Which medicines should you keep for an emergency?

Short answer. Keep a reserve of every prescription medicine you take daily: official advice ranges from at least 3 days (Denmark ⁷) and 7 days (Norway ⁶) to a couple of weeks (Canada ³) and one month for long-term treatment (Sweden ⁵). Add basic non-prescription remedies for pain, fever and diarrhoea ¹¹⁰, a cool box for insulin ¹, and a written list of medicines and doses ¹.

Why does a medicine reserve need its own plan?

Because medicines are the one part of an emergency kit you cannot improvise. Ready.gov notes that about half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day, and that an emergency can make it difficult to refill a prescription or find an open pharmacy ¹. Canada warns that prescriptions may be hard to get during an emergency "or even for a while after" ³.

This guide covers the medicine reserve itself: how much, which basics, cold storage, children, rotation and what to do after a disaster. For bandages and dressings, see the home first-aid kit guide. For medical devices, mobility and hearing aids, see preparedness for children, seniors and people on medication.

How many days of prescription medicine should you keep?

There is no single international figure. Each agency gives its own, and some give none:

The Swedish recommendation, which the agency attributes to the National Board of Health and Welfare, names long-term treatment of high blood pressure, heart disease, asthma, COPD and other lung diseases, stomach and intestinal diseases, kidney disease and diabetes, as well as prescribed aids such as blood glucose monitors ⁵. It also sets limits: if you already have a month's supply at home, you should not refill extra doses, and the recommendation does not apply to medicines that cannot be collected a month in advance ⁵.

For people with diabetes, the CDC is more specific: pack enough diabetes supplies to last at least 1 to 2 weeks ¹².

How you build the reserve is a question for your prescriber. Ready.gov's advice is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply ¹. None of these agencies tells people to change a dose, skip doses or stretch a treatment to make it last. Country-by-country kit lists are on pages such as /denmark/kit, /norway/kit, /sweden/kit and /canada/kit.

Which non-prescription medicines do governments list?

Official lists name categories, not brands or doses:

The overlap is clear: something for pain, something for fever, and something for diarrhoea appear on most lists ¹¹⁰¹¹⁸. Germany's list is the longest and also puts the household's personal medicines first ¹⁰; see /germany/kit and /switzerland/kit for the full national kits. Sweden's month-long recommendation explicitly excludes over-the-counter medicines ⁵.

Which product, and which dose, suits each person is a question for a pharmacist or doctor, especially for children, pregnancy, older adults and anyone already on prescription treatment.

What about medicines that need to stay cold, such as insulin?

Ready.gov advises having a cooler and chemical ice packs available to chill medicines that need refrigeration ¹. The FDA notes that some medicines require refrigeration, giving insulin and certain liquid antibiotics as examples, and asks people to have a plan for keeping them cold during a power outage ¹⁵.

For insulin specifically:

• Room temperature window. The FDA says insulin in its manufacturer vial or cartridge may be left unrefrigerated between 59°F and 86°F (15°C to 30°C) for up to 28 days and continue to work; refrigeration at 36°F to 46°F remains the recommended storage ¹⁴.
• Diluted or transferred insulin. Insulin that has been diluted or moved out of the original vial should be discarded within two weeks ¹⁴.
• Never frozen. Do not use insulin that has been frozen ¹⁴. The CDC says frozen insulin can break down and will be less effective, so keep it cool but not frozen ¹³.
• Heat and sun. Keep insulin away from direct heat and out of direct sunlight ¹³¹⁴. The FDA says pump insulin exposed to temperatures above 98.6°F (37°C) should be thrown away ¹⁴.
• When it gets too warm. The CDC acknowledges that you may realistically have to use insulin stored above 86°F; if so, monitor your blood sugar regularly, and once back to your routine, throw away insulin that was kept at room temperature or at very high or low temperatures ¹³.

If you cannot get your usual insulin, the FDA says to switch products only under a doctor's care, with close monitoring of blood sugar ¹⁴. For any other refrigerated medicine that was not kept at the recommended temperature during an outage, the FDA advises contacting a pharmacist, health care provider or the manufacturer ¹⁵. Sweden acknowledges that medicines needing a refrigerator can be hard to stockpile, and advises being as prepared as possible rather than not at all ⁵.

What medicines should you keep for babies and children?

The CDC's checklist for families with infants and young children names infant acetaminophen pain reliever, an infant thermometer, a bulb syringe, and copies of medical and vaccination records ¹⁷. Ready.gov lists infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream as additional kit items ².

Ask your paediatrician or pharmacist which product and dose is right, and keep any prescribed children's medicines in the same reserve as the adults' ¹. Feeding, formula and diapers are covered in detail in what babies and toddlers need in an emergency kit.

For animals, see the pet emergency guide, which covers what to pack for a pet.

How should you store and rotate the reserve?

• Somewhere cool and dry, not the bathroom. The FDA advises a cool, dry place away from bathroom cabinets, hot appliances and sinks, out of children's reach ¹⁸. The BBK recommends a cool, dry, lightly heated room, a lockable cabinet out of children's reach, and says the bathroom is unsuitable ¹⁰.
• Protected from water. The FDA advises placing medicine bottles or packages in watertight containers ¹⁵. Ready.gov asks households to organize and protect prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and vitamins ².
• Oldest first. Sweden advises a routine for rotating the stockpile so that the oldest medicines are used first ⁵. The BBK says to keep stock current and refill before items run out ¹⁰.
• Check dates. Canada says to replace items that might expire, including medications, at least once a year ³; France's guide says to check medicine expiry dates twice a year ¹⁹. The FDA says that once a medicine has expired there is no guarantee it is safe and effective, and not to use it ¹⁸.

What should you do with medicines after a disaster?

The FDA's rules after floods, fires and power cuts ¹⁵:

• Medicines that have come into contact with floodwater or unsafe water should be discarded.
• High temperatures from a fire can reduce or destroy the effectiveness of medicines; consider replacing medicines that may have been exposed to excessive heat.
• Medicines that must be reconstituted (made into a liquid) should be mixed only with purified or bottled water, never another liquid.
• The exception: if a medicine exposed to fire or unsafe water is needed for a life-threatening condition, it may be used if it appears unchanged, and replaced as soon as possible. Medicine that is wet or otherwise altered should not be used.

The CDC adds that lifesaving drugs stored properly in their containers can be taken in an emergency if they look normal and dry, until replacement medication is available; pills that appear wet or look and smell different should be thrown out ¹⁶.

Why keep a paper list of your prescriptions?

Because it still works when your phone is dead. Ready.gov asks for a list of all medications, dosage and any allergies, including diagnosis, frequency and medical supply needs ¹. The UK advises writing a list of regular medication and doses on paper, kept where it is easy to find in a power cut ⁴. The CDC's diabetes kit includes copies of prescriptions and current dosages and times ¹², and France's kit puts photocopies of prescriptions in a waterproof pouch ¹⁹.

Keep this list with your other key papers; the important documents guide explains what else belongs in that folder.

What official agencies recommend

United States (Ready.gov, CDC, FDA). Several days of prescription medicines, a medication list and a cooler for refrigerated medicines ¹; pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives ²; at least 1 to 2 weeks of diabetes supplies ¹²; insulin up to 28 days at 59°F to 86°F, never frozen ¹⁴; discard medicines touched by floodwater ¹⁵.

Canada (Get Prepared). A couple of weeks of medication if possible, and replacement of medications at least once a year ³.

United Kingdom (Be Ready). Repeat prescriptions requested up to 5 working days ahead, and a paper list of medication and doses ⁴.

Nordic and Baltic countries. Denmark at least 3 days ⁷, Norway at least 7 days ⁶, Lithuania a 7-day reserve in the evacuation bag ⁸, Sweden one month for long-term treatment ⁵, Finland a little longer than usual ⁹.

Germany and Switzerland. A home medicine cabinet with personal medicines and basic remedies, kept cool, dry and locked ¹⁰; painkillers and anti-diarrhoea medicine in the Swiss first-aid kit ¹¹.

Frequently asked questions

How many days of medicine should I have for an emergency?

It depends on your country: at least 3 days in Denmark ⁷, at least 7 in Norway ⁶, a couple of weeks in Canada ³ and a month for long-term treatment in Sweden ⁵. Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to build the supply ¹.

What is on a basic emergency drug list?

Official lists name categories: pain and fever relievers, antidiarrheal medicines, antihistamines, antacids or laxatives ¹², and in Germany also cold remedies, electrolytes and wound ointment ¹⁰. Your own prescription medicines come first ¹⁰.

How long can insulin stay out of the fridge?

The FDA says vials or cartridges can stay between 59°F and 86°F for up to 28 days ¹⁴. Never use frozen insulin ¹⁴, and keep it out of heat and sunlight ¹³.

Can I take pills that got wet in a flood?

The FDA says to discard medicines that touched floodwater or unsafe water ¹⁵. Only a medicine needed for a life-threatening condition, with no replacement available, may be used if it appears unchanged, until it can be replaced ¹⁵¹⁶.

Which first-aid medicines does a baby need?

The CDC lists infant acetaminophen pain reliever, an infant thermometer and a bulb syringe ¹⁷. Ask your paediatrician for the dose that matches your child's current weight.

Put your medicines into a plan

A reserve only helps if it matches your household, your country's advice and the people who depend on it. The Phaenyx plan sets out your household's supplies, including medicines, alongside the official sources for your country. Build your Phaenyx plan.

Sources

1. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Disability and Access and Functional Needs — https://www.ready.gov/disability (accessed 2026-10-26)
2. Ready.gov (FEMA) — Build A Kit — https://www.ready.gov/kit (accessed 2026-10-26)
3. Government of Canada (Get Prepared) — Emergency kits — https://www.canada.ca/en/services/policing/emergencies/preparedness/get-prepared/emergency-kits.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
4. UK Government (Cabinet Office) — Be ready for emergencies — https://beready.campaign.gov.uk/be-ready-for-emergencies/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
5. MCF (Sweden) — One month's supply of medicines at home — https://www.mcf.se/en/advice-for-individuals/home-preparedness--prepping-for-at-least-a-week/one-months-supply-of-medicines-at-home/ (accessed 2026-10-26)
6. DSB (Norway) — How you can play your part in Norway's emergency preparedness – Advice on emergency preparedness — https://www.dsb.no/siteassets/sikkerhverdag/egenberedskap/brosjyren/dsb-egenberedskap-engelsk-web.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
7. Styrelsen for Samfundssikkerhed (Denmark) — Forberedt på kriser – sådan klarer du dig selv i tre døgn under en krise — https://samsik.dk/forberedt/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
8. Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas (Lithuania, LT72) — Išvykimo krepšys — https://lt72.lt/isvykimo-krepsys-5/ (accessed 2026-10-20)
9. Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi (Finland) — General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations — https://www.suomi.fi/guides/preparedness/how-to-prepare-for-incidents-and-crises/general-instructions-on-preparedness-home-emergency-supplies-and-on-what-to-do-in-different-situations (accessed 2026-10-20)
10. BBK (Germany) — Im Notfall schnell einsatzbereit: Die Hausapotheke — https://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/Warnung-Vorsorge/Vorsorge/So-koennen-Sie-sich-vorbereiten/Hausapotheke/hausapotheke_node.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
11. BABS / Alertswiss (Switzerland) — Notfallplan — https://www.alert.swiss/content/dam/alertswiss-internet/de/notfallplan/Emergency%20plan_A4_DE.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
12. CDC — Diabetes Care During Emergencies — https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/articles/diabetes-care-emergencies.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
13. CDC — Managing Insulin in an Emergency — https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/articles/managing-insulin-in-emergency.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
14. U.S. FDA — Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency — https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs/information-regarding-insulin-storage-and-switching-between-products-emergency (accessed 2026-10-26)
15. U.S. FDA — Safe Drug Use After a Natural Disaster — https://www.fda.gov/drugs/emergency-preparedness-drugs/safe-drug-use-after-natural-disaster (accessed 2026-10-26)
16. CDC — Lifesaving Drugs — https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/lifesaving-drugs.html (accessed 2026-10-26)
17. CDC — Emergency List for Families With Infants and Young Children — https://www.cdc.gov/infant-feeding-emergencies-toolkit/php/checklist.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
18. U.S. FDA — Don't Be Tempted to Use Expired Medicines — https://www.fda.gov/drugs/safe-disposal-medicines/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicines (accessed 2026-10-20)
19. SGDSN (France) — Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés — https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/documents/SGDSN_Guide_Tous%20responsables.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)