Medications

[greenhouse]

How many of us take some sort of pill, something you get at the pharmacy?

How long will your 'scripts last in a SHTF situation. Something to ponder and make some advance preparations.

In a long term situation, how can you manage without your "pills"?

I guess I don't have any real answers, just been wondering. I am fortunate that I don't have any pills that I must take on a daily basis throughout the year. But I imagine that a lot of folks do take some sort of med. daily. My wife is in the boat. She says that she will have to "make do" if we are without a pharmacy for an extended period.

I have looked online, found some "alternative medicine" sites. One problem I have found, some of the alternatives are probably just as hard to acquire as the actual prescribed drugs.

Food for thought
greenhouse

[Rustyshakelford]

How many of us take some sort of pill, something you get at the pharmacy?

How long will your 'scripts last in a SHTF situation. Something to ponder and make some advance preparations.

In a long term situation, how can you manage without your "pills"?

I guess I don't have any real answers, just been wondering. I am fortunate that I don't have any pills that I must take on a daily basis throughout the year. But I imagine that a lot of folks do take some sort of med. daily. My wife is in the boat. She says that she will have to "make do" if we are without a pharmacy for an extended period.

I have looked online, found some "alternative medicine" sites. One problem I have found, some of the alternatives are probably just as hard to acquire as the actual prescribed drugs.

Food for thought
greenhouse

I pride myself on taking no meds except a vitamin. However, back when I had to take blood pressure meds, I started buying them from a Mexican Pharmacy. My blood pressure was not being maintained for some reason. I went to my Dr/Poker buddy and he took one of the pills that I had been paying $50.00 a month for. Guess what? Yep, the meds were a mixture of sugar, cinnamin and talcum powder. I learned my lesson. Glad I did not need some sort of diabetic meds or something required to keep me living, instead of stabilizing blood pressure.

[xcountryswimmer]

I have also given this topic a lot of thought. The only medication I take is flonaz for my nasal allergies. If SHTF, I think I could deal with a stuffy nose until the dust settles, if it does at all. However, my Dad takes medications to correct a cardiac arrhythmia, my girlfriend and her mom have a thyroid condition. I have growing concerns about their well-being in emergency situations that would last for a month or more.

The average American takes more than one prescription medication, what would happen if they could no longer fill them? I think that if that situation arose, we would see a similar response to that if food became scarce. I think that every Rite Aid, CVS, Brooks and any and every pharmacy, even hospitials would be looted.

How do you prepare for that without getting blind-sided like Rusty did? Do you cut a deal with your Dr. or do you join in the looting? Any suggestions would really bring me some peace of mind

[Rustyshakelford]

I have also given this topic a lot of thought. The only medication I take is flonaz for my nasal allergies. If SHTF, I think I could deal with a stuffy nose until the dust settles, if it does at all. However, my Dad takes medications to correct a cardiac arrhythmia, my girlfriend and her mom have a thyroid condition. I have growing concerns about their well-being in emergency situations that would last for a month or more.

The average American takes more than one prescription medication, what would happen if they could no longer fill them? I think that if that situation arose, we would see a similar response to that if food became scarce. I think that every Rite Aid, CVS, Brooks and any and every pharmacy, even hospitials would be looted.

How do you prepare for that without getting blind-sided like Rusty did? Do you cut a deal with your Dr. or do you join in the looting? Any suggestions would really bring me some peace of mind

Since I take NO meds except a vitamin any longer, I have very little advice. Except this. Never trust a Mexican pharmacy.

[Brosia]

this topic is pretty active right now on all sorts of emergency prep web sites, forums, and email lists.


I'm not too concerned about meds- my children and I don't take any. I couldn't even tell you the last time we needed penicillin. I keep a rather large supply of OTC pain killers. I am worried about the rest of my family (mom and dad in particular), but let's be honest- my main concern is my children. A lot of the more simple medications can be found in nature. IF you know where to look, and what to do with it.

I get absolutley terrified of the thought that something will happen that there are no more hospitals up and running, or qualified personnel working them. My son has a brain tumor, needless to say we need neurological specialists. I don't think anyone keeps a spare brain shunt in their emergency medical kits, and I certainly don't know how to operate and put one in... and this will be a very real situation we will have to deal with again in a few short years.

[cudalyon]

How many of us take some sort of pill, something you get at the pharmacy?

How long will your 'scripts last in a SHTF situation. Something to ponder and make some advance preparations.

In a long term situation, how can you manage without your "pills"?

I guess I don't have any real answers, just been wondering. I am fortunate that I don't have any pills that I must take on a daily basis throughout the year. But I imagine that a lot of folks do take some sort of med. daily. My wife is in the boat. She says that she will have to "make do" if we are without a pharmacy for an extended period.

I have looked online, found some "alternative medicine" sites. One problem I have found, some of the alternatives are probably just as hard to acquire as the actual prescribed drugs.

Food for thought
greenhouse

In a SHTF situation, a couple of the meds that most people take will not be needed. If you have a 1 month supply of blood pressure and cholesterol meds, that should work for you. After that 1 month is up, your body should not even need the meds due to the fact the McDonalds and Burger King have been shut doe\wn for a month, and you have already forgotten what a Pepsi or Coke taste like. No bad foods = no use for most meds.

[ridgid1]

white man drug is bad...vitamins only for me unless I realy have to, or its life or death or somthing

[RossA]

Antibiotics will be like gold when TSHTF. Remember, in the "good old days" people died young from simple infections which we now clear up quickly with simple antibiotics. Up until World War II, infections and disease killed more soldiers than bullets.
When society breaks down and we are all out chopping wood, and doing all sorts of manual chores that most people don't do anymore, we will be subject to many more opportunities for infection. I don't suggest taking a week's worth of Amoxil or Cipro every time you cut your finger, but when the need arises for an infection fighter, I want to have it on hand.
Now back to the original subject: For those of you who don't take meds, my hat's off to you. But for those of us who are concerned about having them, where can we get them?
BTW, I might suggest to those who don't take meds and aren't interested in storing some, when your child gets a severe cold that goes into pneumonia (like it did with me last year), and your home remedies aren't working, you will give all that you have for some real meds to save the child's life.
Sorry if this sounds like a rant. No personal offense meant to anyone. We just fail to realize how many of us would be dead now from simple medical problems which would have killed our great grandparents, but we were saved by modern meds. If you are among the fortunate who have never had a severe medical problem and been brought through it by medicine, you are one of the lucky ones.
So, now, where do I get that penicillin?

[Diesel]

so what's a good antibiotic with SERIOUS long term storage ability?

[RossA]

That's one of the things I'm hoping to find out.
What will keep, and where to get it.
I've talked to people who bought generic meds from a Canadian pharmacy online. They got meds which were made in India, and which they say were worthless.

[Big_Saw]

so what's a good antibiotic with SERIOUS long term storage ability?

Most antibiotics have a reatively short lifespan...especially if refrigeration is unavailable....however, antibiotic creams and ointments are the best pre-packaged long-term solutions....

Also, BION, cultivating pennicillin is actually fairly easy through relatively archaine means...

Homemade penicillin - 1 tsp green mold from stale bread in 1 cup of water. (blend)

It's not as efficient a dosing as refined penicillin, but it is more effective than nothing.

[methusaleh]

Personally I'm a health nut who does not trust conventional medicine or anyone with the letters MD after their name (and yes, both of my parents are doctors and taught me this). I stockpile seeds for medicinal herbs as well as bulk containers of various supplements in powder form, such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), l-glutamine, n-acetyl cysteine, etc. Many health websites these days sell bulk powders and it is not difficult to use the containers they ship in to seal for long-term storage.

[xcountryswimmer]

for the antibiotic question, i think the best defense is a good offense. every wilderness first aid kit should have triple antibiotic ointment..and a good amount of it, especially if you won't be able to run out to the store to get more if SHTF. every cut and scratch will be open for infection, so it is very important to take care of it the second you get a chance (it would be pretty embarrassing if all of us big strapping men and women are taken down by a little cut). even more dangerous than cuts and scrapes are blisters and burns. burn victims who survive the initial trauma don't die from their burns...they die from systemic organ failure from infections. if SHTF, we're most likely going to be doing a lot of physical activity to survive. activities like hiking, running, chopping wood, etc, all have the potential to create blisters on your feet and hands. what do you do???? DON'T POP THE BLISTER!!!! believe it or not blisters are like your body's band-aid; it acts as a protective covering over the injured area. by popping the blister, you send out an open invite to every bacteria that you come in contact with. to prevent blisters (1) make sure your boots are broken in (2) change your socks frequently (3) check your feet every night (4) wear work gloves while chopping wood or doing any repetitive in nature (5) if you do get a blister, protect it.

doing this will lessen the chance of you getting an infection from open wounds, but i don't have an answer for infections such as strep or strap.

[Lil Bear]

You can build up your meds in 2 ways. First- you can ask your doctor if the meds you take come in double the current dose (break in half to take usual dosage and you instantly have an extra months worth- also cuts down on insurance copays). Be careful on this however, there are some meds that can not be broken to take- they act differently. Second- go to the pharmacy a week after you get a newly filled rx and say that you lost or left it somewhere. This would be an out of pocket exspense but would get the extra supply you are looking for. Which ever way you chose to do- remember to rotate your meds. I have had patients that will only take thier meds every other day to stretch out the supply. Hope this helps someone. I am working on the insulin question.

[waitnc]

Meds

I intend on keeping it simple, I'm lucky as to the fact I don't take life sustaining meds, but do have some I take and will collect and use them sparingly. For ones supplies I suggest Rubbing Alc, Iodine, Epson Salt, Peroxides, Sulfur, Blood Clotters, Finger Splints, and assorted bandages. I have live in the tropics as a child and have received wounds from blades, natural objects and Iodine was the prime wound cleaner and clean dressings. The common sense note try to keep it out of situations that could introduce more dangerous germs. Water proof it with the right bandages if the situation requires. For you detail types I lived on Espiritu Santo/Vanuatu/Hog Harbour it doesn't get much more tropical then this kids. Things rot fast!

PS...Bleach and Vinegar are great Cleaners and Sanitizers that could be used in the medical needs arena. Needles and Stainless Scissors, Large Tweezers, the proper grade of Thread to "Pull yourself together" with of course. lol