Dec252011
Ask The Outback Doc: What OTC products should I stock up on?
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PDFVisit The Outback Doc’s website, Outback Medicine. Look for more, “Ask The Outback Doc” columns here on The Survival Mom.
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Stocking up on plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplies is a very important part of preparedness. The availability of medical supplies will certainly affect how and what you are able to do for your patient, like this fact or not! Another consideration is that each treatment category and problem requires many specific and different things to have on hand, from tongue depressors to otoscopes to blood pressure cuffs to whatever, many different medications included. Fact is, the list of things we have to have on hand and in supply to treat patients is enormous!
You should definitely get as much as YOU can get in this category and afford today. Always stock up on:
- Pepto-B (generic Bismuth is just fine, too)
- Mineral Oil
- Epsom’s Salts
- Bacitracin
- Neosporin
- Alcohol
- Hydrogen Peroxide
- Witch Hazel
- Contact Lens Solution
- Nasal Spray, Afrin,
- Primatene Mist*
- Robitussin
- Acetaminophin/Tylenol
- Ibuprofen
- Zantac/Ranitidine
- Fiber like Metamucil & Benefiber
- A hoard of organic-natural (i.e. never “Centrum”!) multi/B-vitamins
- Vitamin C
- Aspirin
- Pedialyte
- Mag Citrate…and many more!
Buy these now because they won’t be there when the SHTF, I promise!
Listen to my interview with the Doc:
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(14) Readers Comments
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Michele
While travelling home from a missions trip to Ukraine, my husband experienced severe gastro-intestinal distress. After two days at home with no relief of symptoms, he decided to see his doctor. The Dr. requested a stool sample and sent it for testing. In the meantime, he prescribed antibiotics for my husband. My husband tends to have trouble with antibiotics so he asked if there was any other treatment. The doc told him to go home and "drink a bottle of Pepto" in the course of the day. So he did. Two weeks later, my husband was at work when he received a frantic call from his doc. The lab report had finally come back and my husband had E. coli. No further treatment was needed, however, because the Pepto had handled it. That stuff is amazing.
Donna
I've been wondering about this very topic. The list is very helpful, and I'm already on my way to stockpiling some of the right things.
Dan
An explanation for some of these would be appreciated. For example, is the contact lens solution only for those who wear contacts, or does it have an additional use like an eye rinse or something?
TheSurvivalMom
Dan, I'll ask the Outback Doc to answer this, but I know that saline solution is helpful for cleaning out wounds and eye injuries.
Paul the podiatrist
Sterile Saline excellent for cleaning wounds and eye irrigation.
JimT
I have several little bottles of Murine for washing eyes.
Citizen X
A few more things to add to the list would be hand sanitizer, stay away from alcohol based products, they’re pretty much worthless and have little to no residual protection. I use this http://www.freshcleanse.com/ . Also get some Tee Tree Oil, it’s great for minor burns, poison oak and a load of other ailments. A neti pot or sinus bottle is great for keeping your sinuses flushed instead of using Afrin. As far as Vitamin C, well you should read this before running out buying a bunch. http://www.ascorbicacid.net/ The one thing this article fails to mention is that synthetic Vit. C is made from high fructose corn syrup and acetone, yum.
Stephanie
I would also add that there are some OTC things that "girls" might want to stock….
Like some Monistat – yuck I know, if you needed it and couldn't run to the store it'd be pretty dang handy to have it huh?
How about a pregnancy test – you don't have to get the expensive ones. Just a couple of cheap ones will work. And ummm if you don't want to have those you'd better get some other OTC preventative measures, they're cheap and/or available free at clinics. Might as well. Human nature doesn't have a pause button.
This goes for guys and something to treat jock itch with – I have heard that some simple creams that treat athletes foot will also treat jock itch – IF you don't want to prep up on something specifically for it.
This might be an issue if we are conversing water and bathing less frequently.
And then baby powder ( you can always use corn starch too) helps with any itch.
Joe
A case of the "Gold Bond Medicated Powder" preferably the large size bottles.
Tincture of Benzine and Lots and Lots of Moleskin bandages – comes in handy when a tenderfoot isn't used to walking for miles on end.
"Carmex for Coldsores" – does absolutely nothing for coldsores but it's an excellent skin balm/moisturizer.
"Q-Tips" – cotton swabs – get a couple cases of these.
800mg Motrin (Ibuprofin) 90 day supply. Max dosage is 2400 in a 24 hr period.
Johnson's Baby Shampoo – to clean wounds. A case or two. You don't need to use super harsh chemicals to clean wounds. When you do that – you're also killing off some good things. Just wash the area with the tear free baby shampoo thoroughly and whenever you change a bandage.
Tampons, Maxi pads, for off label use as bandages.
Kerlex, Quick Clot, Israeli Battle Bandage – Combat Field Dressing: These provide absorption and compression of the wound, they're sterile inside the package.
** Keep your bandages in your first aid kits or aid bags OUT of the sterile packaging. If you do have to use these bandages in an emergency, it will be done in a hurry, your hands will be covered with warm blood (sort of like warm motor oil – try opening a bandage wrapper under these circumstances) Worry about sterility during recovery. You must first stop the bleeding.
Pain relieving burn gel; lots of it. Get burned and don't have it, you'll wish you did.
You're mileage may vary on this one… but DMSO is a topical anti inflammatory used on horses. Read up on it.
P.P.E. i.e., gloves flame resistant, ballistic eye protection (should cover the entire ocular opening), knee pads, 6 ft long by 14 inch wide scarf (use a fabric you can keep next to your skin – thick cashmere is ideal) If you're a big man get an 8 foot long scarf. A scarf will keep the sun off your neck, the cold out, the dust out of your mouth, the wind out of your ears, prevent hot brass from spent cartridges from giving you brass hickies. Protect your sensors – eyes, ears, nose. I bought the most expensive battle tested hearing protection I could afford. It helps me hear better and at the same time protects my ears from loud impulse noise.
Medical care will not be the same, therefore "Preventative Medicine" is your friend – take care of your self first – you're worse than useless if you don't. Clean your clothing, wash your hands, feet, head, face, etc. Keep your living area clean and free of rodents. Learn about and learn to conduct composite risk management as part of every plan. Have a plan. Fail to plan; fail to survive.
Donna G.
Why never Centrum Vitamins?
J. Hubbard, M.D.
Great list. Thanks
LizLong
Black Cohash (for women of a certain age – and younger than you'd think) – it's herbal
Tylenol PM or other sleep aid
Stephanie
Please do not use the Murine or Visine as an eye rinse if they contain tetrahydrozoline or imidazole. You should only use these as directed and no more. Tetrahydrozoline and imidazole both are vasoconstrictors which can cause a number of nasty problems, from damaging the blood vessels in the eyes to a spike in blood pressure to chest pain, mental status changes and respiratory depression (as an ICU nurse, I have seen a couple of cases of this. Also, both of these are very dangerous when taken orally, even in small amounts. I know that is not its intended use but you would be surprised what people do with their meds!). Sterile saline solution is useful as an eye rinse.
labbie1
Hi! Just found your site and I have the same question as Donna G. Why no Centrum?
I would add Vet Wrap. It is like the wrap they use on people when you get blood drawn and they put the stretchy stuff that sticks to itself around your arm rather than using a bandaid but it is usually wider and MUCH MUCH cheaper! Get it at Farm stores.