One of the most important things I am doing for my family is building our own in home pharmacy. This is both very costly, very difficult and time consuming but I feel it is as essential as food and water. I have purchased Tamiflu, Z-packs (antibiotics) and Vira 38 for us all, as well as many vitamins and OTC meds. Maybe someone in the medical field could recommend some other meds to stock up on. Also, I have some questions about administration of the meds, if someone got BF. Obviously start the Tamiflu asap, but when would you start the antibiotics to prevent/treat the pneumonia which follows? Would this be immediately or day 2 or when? I also am stocking electrolyte replacement drinks to prevent dehydration (ceralyte) and plan to get phenergan if possible. Would just appreciate your feedback and maybe other areas that I have forgotten about. This has been a slow process and does cost lots of $$$. What other medical items might I need to treat someone at home. Please advise.
How did you get the Tamiflu? It is unatainable here in MI.
Refer to the other area of this site, a posting called: How to make Tamiflu work. You may want to add Probenicid to your arsenol. Thiink too that the person will likely be vomiting and/or have no appetite. You may want several droppers to give them tiny bits, (depending on the age of the person who falls ill) droppers full instead of imaging they can dring a glass full. If you know how to start an IV and can get an IV start pack, tubing and fluids, that would be optimal. Opthalmic antibiotics in the event of “pink eye” or a foreign body. As we all know, prevention is going to be 95% cure.
I agree about the importance of a home pharmacy. I’ve got Tamiflu and two different anti-biotics. I also got a ton of OTC medications like Thera-flu, Robitussun, etc. Unfortunately, none of that OTC stuff was even effective on our seasonal flu this year. It didn’t touch it. I think the Probenicid is a good idea (thanks for reminding me of that, NP Mom). Any other suggestions for home pharmacy items would be much appreciated.
Texas Gal, I know you’ve stocked up on ibuprophen, right? Dr. Woodson’s article mentions that alot.
Can children take probenicid? Also I am wondering if Dramamine would work against nauseau as effectively as Phenergan. Any one know? Also, I got a ear thermometor and will be measuring temps a couple times a day if/when it hits.
To answer you EOD, I got mine last October and had to fight tooth and nail with my doctors until I had enough RXs to cover my family. I simply would not take NO for an answer and was very persistant. I realize it may not be effective and 1 pk/pp may not even be enough. Did you hear the pharmacist on Oprah yesterday say that 80% of the RXs he is filling for Tamiflu are going to physicians and their immediate families? Interesting but not surprising. Anyway, you can build your own personal arsenol with other products that may work even better than Tamiflu.
Whether or not to obtain Tamiflu is a personal decision. For us, the answer was no. Tamiflu does not prevent bird flu. It can help minimize symptoms. Being brutally realistic, most in my household have medical conditions that would make survival highly unlikely, Tamiflu or not. So our emphasis is on avoidance. I don’t at all mind that the prescriptions are going to physicians and their families. I WANT them to have it. They are going to be on the front lines, exposing themselves and their own families. We’ll wait for a vaccine.
However, I wouldn’t mind a few z-packs, some anti-fungals, and whatever else might come in handy for people who are cooped up together for months on end. Maybe anti-psychotics. ;)
How are people purchasing Tamiflu?? There is some counterfit stuff going around the internet??? Please look at Dr Woodson’s article on what to buy.
TexasGal - check out this link for dosing children with Probenecid http://www.drugguide.com/monograph_library/additional_monographs/probenecid.htm
I would use caution when treating fever unless your children are very young, until it gets above 102.5. Adults can tolerate a temp. of 104 without serious negative sequela,(other than feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck). The virus cannot survive, nor can it replicate in temperatures about 101 degrees farenheit. Valerian root tincture, (for older children and adults) may be enough to help them relax and rest if they have to endure the fever.
It is possible that Dramamine may help with the nausea, but the mechanism of action is different than Phenergan. Dramamine has central anticholinergic action by blocking the chemoreceptor trigger zone. It also decreases excitability of the middle ear labyrinth and blocks conduction in the middle ear vestibular-cerebellar pathways. Phenergan is a phenothiazine that is used primarily as an H1-antagonist with considerable anticholinergic, sedative, and antiemetic effects and some local anesthetic properties. If you can get your hands on Phenergan or compazine, it may work better.
NP Mom - do I understand this to mean that having a fever and not treating it would be better??
You can also make your own ORS. Could have the fairly simple dry ingredients ready to add to a certain ammount of water.
Ginger is sometimes used to good effect with some kinds of nausea. http://www.wholehealthmd.com/refshelf/substances_view/1,1525,787,00.html Found a caution: …”Because ginger can make blood platelets less sticky—and thus increase the risk for bleeding—it’s probably a good precautionary measure to stop taking ginger three to four days before any scheduled surgery. Start up again right after surgery.”…
Chewing candied ginger, or get some real ginger ale and stir the bubbles out of it. In general, frequent spoonfuls of liquid that is not plain water will stay down better than trying to drink a mouthful.
You have the sorts of things that might help people sick at both ends? Protection for the bed and pillow, containers if they can’t make it to the toilet, gloves and masks, to help you clean up, and, not have them cough on you too much? Eye protection; not-ventilated goggles?
(I am not sure about the virus replication temperature, and thought there was some help to keeping patient cool, but I dont have time to find where that was, just now.)
What about non-influenza things that might occur while you are quarantined and need to treat yourself? Burns, cuts needing to be held together with “butterfly closures”, temporary dental filling kits (I found one at the pharmacy near the dental stuff), sprains or strains requiring splints or crutches? Extra pair of glasses (someone suggested at least a cheap pair of magnifying glasses you can read with. I need to find some; back to the pharmacy. Hm, if they don’t see me for too long, they may worry. Ha).
Oh, and antibiotics will not work on viral pneumonia. Have people in the household had the Pneumovax vaccine, that is against many kinds of bacterial pneumonia? Don’t forget to try and Search the site for conditions of things you’re wondering about. http://www.fluwikie.com/index.php?n=Consequences.Cough Having people in bed change position once an hour and take deep breaths and cough, can help with minor lung problmes, but H5N1 just is not a minor problem if cytokine storm/ARDS occurs.
I would caution against letting the temperature stay high especially if someone is starting to have respiratory difficulties. A high temperature raises the oxygen need for the tissues and so creates extra burden for the respiratory system.
Anon_22 I do agree that not treating prolonged elevated temp. in the presence of respiratory impairment would not be prudent. I was thinking about the early stages when you are givning additional medications and/or remedies. Ginger is not only soothing to the stomach, but is also an anti-inflammatory. A good site for some natural anti-inflammatories is: http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/17/13/06.html Below is an excerpt from a document that I put together related to alternatives if you don’t have tamiflu. I apologize in advance for the length of the document. Possible herbal remedies in the treatment of Avian Flu
Lomatium dissectum anecdotal reports of the use of Lomatium circulated during the influenza pandemic of 1916–1918 when Dr. E.T. Krebs, the contract physician to the Washoe Indians, (assigned to this tribe by the US government) reported that their were no deaths from influenza amongst this population. Dr. Krebs noticed dried root hanging from their lodges and inquired what it was used for. He was told that it was Big Medicine, and that it was used to prevent flu. He tried it on his patients in San Francisco and reported that they just stopped dying. Lomatium prevents the replication of the virus. Possible homeopathic remedies in the treatment of Avian Flu
Gelsemium for symptoms of fatigue, extreme weakness, a heavy feeling in the limbs, and muscle pain; eyeballs may ache and eyelids feel heavy; chills along the back and feel chilly generally. Symptoms are worse with exertion and the person may have little thirst
Bryonia irritable and achy, do not want to be moved or disturbed because of pain; headache that are worsened by anything; touch, movement eating, talking. Cough is often a symptom as is thirst for cold liquids.
Rhus toxicodendron extreme exhaustion and pain in the joints, bones and legs; paradoxically, the person is restlesss and worse if they lie still for long. Sleeplessness, nervousness, chills, thirst, sweating and dry, hoarse throat.
Oscillococcinum is a combination remedy that is readily available.
Anecdotal reports include one from the 1918 pandemic. A young man, (at the time) was a delivery boy in his small town. He noticed the people whose homes he delivered homeopathy to were not dying. He became a homeopath as an adult.
DOSING: Follow the rule of three Dosage depends on severity of symptoms. Paying close attention to changes in symptoms is your guide to know how to treat. There are 3 levels of severity and 3 corresponding intensities of dosages. Drops 5–10 Tablets 2–3 Globules 2–3 Granules 15–20 The more sever the symptoms, the more frequently you should give the remedy. In each case, you should STOP medication after up to 3 doses have been given for the day, and wait. If there is improvement, continue with THAT remedy, but give it less frequently. If there is marked improvement, stop the remedy entirely.
Severe Symptoms: Every ½ to 1 hour for 3 doses, and then .. Repeat as necessary for up to 1 day until symptoms improve to mild or mod. Moderate Symptoms: One dose every 3 hours for one day, and then Repeat as necessary for up to 1 day until symptoms improve to mild. Mild Symptoms: One dose every 6 hours Repeat as necessary for up to 10 days
Until symptoms disappear.
Source for the above was taken from the publication: Healing Homeopathic Remedies A System of Healing that Works with Your Body and Mind to Restore Health and Well-Being By Nancy Bruning and corey Weinstein, MD ISBN 0–440–22156–0
NP Mom, Thanks for all of the great info you have contributed; I did a bunch of cutting and pasting into my “Flu Ideas” document! I did want to add something you may already know about Compazine and some other, usually, older, anti-nausea medications. I have had horrible reactions to Compazine and droperadol. They were given to me to control nausea in hospitals. They made me, oh, I don’t know, very agitated. In my case, I always tell them in advance of surger that if I tell them I’m getting this reaction, that I need about 3 large doses of Xanax. Before I knew about this reaction I just thought I was going crazy! I couldn’t stop moving and couldn’t sleep for 3 days! It turns out that it is a known side effect.
I had a bad reaction to Compazine too. I think they call it “tardive dyskinesia”, like weird muscle twitches, uncontrollable. Phenobarbital made it go away.
cybermom and clv, when I read your postings about your reaction to Compazine, it caused me to think about another treatment for nausea. Plain, old fashioned coke syrup. You can actually buy it in a little bottle from any drugstore like Walgreens or Rite Aid, etc.
Compazine really messed me up too when I had it for nausea during a bad seasonal flu.
Phergan suppositories are better than the phenergan pills. For ginger, I tried ginger altoids when I had the stomach flu and it worked within seconds. I was astounded as I didn’t really expect it to work. They are cheap and easy to divide.
Ginger is also meant to trigger immune response!
Ginger is also meant to trigger immune response!
ay ? how did yhay happen ?
(I’ve wondered if the people who used homeopathy didn’t die because they weren’t using aspirin, nor any of the other desperate mixtures people were gargling with, rubbing on their chests, “medicines” that today we know would be poison, ect?)
Heres the Med Kit we have assembled over the past couple of months. The Tamiflu is not here yet but like Kristi I just received the email that it had been shipped. Not sure how this will appear, I’m just pasting from my inventory list.
MEDICAL KIT
33 pounds
Left Outside Compartment Adhesive Tape (½x10yds 3) Dental Floss (3)
Left Inside Compartment Cloths/Towels (25) Energy Gel (32gm 8) Digital Thermometer (2) Surgipad Dressing (5×9 12) Blood Pressure Cuff & Accessories Scissors Sawyer Bite & Sting Kit: Extractor Pump Razor Suction cups (4 sizes) Sting Care Topical Relief, Band-Aids Alcohol Prep Pads.
Right Outside Compartment Potassium Iodide Tablets Razor Blades, Straight Edge (10)
Right Inside Compartment Suture & Syringe Kit: Wound Closure Strips (Όx4 10) 3cc Syringe (2) Povidone Iodine 5cc Syringe (1) Tincture of Benzoin (2) 10cc Syringe w/ Catheter (1) Antibiotic Ointment (4) 25g x 5/8 needle (2) Antiseptic Towelettes (5) 18g x 1.5 Needle (2) Sterile Surgeons Gloves (4) 21g x 1.5 Needle (2) 4×4 & 2×2 Sterile Dressings (4) Angiocatheter 18g Non-adherent Sterile Dressing (2) Sterile Drape 5×9 Trauma Pad (2) Mayo-Hager Needle Holder 5 Conforming Gauze Bandage Scissors S/S 5 Adhesive Tape Thumb Tissue Forceps 4.5 3–0 Nylon Suture w/ Cutting Needle Scalpel (3) 5–0 Nylon Suture w/ Cutting Needle I.V. Administration Set Stethoscope & Accessories Theragesic Pain Relief Cream (3oz 1) CPR Mask Surgical (Dust) Mask (5)
Emergency Dental Kit: Temporary Filling Paste Cotton Pellets & Pain Medication Asst. picks, scrapers, mirrors Dental Stick Tweezers Gauze Pads (3×3 2) Aspirin (325mg 4) Instruction Sheet
Front Compartment Water Jel Burn Dressing (4×4 1) Burn Relief Jel Packets (5) Emergency Blanket (2) Quik-Clot Wound Kit (4)
Emergency Burn Kit: Water Jel Dressing (2×6 1) Water Jel Packet (2) First Aid Cream Packet (2) Sterile Stretch Gauze (3×4 2) Vinyl Gloves (2) Non-Aspirin Pain Relief (6) Sterile Gauze Pads (3×3 4) Sterile Gauze Pads (4×4 4) Triple-Antibiotic Ointment Packets (4) Hand Wraps (4) New Skin Dressing (6) Book Burn Guide
Main Compartment Book Where There is no Doctor Book Advanced First Aid, Red Cross Tweezers (2) Book Where There is no Dentist Scissors (1) Sam Splint (2) Ace Bandage (1–3, 1–4) Hot/Cold Wrap (1) Triple Antibiotic Ointment (2) 03/07 Campho Phenique Ointment (1) 03/07 Cortaid Cream 1% (1oz-1) Tinactin Ointment (1) Lotrimin Ointment (1) Lamosil Cream (1) Medicated Foot Powder (6oz 1) OraJel (1) 09/09 Vaseline Jelly (3.75oz 1) Bag Balm (10oz 1) Lip Balm with Sunblock (2) Blistex Daily Conditioner (1) Sunblock Stick 25SPF (1) Sunblock Cream (36SPF) (5oz 1) Desenex Spray (1) Liquid Bandage / Nexcare (1) 01/07 Antiseptic Wash (6oz 1) 02/07 Alcohol Swabs (100) Cleansing Compress (4 6) Hand Antiseptic (4oz 10) Maalox Tabs (65) 11/06 Tums (200) 12/06 Activated Charcoal Tabs (200) Pepsid AC (50) 03/07 Tylenol PM (125) 02/07 Excedrin Quick Tabs (32) Aspirin (325mg 300) 02/07 Ibuprophen (200mg 1200) 02/07 Acetaminophen (500mg 1000) 01/07 Theraflu Thin Strips (48) 03/08 Zicam Cold Remedy (50 swabs) 06/07 Zicam Flu Remedy (Stir spoons 24) 02/07 Cold/Flu Liquid Caps, Night (20) 03/07 Cold/Flu Liquid Caps, Day (20) 03/07 Dulcolax Laxative (5mg 25) 03/08 Allergy / Antihistamine (25mg 100) 03/07 Imodium AD (2mg 100) 04/07 Stay-Awake Tabs, Caffeine (200mg 40) One/Day Multi-Vitamin (1500) 04/07 Vitamin C (500mg 1500) Vitamin D3 (1000mg 1000) Sambucol (4 fl oz 8)
Motion Sickness Tabs (20) Colloidal Silver (MesoSilver 500ml 2)
Tetracycline (500mg 200) 12/09 Cephalexin (250mg 400) 12/09 Tamiflu (75mg 60) Tylenol 3 (30mg 50) 12/07 New Skin Pads (6) Waterproof Dressing Kit (4 pads, 4 tape) Dr. Scholls Blister Treatment (6) Nexcare Eye Patch (6) Hand Sanitizer (12oz 1) Toung Depressors (50) Insect Spray (10oz 1) Earwax Removal System Poison Ivy Kit: Wash & Cream Band Aids (lots) Eye Wash Kit: Wash, Eye Cup Eye patch (6) Gloves (Lg & Sm 2bx ea)
EOD: Impressive and very comprehensive. Thank you for posting it. I’m going to copy and paste your post and put it into my Preparedness file. Did you purchase the emergency burn kit somewhere, or did you just put it together yourself?
EOD thank you for posting! Copy & pasting now.
I had a couple questions though,
What are these items:
Tetracycline (?) Cephalexin (?)
The burn kit, dental kit, Suture & Syringe kits were all purchased over the internet but then I added to them with additional supplies. There are a few things I would like to get in additional quantity over time but with just my wife and me, most of the quantities should be OK, plus there had to be some limits to keep it portable and keep the weight manageable. There are other items I have in the house but that list is what is in a large duffle bag type of kit. A few of the other items I have assembled specifically for the flu are Gatorade and Ensure, to keep one who is sick hydrated and nourished. A number of the OTC Cold/Flu things like a room vaporizer, Epson Salts for baths, those things you drop in the shower; not all necessarily medications but things that at least will increase the comfort level of someone sick. I have no medical training other than CPR and Advance First Aid so can only go so far in our own home treatment, but we will do what is possible and if it looks like its really gonna get bad, well think about asking my wifes cousin and her husband to move in; both are RNs and work in the emergency room at a local hospital.
bumping this up due to question on another thread about putting together a medical kit.
Kristy, those are two types of antibotics. I’ll do the ol’ cut & paste, its short and easier than a link.
Tetracycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It is effective against a wide variety of bacteria including Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and many others. Tetracycline is used for many different infections including respiratory tract infections due to Hemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, or Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It also is used for nongonococcal urethritis (due to Ureaplasma), Rocky Mountain spotted fever, typhus, chancroid, cholera, brucellosis, anthrax, syphilis, and acne.
Cephalexin belongs to a class of antibiotics called cephalosporins. They are similar to penicillin in action and side effects. They stop or slow the growth of bacterial cells by preventing bacteria from forming the cell wall that surrounds each cell. The cell wall protects bacteria from the external environment and keeps the contents of the cell together. Without a cell wall bacteria are not able to survive. Bacteria that are susceptible to cephalexin include Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, E. coli and several others. Cephalexin is used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are susceptible to the effects of cephalexin. Common infections that are treated with cephalexin include infections of the middle ear, tonsils, throat, larynx (laryngitis), bronchi (bronchitis) and pneumonia . It also is used for treating urinary tract, skin and bone infections.
I’m going to add baby glycerin sticks for constipation (funny diets, lack of exercise may cause clogs).
EOD Thank you. Would you say that either of these antibiotics have any particular advantage over Zithromax? I’ve heard that Zithromax is all around, the best general anti-biotic?
Kristy, I am really unable to answer that question. I would imagine the Zithromax is more of a broad spectrum antibiotic but perhaps a doctor or pharmacist in the gallery could give some information? The main reason I purchased the others was they were easy to get and inexpensive, and I knew they had a fairly decent shelf-life.
New Zealand is stockpiling oral flucloxacillin, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, cotrimoxazole and doxycycline in case of a pandemic. They are also getting many of those in an IV form as well as an IV cephalosporin (same class as cephalexin).
My children have always recovered quickly from pneumonias with erythromycin (a macrolide - same class as zithromax) so I am a HUGE fan. But some organisms are resistant (as with anything). I think the list the Inectious Disease specs drew up is based on likely resistance patterns - they’re out to cover both streps and staphs.
Some medication that are usefull to have around during influenza pandemic:
1. Most important - perscripton drugs for a month or two, that you personaly take. During pandemic situation people should avoid doctors and pharmacies if not nesesary, so it is best to have medication in reserve.
2. Meds for pain and fever releve such as paracetamol, ibuprofen …
3. Meds for cought releve - butamirat …
4. Some wide spectrum antibiotics - claritromicin, azitromicin , amoksicilin … Antibiotics can be used for various bacterial infections and if you have them handy, you avoid going to the doctor while there is many infuenza pations. Many people fear secondary bacterial pneumonia that could folow flu. Dont stockpile antibiotics. Rather take a pneumocok vacine.
Perhaps some words on tamiflu. Tamiflu is very expansive and its success aganst pandemic flu is questional. Viruses are known to quickly become resistant to them. If oseltamivir would be widley used, we can expect that virus would became resistant to this drug. There is also another type of antivirals for A type influenza - M2 inhibitors. Fast resistance of virus to this drug is also a problem, but they are much cheaper and widley available. They are called amantadine and rimantadine. Amantadine is also used for alzhimer desese tretmant.
A little late on my response here as I just now found and read this thread. IV fluids and supplies(tubing and needles) can be purchased without a prescription on Atlantic Medical Supply website. Also oxygen tubing via masks or nasal cannula. I have no interest other than a lot of research on the web to purchase these supplies for my family. As far as oxygen goes-I haven’t researched the availability of purchase from a medical/respiratory supply store here in my area. Will let you know if this is feasible anywhere without an Rx.
Also-I can give some guidelines on what to purchase for fluids, needles and oxygen masks if anyone is interested.Just let me know. :)
I’m not sure this is the right place to post this question but it didn’t seem worth starting a new thread for!!
I did a fair amount of training with horses in my younger days and one of the things that was drummed into us from day 1 was that if you were nursing a sick horse, you record everything. If you take its temp. you write it down, if you give medication you write it down etc. A vet visiting would likely want to know the details of what had been happening. As a result I have a habit of doing this if my daughter is ill. But I have never heard a doctor ask for this information when presented with a sick child. “He’s had a temperature for a day or so” says mum. “Ok” says the Doctor! End of story.
I know there are a lot of medical people that post here - can anyone tell me why doctors don’t want that info?
Can anyone give any experience or vouch for the reliabiltiy and quality of the on line pharmacy shown at 16:03? I might consider buying antibiotics but want to make sure it is a reputable firm. I am sure my Dr would not write an Rx, so the online doctor would be a go around. There was a company I saw somehere in Canada that did this kind of thing/
So who would the oldtimers on this site go with and what should I get? Thanks in advance.
Hoggie: After dental work, for example, I write down meds for myself, because especially at night, it’s hard to remember if I took one thing or another. With flu, it would be good to know how much fluid goes into the patient, too. (I guess we’re supposed to keep track of what comes out, too, but…) If more than one person were ill, it would be even harder to remember what you’ve done, imo.
The record would help to see if there’s improvement, too, if temps go down.
VandyRN, I have a question about Gatorade. A lot of folks seem to be purchasing it as a sort of pre-fab ORS; is Gatorade appropriate to this purpose? It occurs to me that the Gatorade might taste better, so it might be easier to get down a sick person who is less than completely rational. I keep thinking of my experience this past fall when my elderly father had his knee replaced and flipped out in the hospital from all the meds he was on; it was hard enough to get him to drink liquids he liked, much less salty water (among other reasons, he wouldn’t eat or drink anything because he was determined to get out of the hospital bed and walk home on the brand-new knee—a distance of about 20 miles!)
I’d appreciate any ideas you have about this issue, VandyRN. Thanks for your help.
Spam’s not indicated, right?
STH I’m not sure if the sugar is too much, or the potassium too little with Gatorade -Search; there may be discussions about why, but, it’s better than plain water. (I need to go make supper.)
STH - I bought Gatorade for just that purpose - I thought it would be easier to coax my kids with than home-made versions (there are recipes posted on this site). I used to work for the company that makes it. It is better than water if your body is low on electrolytes, which ill patients often are. For the average-joe-weekend-athlete playing softball, water is just as good. You can buy powdered Gatorade and mix with water - longer shelf life and takes up far less space. I also got some medicine droppers and am keeping a few extra sippie cups from my toddler thinking they might be needed for very ill patients to get them to drink.
My dh’s middle sister nearly died from dehydration in the 50′s and ended up severely mentally handicapped so I am especially attuned to this issue. I could care less about sugar in an emergency.
VandyRN: I’d like more info on the fluids, iv, etc. What, how much,when, etc.
Also, tried to get to link on Oral Rehydration Soluution Formulas posted above, but nothing is there.
VandyRN: if you are still monitoring, also, could you post a link to the Atlantic Medical Supply that you mentioned. I can’t locate it.
bump
oh rats! sorry anetd; there was something there once, honest!
(I also couldn’t find ORS formula on it’s own anywhere in the Indexes, not even listed on the dehydration page)
We had compiled quite a few versions, in metric, and not, where are they?
Peeking over to CurEvents’ Flu Clinic post #10 …”can use household liquids, preferably those that have been boiled, such as rice water or carrot soup. Ideally these drinks should contain starches and/or sugars as a source of glucose and energy, some sodium and preferably some potassium. A simple salt/sugar solution, if these ingredients are available, is also suitable for early oral rehydration therapy.
1 level teaspoon (5 ml) of salt should be mixed with 8 level teaspoons of sugar in a litre of drinking water. Molasses and other forms of raw sugar can be used instead of white sugar, and these contain more potassium than white sugar. Do not use too much salt. If the solution has too much salt the child may refuse to drink it . Also, too much salt can, in extreme cases, cause convulsions. Too little salt does no harm but is less effective in preventing dehydration. (A rough guide to the amount of salt is that the solution should taste no saltier than tears.)”…
…” The formula for ORS recommended by WHO and UNICEF contains:
3.5 gms sodium chloride 2.9 gms trisodium citrate dihydrate (or 2.5 gms sodium bicarbonate) 1.5 gms potassium chloride 20 gms glucose (anhydrous) The above ingredients are dissolved in one litre of clean water. WHO has recently recommended a change in the complete formula, replacing 2.5 gms of sodium bicarbonate with 2.9 gms of trisodium citrate dihydrate. The new formula gives the packets a longer shelf life and is at least as effective in correcting acidosis and reducing stool volume. Packets containing sodium bicarbonate are still safe and effective.”…
…”Foods high in potassium are important to restore the body’s essential stores depleted during diarrhoea. Such foods include lentils, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, pawpaw, coconut milk and citrus fruits.”…
I guess some places make packets of ORS you can mix at home, too. (Ask at local pharmacies if they carry or can order them?)
The “lite” salt sold in grocery stores might be useable to add potassium; I have some that says, Sodium 290mg, and Potassium 340mg, and Iodine 40% daily value per 1/4 teaspoon.
Hey, I also wrote out a formula from somewhere previously, and put it on the container: “1/2 teaspoon table salt, 1/2 teaspoon potassium chloride (lite salt), 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 4 Tablespoons sugar, 1 liter( just over a quart) water.
Writing down what you do, and when you do it, and what you need to do next when some one is ill is helpful (even if most doctors now don’t ask if you have been). Gets hard to remember things if you’re losing sleep, or more than one caregiver is on the case, or more than one patient.
crfullmoon, thank you! Also, does anyone have a link to where to buy iv’s and iv fluids?
Thread closed for length. New thread here.