By self-medication I mean not only medicating oneself, but the extent to which certain medications are available OTC and how we can get our hands on certain important medications.
I’m primarily referring to emergency survival medications (not daily prescriptions). Most importantly, it seems to me, would be Painkillers of various sorts.
What painkillers are available OTC and how long do they last? What are their relative strengths?
I’ve been thinking of this also in conjunction with the bug-out bag scenario. If one is single or if one has to evacuate alone it would be helpful to have certain pain relieving medications, for all sorts of reasons.
For many women there are the monthly reasons, but pain relief can also be emergency relief if it enables one to think clearly, calmly and keep their head on straight.
Moreover, are there any non-prescription painkilling meds that are nevertheless not difficult to obtain?
Any RN’s or other health care workers here know these answers?
This is copied from Dr. Woodson’s manual. (In his manual though it’s easy to read.)
OTC products to have on hand for home treatment of one person with severe influenza Table salt: 1 lb Table sugar: 10 lbs Baking soda: 6 oz Household bleach 1 gal10 Tums Ex: 500 tablets Acetaminophen 500mg #100 tablets Ibuprofen 200mg # 100 tablets Caffeinated tea, dry loose: 1 lb Electronic thermometer: #211 Automatic blood pressure monitor12 Notebook for recording vital signs and fluid intake and output Kitchen measuring cup with 500 cc (two cup) capacity Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25mg capsules # 60: 1 tablet every 4 hours as needed for nasal congestion, allergy, or itching.
Prescription products for home treatment of one person with severe influenza Tamiflu 75mg # 20: take two tablets daily for 5 (or 10) days for flu13 Promethazine (Phenergan) 25mg tablets # 60: take 1⁄2 to 1 tablet every 4 hrs as needed for nausea Hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Lortab-5) # 60 (5mg/325mg): 1⁄2 to 1 tablet every 4 hrs as needed for cough or pain Diazepam (Valium) 5mg # 60: 1⁄2 to 1 tablet twice daily as needed for anxiety, muscle aches, or insomnia
Thanks Jane… I do have his book somewhere, too!
I guess I’m thinking of more heavy duty painkillers, maybe valium, morphine? Morphine won’t be available except in hospitals, I’m sure.
Are there any OTC painkillers that could be as effective as heavier painkillers if you took enough?
And how would one get those prescriptions he mentions if for another person? I’m a bit clueless here…
ricewiki
Try the thread “Woodsons Medication Recommendations” Prescription drugs, especially things like Hydrocodone w/ACP (Lortab 5) are controlled substances, although understand they are available OTC in Canada. Would not think those things would be prescribed by any Doctor ahead of time.
These may be found overseas, possibily at some of the places that others have found Tamiflu. Do your homework and research some of them. Hydrocodone w/APC goes by a number of other names other than Lortab 5. Search one of the websites that have a directory of drugs and their characteristics. See the cautions regarding this drug, also discussed on the above Forum thread.
ricewiki
The latest news for the optimal effect with OTC pain relief is to alternate your two favorites. ie first dose acetaminophen. next dose ibuprofen etc. gina
ricewiki
Please remember… If it is for flu symptom, do not use asprin.
A caution for “upping” doses for OTCs. Some OTCs are prescription meds decreased in strength for OTC use, however, increasing any drugs can be toxic, particularly when using multiple drugs. For example, Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is now in many OTC drugs, too much of it is toxic to the liver and can kill you, a daily dose should NOT exceed 4000mg (or any combination of 8 pills containing 500 mg each) regardless of the source, so such things as Tyleno 3 and other drugs that use it should be tracked for total amounts. High doses of a aspirin and NSAIDS can cause bleeding. Be sure and read all labels, as ingredients aren’t always obvious.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I’ll have to read back through Woodson’s thread. Didn’t pay much attn first time because I wasn’t very impressed with his little preparedness guide.
Go back and read Gratt’s guide. It is pretty thorough.
Also not mentioned are anit-diareah pills like Imodium. A great deal of attention has been put on the impact on the respratory system, but many patients also suffer severe diareah and vomitting. This can cause severe dehydration and possibly death as well.
For Kids, Tylenol makes a melt-away version and both Tylenol and Advil have liquid versions which would be easier to administer to very ill patients unable to swallow pills.
RE: using kids’ liquid Motrin/Tylenol on adults
The active ingredient per dose is quite small, to accommodate children’s smaller systems. So getting an adult equivalent dose can mean taking almost an entire bottle of the children’s version. In other words, if you stocking these meds with an eye toward dosing a sick adult, make sure you have several bottles, because you’ll go through them fast.
there are NO otc pain meds that will be of great benifit to you. If it is good for killing pain, most Docs wont prescribe it for you for more than a couple of days use anyway. They are afraid of pill junkies and the feds crawling up their rear end. You’re stuck with the triad, tylenol, motrin, aleve. If you want pain control, think cowboy days, think shots of wiskey.
whiskey… good idea, Retired!
I guess that would explain whiskey’s presence in the list of items from 1918 that helped people survive — recall this discussion on another thread — were wonderign, why whiskey? well, pain relief ?
Mrs. B - I was planning on liquid for children, but plan to check out any possilble adult versions the next time I’m at the drug store. I just worry about trying to get meds into a very ill patient and gridning the pills up, even mixed with something, tastes pretty terrible.
ricewiki: Personally I have quite a stash of Vicodin and also a full prescription of percocet hidden away. I know somebody is going to post and tell me that these are CONTROLLED substances and are habit-forming. I know that, the doctor and the pharmacist have already told me. I am the one who decided to live with the pain so I could keep these on hand for a true emergency.
A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down in the most delightful way. Mary Poppins. Syrup, experiment.In the past high proof alcohol and opiates where the base of a lot of patent meds. I think even Lydia Pinkhams was laced. A lot of genteel invalids doped themselves into head nodding oblivion. Nothing is new under the sun. There was a physicians list of meds used for the flu, and for pnuemonia, and how effective it was, I can’t recall the thread, but it was about the 1918 pandemic. Some things worked. I think some of the dangers were just after apparently recovering and before a fatal pneumonia manifested itself. Many indians who were nursed by missionaries in Canada had appently recovered, and released fell ill and died in a day. For those who don’t like whiskey or wine, the good old standbye Manishewitz Concord Grape, or a wine made from elderberries. One can get sloshed nicely even with a gallon of inexpensive wine that is too sweet by some peoples standards.So I would recommend a gallon of Gallo red for those who don’t drink normally.Eventually it might become wine vinegar? Not sure. I think I have an opened gallon that has been hanging around for 10 years, I’ll check and see.
>been hanging around for 10 years- Don’t bother Lily if you have any regard for your nose-or for that matter anyone in 5 mile radius.
Hillbilly
Good idea. I’m not a drinker normally but I’m thinking of this now for just this emergency prep reason. Be sure to check the expiries on your meds, though, I can’t imagine they’d last forever…
Getting back to the main topic of the thread, though (I didn’t totally mean for this to turn into an alcohol/painkiller discussion, though I think that’s very important to include)…
What has everyone included in their personal home first-aid kits aside from the obvious things that most will think of?
eg., what unusual or often-forgotten items have you included? Or have thought to include that you haven’t seen anywhere else, or think that everyone should include?
Just thought this would be a good way to “checklist” against others’ first aid kits — but I’m just looking for the unusual items, not “10 gauze pads” etc. etc.
I’ve found http://www.equipped.org pretty helpful so far, there’s tons on there.
Drawing salve (PRID brand) is one thing I always keep on hand. It comes in a little orange tin about 1.75″ across, is made by Walker Pharmacuetical of St Louis, MO (USA). The stuff looks like tar, but works great when you have a tiny splinter you can’t see, boil that won’t come to a head, etc. Just put a dollop of the drawing salve on the sore spot, cover with a bandaid, and repeat twice a day until whatever’s in there comes to a head and you can pop it out (usually takes 2–3 days of treatment). If you can’t find it in the 1st aid section of your local drugstore, ask for it, well worth the $2–3 price. You’ll use this stuff more than you would imagine.
Bag Balm is another item I keep on hand. Works wonders on diaper rash (in fact it is what my pediatrician recommended almost 30 years ago!), rashes, any kind of skin irritation. Comes in a square green tin, the stuff looks kinda like a yellowish, hardened petroleum jelly. Made by the Dairy Association Co., Inc of Lyndonville, VT (USA). Inexpensive and available in most drugstores (and feedstores too).
Spenco 2nd Skin bandages, and Spenco Quick Heal hyaluronan ointment. This ointment, though a little pricey, is the greatest thing ever invented to get burns and any tough-to-heal wounds healed up. When all else had failed, this is the stuff that healed a 2″ wide, 1/2″ deep ulcer on my foot from a brown recluse spider bite. It will heal things when nothing else has worked. The Quick Heal looks like a watery clear jelly when it comes out of the tube. Great stuff!
Potato starch! I learned this trick several years ago when researching products that stop bleeding. It is made commercially as TraumaDEX, but you can buy potato starch in the specialty flour section of your grocery store. You can also use just plain old instant mashed potato flakes (also from the grocery store), but they work best if you pulverise them a little first (grinding between your fingers as you’re sprinkling it on works, but why bother when you can get a big sack of potato starch that’s already finely ground for about $2.00???). Sprinkle it on a wound that won’t stop bleeding, and the blood almost instantly clots. It will look like a mess but is very effective. Put some in a pill bottle or such and keep always on hand in your first aid kit.
A mylar space blanket. Wrap around a patient to help prevent shock, use as a shelter, as a liner inside a sleeping bag in super-cold conditions, as a tarp over a person to help reflect hot sunlight away.
A good magnifying glass.
One of the things I have added to my OTC prep items is the night time Tylenol, or equivalent. I have severe arthritis at times, and it helps me get through the night. Better than what the doc prescribed. I figure if I’m asleep, then I’m not really aware of being in pain. :) My Mother also suggested a tablespoon of brandy for deep coughs, mixed with lemon juice and honey. Might be a wive’s tale kind of med, but the brandy will help to relax your chest muscles.
Ultram not a narcotic so docs are a little less paranoid Rx it
Old thread - Closed to increase Forum speed.