Taking your medicine on holiday?

Travelling with medication, even drugs that need to be refrigerated, is now easier thanks to medical travel containers. Ben Merriman, a pharmacist based in Cumbria, assesses five of them.

Rocwing Insulin Cooler Diabetes Travel Flask

£49.99, amazon.co.uk KEEPS insulin cool (between 2c and 25c) for up to 72 hours.

EXPERT COMMENT: This could also be used for children’s liquid antibiotics. However, with the thermometer inside, you’d need to open it to check the temperature, allowing warm air in. As with all these gadgets, take a GP’s letter to show airport security. 2/5

Lewis N. Clark AM/PM Pill Organiser

£37.49, amazon.co.uk THIS wallet has 16 removable clear pouches with slide-locking closures. Each pouch is numbered and coloured to keep track of your pills.

EXPERT COMMENT: Convenient if you’re on multiple tablets, but it’s not suitable for drugs sensitive to light and moisture, such as Nicorandil for angina. 4/5

Medicool Diabetic Medicine Protector

£26.99, mollymojo.co.uk IT HAS external pockets for insulin pens, while inside there’s room for insulin vials within one of two plastic ice blocks.

EXPERT COMMENT: One block can be frozen, while you use the other. But I’d worry that the insulin is in such close contact with the block in case it lowers its temperature too much. 2/5

Anaphylaxis Emergency Response Case

£40.95, allergylife style.com THIS hard case with a foil interior is the size of a handbag and could be used to carry any emergency medicines.

EXPERT COMMENT: Medicines for allergies don’t need to be kept cool; this bright bag simply keeps them all in one place. 3/5

Frio Medication Purse

£28.80, friouk.com THIS soft wallet keeps medication at between 18c and 26c for up to 45 hours. You soak the removable liner in a sink for 15 minutes to activate the chilling gel.

EXPERT COMMENT: This is my top choice. It’s popular with diabetics, but some antibiotics for children also need refrigerating, as do antifungal Timodine cream and Duac for acne. 5/5