Medication Backup Checklist: Emergency Medication Planning
Medications are the most overlooked emergency supply for most households — and the most critical for those who depend on them. A disrupted medication routine during an emergency can cause seizures, dangerous blood pressure changes, or diabetic crises. This checklist covers how to build a 7-day emergency supply and what information to document before you need it.
Last reviewed: 2026-03-01 · Based on Ready.gov, CDC, CMS.gov guidance
Medication Documentation
Complete this before an emergency. Print and keep one copy in your go-bag.
- Complete medication list: drug name (generic + brand), dosage, frequency, prescribing doctorcritical
Type this on one page. Print 3 copies: go-bag, wallet, and with your emergency contact.
- Allergy list: drug name and reaction typecritical
- Medical conditions that explain the medicationscritical
Emergency responders and shelter staff use this to understand priority and interactions.
- Pharmacy name, address, and phone numbercritical
- Prescribing doctors: name and phone for each medicationcritical
- Insurance: plan name, ID number, and group numbercritical
For filling emergency prescriptions at unfamiliar pharmacies.
- Medicare/Medicaid numbers (if applicable)critical
Building a 7-Day Emergency Supply
- Ask your doctor for an 'emergency supply' prescription authorizationcritical
Most physicians will authorize this when asked directly. Explain that you're building an emergency kit.
- If on 30-day prescription: fill at day 23 to build a 7-day buffer
Most insurance allows early refills within 7 days of the end date. Refill slightly early each cycle to maintain a buffer.
- Mail-order pharmacy (90-day supply): easier to maintain a buffer
- Rotate emergency supply into regular use — never let backup supply expire unusedcritical
- Label emergency medications with the fill date and expiry date
Storage Requirements
- Most medications: store below 77°F, away from light and moisturecritical
Bathroom medicine cabinets are NOT ideal — heat and humidity degrade medications. Use a cool, dark cabinet.
- Insulin: room temperature stable ~28 days for most types (verify for your specific insulin)critical
Unopened insulin: refrigerate. Opened/in-use vials: room temp for ~28 days (check product specific guidance).
- Refrigerated medications: have a plan for power outages (insulated bag + ice packs)critical
Know exactly how long your specific refrigerated medications can be safely kept at room temperature.
- Controlled substances: regulations may limit stockpiling — discuss with prescriber
Some states have emergency dispensing provisions that allow 3–7 day emergency supplies without a new Rx.
- Nitroglycerin and similar: replace every 6 months (volatile, degrades quickly)critical
During a Declared Disaster
- Medicare Part D: early refill allowed at any in-network pharmacy during declared emergenciescritical
- State emergency dispensing: most states allow 30-day emergency supply without a new prescriptioncritical
Check your state health department website for current emergency dispensing rules.
- Contact your insurer's emergency line (on the back of your insurance card)critical
- If you run out, contact the nearest emergency shelter — many stock critical medications
Medical Device Power Backup
- CPAP/BiPAP: UPS battery backup or portable power station (see seniors guide)critical
- Insulin pump: spare batteries or charging cable appropriate for backup power sourcecritical
- Electric wheelchair: spare battery or manual backup optioncritical
- Oxygen concentrator: register with electric utility as medical dependent customercritical
- Hearing aids: store 30+ days of batteries in emergency kitcritical
Detailed Guidance
The Medication Documentation Card
The single most useful document in a medical emergency is a one-page medication card. Here's the format: NAME: [your name] DATE OF BIRTH: [DOB] EMERGENCY CONTACT: [name] [phone] MEDICATIONS: 1. [Drug name (brand/generic)] - [dose] - [frequency] - [prescribing doctor + phone] 2. [repeat for each medication] ALLERGIES: [drug name] — [reaction] MEDICAL CONDITIONS: [relevant diagnoses] PHARMACY: [name, address, phone] PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR: [name, phone] INSURANCE: [plan] — ID: [number] — Group: [number] Laminate it. Keep it in your wallet, go-bag, and give it to your emergency contact. Source: Ready.gov
Official Sources
Related Resources
Emergency Kit for Seniors
Medication management, CPAP backup, and medical device power.
Emergency Kit with a Baby
Pediatric medication safety during emergencies.
Power Outage Checklist
Power backup for medical devices.
Emergency Contact Sheet
Includes space for medication list and doctor contacts.
Documents Checklist
Store medication documentation with your other critical documents.
Emergency Kit Calculator
Complete kit planning including medications.