

Not only this, but travellers are needlessly stocking up on other popular travel products with little scientific evidence that they actually work, such as travel-sickness wristbands.

Mosquito repellent, after-sun and anti-jet-lag remedies; most of us know the blind panic of the pre-holiday shopping trip. We dash around our local pharmacy, baskets overflowing with just-in-case health products. But ask yourself: how much of this do I really need? 

Here, we tell you how to weed out the pointless products taking up valuable space in your suitcase.

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Travel-sickness wrist bands

What’s the claim? ‘The natural choice for nausea relief’

These elasticated wristbands are said to alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness by pressing on the Nei-Kuan pressure point, with no nasty side effects. Unfortunately, the NHS remains unconvinced. ‘There’s little scientific evidence to show that travel-sickness bands are effective,’ it says.

Is it worth the money? They don’t work for everyone. Looking for something with a little more scientific clout? Travel-sickness medication such as Kwells contain hyoscine, which blocks some of the nerve signals sent from the sensory system, to prevent nausea. However, it can cause drowsiness. Talk to a pharmacist to find the right option for you.

Video: Do travel-sickness wrist bands work?

Mosquito-repellent wrist band

What’s the claim? ‘[It] expels a concentrated formula to form a protective halo around you’

It sounds ideal: rather than douse ourselves in pungent DEET, we can ward off mozzies with an environmentally friendly bracelet. But studies have shown that while wrist bands will reduce the number of bites to the hands and wrists, they are not a substitute for lotions or sprays – and they’re unlikely to spare other parts of the body.

Is it worth the money? For extra protection, go ahead. But you’ll still need to apply repellent regularly to all areas of exposed skin. A formula containing 20-50% DEET is recommended. 

See which DEET and non-DEET insect repellents really worked against mosquitoes in our tough independent insect repellent lab tests.

Once-a-day sunscreens

What’s the claim? ‘Provides up to eight hours of sun protection’

It’s appealing to think we can slap on the sunscreen in the morning and be protected all day long, but experts don't recommend relying on once-a-day formulations, and neither do we. When Which? tested four SPF30 single-application sun creams we recorded an average 74% decrease in SPF protection over the course of the day. 

You should re-apply any sunscreen frequently if out and about, every two hours and after swimming.

Is it worth the money? No. Opt for one of our recommended sunscreens and re-apply regularly. See our sunscreen reviews and buying advice.

Piriteze and Clarityn: cheaper alternatives on the high street

Holidaymakers are forking out for big brands when a cheaper, generic equivalent will do the job. Piriteze (cetirizine hydrochloride) and Clarityn (loratadine) both cost around £11 for a pack of 30 tablets, but cheaper own-brand or generic versions from pharmacies, supermarkets and discount stores typically cost less than half this price. 

For example, Bells Healthcare Allergy and Hayfever Relief tablets with loratadine are £2.75 for a pack of 30 at Boots.

Generic versions of medicines contain the same active ingredient, so there's no need to pay more. 

Find out more in our guide to hay fever treatments, including what works and how to get the best value.

Imodium: paying for the brand

The same principle applies to other holiday staples, such as Imodium.

Costing £3.50 for 6 tablets, it's nearly double the price of generic rivals, such as Galpharm Diarrhoea Relief, £1.80 for 6, which contains the same active ingredient (loperamide hydrochloride). 

Supermarkets and discount stores are a good bet for low prices too, for example Tesco Loperamide is just £1 for 6 tablets, while Wilko Loperamide is just 69p for 6.

Rehydration sachets: not essential

Rehydration sachets, such as Dioralyte (£5.60 for six at Boots), could be another product taking up unnecessary space in your suitcase. They claim to help with the fast and effective replacement of lost water and body salts.

However Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth, author of the Essential Guide to Travel Health, says the extra ingredients are 'rarely critical' for an ordinary case of traveller's diarrhoea.

Drinking plenty of clear fluids is a sufficient recovery plan for most adults, she told us, unless they are frail or suffering from underlying health problems. In that instance, rehydration sachets may help travellers to feel better sooner.

But making up your own solution - with two heaped teaspoons of sugar and a three-finger pinch of salt in a large glass of boiled, cooled water - is another option.

Managing your medication when travelling - tips on what to know before you jet off on holidays

Four tips to streamline your holiday medical kit

1. Check the active ingredient

Find the active ingredient on the packaging and look for own-brand or generic products that do the same thing for a lower price. Make sure you compare similar pack sizes too. If you’re unsure, ask a pharmacist for advice.

2. Question claims

Be wary of unspecific, meaningless claims such as ‘relieves’ or ‘soothes’.

3. Spot empty promises

Don’t be fooled by terms such as ‘clinically proven’ or ‘scientifically proven’ – these are meaningless, as all products have to be approved based on clinical and scientific research studies.

4. Decode wording

Question statements preceded by ‘can’, ‘may’ or ‘helps’. These allow manufacturers to avoid implying that the product will work for everyone all of the time.

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