5 Meds You Must Stock Up On Before Christmas

Almost 7 in 10 Australians were dispensed at least one PBS‑subsidised medicine in 2022 – and more than 1 in 2 live with at least one chronic health condition.

In other words, most Aussie households rely on at least one regular medication to stay well. Yet every December, thousands of people suddenly realise – usually sometime on Christmas Eve, with a half‑packed suitcase on the bed – that they’ve got two tablets left and the local pharmacy is about to close for days.

If you’ve ever queued at a chemist on 24 December, script in hand, you know the feeling.

Add in:

• Shortened pharmacy opening hours and public‑holiday closures
• GPs and clinics running skeleton staff over Christmas and New Year
• Summer travel, rich food, alcohol and late nights

…and it’s easy to see why December is a peak time for medication mishaps.

State health departments actually warn people to see their GP and ensure an adequate supply of prescription medications before Christmas to reduce the risk of holiday health problems. At the same time, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) advises checking for medicine shortages and talking to your doctor or pharmacist early if your usual brand is hard to get. Community pharmacy groups also remind Australians that trading hours can change significantly over the festive season – so planning ahead is essential.

In this article, we’ll walk you through a holiday health checklist focused on five key types of medicines to review before Christmas:

1. Your everyday “lifeline” prescriptions
2. Asthma and allergy medicines
3. Pain, fever and anti‑inflammatory medicines
4. Gut and travel‑related medicines
5. Sexual health and contraception medicines

We’ll also cover:

• How script renewal in Australia works around the holidays
• Smart medication management tips for travel and hot weather
• When it makes sense to use repeat prescriptions online or a telehealth doctor
• Where NextClinic fits in (and when we’re not the right option)

Whether you’re heading down the coast, flying interstate, or staying home for a low‑key barbie, this guide is designed to help you avoid last‑minute panics and keep your household safe, comfortable and well‑supplied.

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Why Christmas Is a Perfect Storm for Medication Problems

December in Australia isn’t just tinsel and pavlova. From a health perspective, it’s a high‑risk month:

• Routines change. People stay up later, sleep in, travel, and forget doses.
• Food and alcohol intake spike. That can upset stomachs, blood sugar and blood pressure – especially if you’re on regular meds.
• Clinics and regulators wind down. Even agencies like the TGA run on limited operations between Christmas and early January, and advise that routine matters may be delayed.
• Medicine supply is stretched. Ongoing national medicine shortages mean certain brands – from ADHD medications to some antibiotics and hormone therapies – can be hard to find at the best of times, let alone when everyone’s rushing to fill scripts.
• Pharmacies aren’t all open. While a handful of hospital or after‑hours pharmacies stay open on Christmas Day, many suburban chemists either close completely or run very limited public‑holiday trading hours.

That’s why pharmacy organisations are actively urging Australians to check pharmacy opening hours and refill scripts well before Christmas.

The good news? A bit of planning – and, when appropriate, using repeat prescriptions online instead of waiting for a face‑to‑face appointment – can make a huge difference.

Let’s turn that into a simple, practical checklist.

How to Use This Holiday Health Checklist

This isn’t about hoarding or panic‑buying. It’s about:

• Making sure you have enough of the medicines you genuinely need
• Avoiding unsafe last‑minute decisions (like skipping heart tablets or rationing antidepressants)
• Knowing where telehealth and online script renewal can safely fill gaps
• Being realistic about pharmacy opening hours and travel disruption

Work through the five sections below and, for each medicine type, ask:

• Do I (or someone in my household) use this?
• How much do I have left right now?
• Will that comfortably last through the Christmas / New Year period – including travel days?
• Do I need a script renewal or repeat filled before the public holidays?

Ready? Let’s run through the five meds you really don’t want to run out of at Christmas.

Med 1: Your Everyday “Lifeline” Medicines

These are the medicines you take every day, or nearly every day, to manage chronic or ongoing conditions – the ones where suddenly stopping can genuinely put your health at risk.

This often includes:

• Blood pressure or heart medicines
• Diabetes tablets or insulin
• Asthma preventer inhalers
• Cholesterol‑lowering tablets
• Thyroid medication
• Anti‑seizure medicines
• Antidepressants and antipsychotics
• Some hormone therapies and HRT

With almost half of Australians living with at least one chronic condition, and the vast majority of people with chronic conditions using PBS medicines, these “lifeline” meds are everywhere – and easy to take for granted.

Why they matter so much over Christmas

Stopping or missing doses of these medicines can lead to:

• Flare‑ups of your underlying condition (e.g. asthma attacks, unstable blood sugar, blood pressure spikes)
• Withdrawal effects (especially with some antidepressants, anti‑anxiety medications, and epilepsy medicines)
• Increased risk of hospitalisation – at a time when the health system is already under pressure

That’s not how you want to spend your holidays.

What to do now

1. Count your supply.
   • Check how many tablets, patches, vials or inhaler doses you have left.
   • Work out how many days’ worth that is at your usual dose.
2. Aim to have at least 2–4 weeks’ buffer over Christmas/New Year, especially if you’re travelling or live remotely.
   • You’re not trying to build a secret stockpile – you just don’t want to be down to two tablets on 24 December.
3. Check your repeats.
   • Look at your paper script or MySL eScript history to see whether you have repeats remaining.
   • If you’re out of repeats, you’ll need a script renewal from a doctor in Australia before your pharmacist can supply more.
4. Plan your renewal.
   • If you’re stable on a long‑term medicine and due for a routine renewal, this is a great time to use repeat prescriptions online (where appropriate) instead of waiting weeks for a GP slot.
   • At NextClinic, our doctors can often renew common, stable long‑term medications via our online prescription service, when it’s clinically suitable and safe. We never prescribe Schedule 8 medicines (like most strong opioids), and we’ll always refer you for an in‑person review if that’s what you need.
5. If you’re changing dose or brand, don’t do it alone.
   • With current medicine shortages, your pharmacist may need to swap you to a different brand or slightly different formulation. Always check with them – and your doctor if you’re unsure – before making a change.

Red‑flag situations

Skip telehealth and seek urgent in‑person care or call 000 if:

• You’ve already missed several days of a critical medicine and feel very unwell (e.g. chest pain, severe shortness of breath, confusion, seizures).
• You’re experiencing severe side effects from a medicine (like allergic reactions, swelling of the tongue or throat, severe rash, or suicidal thoughts).

Telehealth – including us – is great for admin like straightforward script renewal in Australia, but it’s not the right setting for medical emergencies.

Med 2: Asthma & Allergy Medicines

December is a tricky time for anyone with asthma, hay fever or allergic conditions:

• Grass pollen can still be high in some parts of Australia.
• Bushfire smoke, dust, mould, pets and heat all act as triggers.
• You’re more likely to be around other people’s perfumes, candles and pets at gatherings.

For many households, the asthma puffers and antihistamines are used by multiple family members – so they’re often the first to run out.

What belongs in this group?

Think about:

• Asthma inhalers (reliever and preventer) – e.g. salbutamol and inhaled steroids
• Combination inhalers for asthma/COPD
• Spacers for kids or adults
• Allergy tablets or liquids (antihistamines)
• Prescription nasal sprays for hay fever or sinus problems
• Adrenaline autoinjectors (e.g. EpiPen) for severe allergies

Your pre‑Christmas asthma & allergy checklist

1. Reliever inhaler check.
   • Make sure every person with asthma has their own reliever puffer, with enough doses left.
   • Check expiry dates and canister counters where present. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to test.
2. Preventer medications.
   • If you use a preventer daily, don’t stop it “just because it’s holidays”. That’s often when people end up in ED.
   • If you’re nearly out, organise a script renewal now – either through your regular GP or via a telehealth doctor if that’s appropriate for you.
3. Action plans.
   • If you or your child has a written asthma or anaphylaxis action plan from your doctor, take copies with you when travelling.
   • Make sure anyone you’re staying with knows where the medicines are kept and what to do.
4. Allergy meds for summer triggers.
   • Stock up on your usual antihistamines and any prescription nasal sprays you rely on.
   • Remember that some sedating antihistamines can interact with alcohol and increase drowsiness – ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.
5. Autoinjectors.
   • Check expiry dates. If one is due to expire over the holiday period, organise a replacement now.

How we can help

At NextClinic, our online doctors frequently help patients:

• Renew scripts for asthma preventers and other chronic respiratory medicines (when clinically appropriate)
• Manage mild to moderate sinusitis and hay fever flares via telehealth consultation – including prescribing nasal sprays or short courses of other medicines if needed

We’ll always advise an in‑person assessment or emergency care if your symptoms sound severe or high‑risk.

Med 3: Pain, Fever & Anti‑inflammatory Medicines

If there’s one category that saves Christmas again and again, it’s pain and fever medicines.

The ABS reports that more than two in five Australians used paracetamol and one in five used ibuprofen in the last two weeks of their health survey period in 2022 – most of us have these in the cupboard.

At Christmas they’re in even higher demand: headaches from late nights, muscle aches from travel, sunburn, period pain, toothaches, sports injuries… the list goes on.

What to consider stocking

For most households, that might include:

• Paracetamol (adult and/or child formulations)
• Ibuprofen or other non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatories (NSAIDs), if you can take them safely
• Any prescription‑only pain medicines you use regularly for chronic conditions (e.g. some migraine preventers or neuropathic pain medicines) – note that most strong opioid painkillers are Schedule 8 and won’t be prescribed via online express services
• Heat or cold packs (not a medicine, but very useful)

Safe use reminders

Because these medicines are so familiar, they’re often misused. A few important points:

• Always follow the label or your doctor’s instructions for dose and timing.
• Many cold and flu products already contain paracetamol – taking tablets and a cold/flu combo can accidentally cause an overdose.
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen aren’t suitable for everyone (for example, some people with kidney disease, stomach ulcers, heart problems, or in late pregnancy). If in doubt, check with your doctor or pharmacist.
• For kids, use age‑appropriate liquids or suppositories, and dose by weight using a proper syringe or measure. Don’t guess.

If you’re planning a big family gathering, it’s worth checking you have:

• Enough adult and child‑strength medicines
• A working thermometer
• Someone who knows where the medicines are and how to use them safely

When telehealth can (and can’t) help

We can:

• Provide medical certificates if you come down with a nasty flu or migraine at the worst possible time
• Assess mild to moderate pain conditions that don’t require immediate physical examination, and prescribe appropriate medicines if safe

We can’t:

• Prescribe high‑risk Schedule 8 opioids
• Replace emergency dental or surgical care

If your pain is severe, sudden, associated with chest pain, breathing difficulty, heavy bleeding, or other red‑flag symptoms, please seek urgent in‑person care or call 000.

Med 4: Gut & Travel‑Related Medicines

Christmas in Australia often means:

• Road trips and flights
• Big meals, seafood, rich desserts
• Alcohol (sometimes more than intended)
• Hot weather and dehydration

Unsurprisingly, tummy upsets are common – and very capable of derailing a holiday.

Useful medicines to think about

Depending on your health and travel plans, consider whether you need:

• Oral rehydration salts or electrolyte solutions
• Antacids or medicines for reflux/heartburn
• Simple anti‑diarrhoeal medicines (if your doctor says they’re appropriate for you)
• Your usual prescription medicines for conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), reflux or chronic diarrhoea
• Motion sickness tablets (for boats, windy mountain roads, long flights)

Government‑funded services like healthdirect recommend packing personal health essentials – including medicines – before you travel, to avoid being caught out overseas or in a remote area.

Travel and medicines: legal and practical tips

Australia has specific rules about travelling with medicines:

• The TGA advises keeping medicines in their original packaging, carrying a copy of your prescription or a doctor’s letter, and not bringing more than a three‑month supply for personal use.
• The Department of Home Affairs also provides a handy “Travelling with medications – before you go” checklist in multiple languages, covering what to check for both Australia and your destination.

Closer to home:

• Keep medicines in your carry‑on luggage, not checked bags – lost suitcases are very inconvenient when they contain your blood pressure tablets.
• In the car, avoid leaving medicines in a hot glovebox where they can overheat. Ask your pharmacist about safe storage (many medicines don’t like Aussie summer temperatures).
• If you’re prone to severe gastro, talk to your doctor before you travel about what to do, including any prescription treatments that might be appropriate for you.

How we can help

If you realise a few days before your trip that you’re nearly out of a regular gut or reflux medicine, one of our doctors may be able to help with a repeat prescription online, provided it’s a medicine we safely prescribe via telehealth and it’s clinically appropriate in your case.

If you’re experiencing severe vomiting, blood in your stool, high fevers, or signs of dehydration (confusion, dizziness, not weeing much), that’s time for urgent in‑person assessment, not just a new script.

Med 5: Sexual Health & Contraception Medicines

The festive season often comes with more socialising, more travel and – let’s be honest – more opportunities for sex, both in established relationships and with new partners.

It’s one of the worst times of year to suddenly realise:

• You’re on your last strip of the pill, with no repeats left
• You’ve forgotten to pack condoms
• You need ongoing treatment for a condition like genital herpes but forgot to refill your script
• You’ve had a risk exposure and want to discuss emergency contraception or STI testing – but the local clinic is closed until the new year

Common sexual health meds to think about

Depending on your situation, that might include:

• Oral contraceptive pills and patches
• Vaginal rings or other hormonal contraceptives
• Emergency contraception (the “morning after” pill) – noting this is often bought over the counter but availability can vary over public holidays
• Condoms and other barrier methods (not medicines, but very much part of sexual health)
• Antiviral medicines for herpes (e.g. suppressive or episodic treatment)
• Pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, where prescribed
• Medicines related to sexual function or reproductive health (e.g. some treatments for erectile dysfunction, painful periods, endometriosis)

Your pre‑Christmas sexual health checklist

1. Contraception continuity.
   • If you’re on the pill, patch or ring, check how many cycles you have left.
   • If your script is about to expire, organise a script renewal now. Telehealth is often very suitable for stable, long‑term contraception review.
2. Plan for “what ifs”.
   • Consider having a box of condoms and, if appropriate, emergency contraception in your holiday kit – especially if you’re travelling somewhere remote or overseas.
   • Remember that emergency contraception works best the sooner it’s taken after unprotected sex.
3. Ongoing sexual health conditions.
   • If you have recurrent herpes or another condition requiring on‑hand treatment, check your supply and expiry dates before travelling.
4. Testing and follow‑up.
   • If you’ve had a recent new partner or unprotected sex and are due for STI tests, try to get these sorted before the holidays, when clinics are open and labs are fully staffed.

How we can help

At NextClinic, we frequently support patients with sexual health matters, including:

• Contraceptive pill repeats and adjustments (when clinically appropriate)
• Telehealth consultations for conditions like genital herpes or erectile dysfunction, with prescriptions where safe
• Referrals to sexual health physicians, gynaecologists or urologists via our online specialist referral pathway if you need specialist input

For anything urgent or complex – such as suspected HIV exposure requiring PEP, severe pelvic pain, or serious bleeding – please seek immediate in‑person care at a hospital or specialised sexual health clinic.

Beyond the Big Five: A Few Non‑Medicine Essentials

While this article focuses on medicines, your holiday health checklist will be even stronger if you also think about:

• Sunscreen and sun protection. Australian UV is fierce in December. If you’re unsure how much protection you really need (or whether things like “sunscreen indoors” are necessary), our blog post “Do You Need Sunscreen Indoors? 3 Myths Busted” takes a deep dive into practical sun safety for Aussie conditions.
• First‑aid basics. Dressings, antiseptic, tweezers, burn gel, and insect bite treatments.
• Mental health supports. The holidays can be emotionally tough. Have helplines and local support services saved in your phone, especially if you’re away from your usual support network.

These aren’t prescriptions, but they’re part of staying out of ED and enjoying your break.

7 Medication Management Tips for a Smooth Festive Season

Regardless of which medicines you use, these medication management strategies can make December much less stressful:

1. Start your “meds audit” by early December

Don’t wait until the week of Christmas. By then, GP appointments are scarce and pharmacies are busy. Do a full check of your medicine cabinet in the first half of December and list what needs attention.

2. Learn your local pharmacy opening hours

Because trading hours vary widely, community pharmacy groups encourage Australians to check festive trading times in advance.

• Ask your regular pharmacy for a printed or emailed list of Christmas/New Year hours.
• Use services like Find a Pharmacy or your state health website to identify after‑hours or 24/7 options near where you’ll be on Christmas Day.

3. Use repeat prescriptions online – sensibly

If your condition is stable and you simply need a repeat, online script renewal can save you a lot of time:

• With our online prescription service, you complete a short, clinically designed questionnaire. One of our Australian‑registered doctors reviews your request and, if it’s safe and appropriate, sends an eScript direct to your phone – often within hours.
• If your medicine isn’t on our express list or your situation is more complex, you can book a telehealth consultation instead for a more detailed review.

Online services are not a way to bypass safety rules or get controlled drugs more easily – we follow the same Australian standards as bricks‑and‑mortar clinics.

4. Keep an up‑to‑date medicine list

Especially if you have multiple conditions or are travelling, keep a simple list in your phone containing:

• All your regular medicines (name, dose, time of day)
• Any allergies or past serious reactions
• Your usual GP and pharmacy contact details

This is invaluable if you end up in an unfamiliar clinic or hospital.

5. Store medicines safely in summer

Heat and humidity can damage medicines. General guidance from pharmacies and regulators includes:

• Avoid storing medicines in bathrooms or cars.
• Keep them in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
• Ask your pharmacist about travel packs or cool bags for items that need refrigeration.

6. Set reminders for time‑sensitive meds

Use phone alarms, apps, or pill organisers for things like:

• The pill
• Insulin
• Multiple‑dose antibiotics
• Parkinson’s medicines

Holiday routines make it very easy to forget doses – external reminders help.

7. Have a “plan B” for after‑hours issues

Before the holidays:

• Save healthdirect’s 24/7 nurse advice line (1800 022 222) in your phone.
• Know which after‑hours or urgent care centres are near where you’ll be staying.
• Remember: in emergencies, call 000 – not your telehealth provider or the TGA.

When Telehealth & NextClinic Make Sense Over Christmas

Telehealth shines when:

• You’re generally well but need a script renewal
• You’ve got a mild to moderate illness that doesn’t obviously require a physical examination
• You need a medical certificate for work or study because you’ve come down sick right before or after Christmas
• You need a non‑urgent specialist referral renewed so your early‑January appointment can go ahead

At NextClinic, over the festive season we can help Australians with:

• Online medical certificates for short‑term sick leave
• Online prescriptions and repeat prescriptions online for many common, stable medicines
• Specialist referrals issued after a short phone consultation
• Telehealth consultations for a range of minor illnesses and chronic condition follow‑ups, when clinically appropriate

But we’re not the right option if:

• You have severe, sudden or worsening symptoms (chest pain, heavy bleeding, severe abdominal pain, trouble breathing, signs of stroke, serious injury)
• You’re experiencing a mental health crisis or feel unsafe
• A child is very unwell, floppy, struggling to breathe, or has a rapidly spreading rash with fever

In those situations, skip telehealth and go straight to 000, an emergency department or your nearest urgent care centre.

Wrapping It Up: Your One Action This Week

Let’s recap the five meds you don’t want to run out of at Christmas:

1. Everyday “lifeline” prescriptions – for chronic physical and mental health conditions
2. Asthma and allergy medicines – puffers, antihistamines, nasal sprays, autoinjectors
3. Pain, fever and anti‑inflammatory medicines – for headaches, injuries, period pain and more
4. Gut and travel‑related medicines – for reflux, gastro, dehydration and motion sickness
5. Sexual health and contraception medicines – from the pill to herpes treatments and PrEP

We’ve also looked at how:

• Limited pharmacy opening hours and medicine shortages can catch people out
• Smart medication management (checklists, storage, reminders) keeps you safer
• Repeat prescriptions online and telehealth can help you avoid last‑minute scrambles – while still keeping safety front and centre

Now it’s over to you.

Your challenge for this week: Pick one strategy from this article and actually do it. For example:

• Do a 10‑minute “meds audit” of your home and make a list of what needs refilling.
• Check and write down your local pharmacy’s Christmas and New Year opening hours.
• Use an online service (like ours) to sort out a straightforward script renewal you’ve been putting off.
• Make a small travel medicine kit for your upcoming trip.

When you’re done, come back and tell us in the comments:

• Which strategy did you choose?
• What did you find – any surprises in your medicine cupboard?
• Did getting organised early change how you feel about the upcoming holidays?

Your future self – and possibly a few family members – will thank you when Christmas Day rolls around and the only thing you’re worrying about is whether there’s enough space in the fridge for leftovers.

References

• Medications, 2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Have a safe and healthy holiday season
• Medicine shortages: information for consumers | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Get ready for the festive season: Christmas trading at your community pharmacy
• TGA operations over the holiday period 2025-26 | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• What's open Christmas Day Australia 2023? | SBS News
• Health conditions prevalence, 2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics
• $29.90 Online Prescription Service | NextClinic
• Online Doctors: Telehealth Consultations at NextClinic
• Healthy holiday tips — infographic | healthdirect
• Travelling with medicines and medical devices | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
• Travelling with medications - Before you go checklist
• How to Fast-Track Your Specialist Referral | NextClinic
• Do You Need Sunscreen Indoors? 3 Myths Busted | NextClinic
• NextClinic: Online Medical Certificates, Instant Scripts and Telehealth Consults

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