Prescription Medication

Sitting here thinking today, as I give my kid his dose of medication for bronchitis, I don't have enough prescription drugs stocked for a SHTF event. Then I look at my parents who are now getting old and take about 30 pills a day to get by, they have a stock but not more than 30 days. Anyone else have thoughts on stocking of prescription meds?

I have the basics down, was a EMT many moons ago and still keep the emergency supplies on hand to handle everything from a cut to CPR

 

I've noted that different meds have different optimal storage temps listed on them. They vary quite a bit. Keep them as close to their optimal temp. and I exspect they will last way longer than their stated expiration date. This is because if something is not supposed to be refrigerated or frozen the shelf life is usually figured on room temp of 70 F. Remember that shelf life of grains and a lot of foods double by lowering storage temp from 70 to 60 F

 

We typically don't use prescription drugs - we use herbal alternatives if feasible. For instance, when my daughter was little and came down with a nasty case of bronchitis, the antibiotics the pediatrician gave her didn't help at all (actually seemed to make it worse and stumped the dr). I found a pleurisy root/wild cherry bark/slipper elm root blend that cleared it in a matter of a couple days much to the doctor's absolute astonishment.

That's not to say we don't use chemicals at all, mind you. I have a good supply of various headache meds (acetametaphen, aspirin, ibuprophen, and Excedrin) on hand, a supply of naproxen (prescription) left over from a script the doc gave husband for his herniated discs (he can't take it because it makes his heart race but it works wonders when my arthritis flares up!), and things like guafanesin (expectorant) and anti-biotic ointment, Vicks, other common old-fashioned type of remedies. They're right next to the goldenseal (anti biotic/anti viral and anti fungal orally or topically), tea tree oil (anti everything topically), activated charcoal (poisoning and upset tummy) and a few other stand bys.

~Falcon

 

One thing that can still be done as far as a stock of some of the medsis to go to a farm supply or pet store. We get a lot of our first aid stuff there like coban that at the drug store you pay say $5 for a roll 4"x15' you can get at the farm supply store (for horses) made by the same company and the same stuff for about $4 for a roll 4'x30'. You can also get syringes and antibiotics for IV use or oral, though the oral ones are huge for normal doses. They are also typicaly made by the same companies that make the ones for human use but cost a fraction of the price when packaged for animal use. It has been quiet but common practice for farmers for a LONG time when sick to use the antibiotics they stock for their live stock on them selves and as long as doseing is correct and there are no alergies then, the same as if from the Dr, then it works just the same since its the same stuff.

As far as most of the other Rx stuff, like say BP meds and so on, the only good way I would know of to build up a supply of them would either be the mail order/online stuff from Mexico or Canada or to learn about herbal equivelents.

 

The above posts have some good options for those willing to pursue them. For what it's worth, here is my take:

To begin with, you can't prepare for everything. Accept this and move forward with what you can do.

For short term SHTF: Stock as much as you can and rotate often. 2-3 months would be more than enough to make it through something as bad as Katrina. If it must be kept cold, figure out how to keep a fridge going when the power goes out. Get some training before this point.

For TEOTWAWKI: Use your short term stock until its gone. Attempt to substitute herbal/natural meds after your stock runs out. Accept that some with a serious medical condition which requires medication for life are not going to make it. Help them to be as comfortable as they can be, hold their hands, talk to them, say a prayer. Maybe you'll get lucky.......

For others that live past this point preventive medicine is the best medicine. Police your garbage and sewage so that disease is kept at a minimum. Wash your hands before you eat, after you use the restroom, when they are dirty from work or play, and before touching someone who is sick or hurt. Bath regularly and wash your clothes at least once a week. Herbal/natural medicine will help some, but there is going to be a long learning curve before we can expect the same results as modern medicine. I would start looking at herbal medicine now to get a jump on it. Second reminder to get that training.

Just my .02,
phishi

 

Re: Prescription Meds & EXTREME Cleanliness = DISASTER

I'd have to AGREE with your above comment Phishi.
The part where I DON'T, is when you start getting into the "modern extremism of cleaning/washing" (anti-bacterial soaps, BATHING REGULARLY & so on...)<--That's what has WEAKENED MODERN MAN's IMMUNE SYSTEM. If you don't EXPOSE yourself, you will weaken, become more suseptable & lack hardiness.

I also believe that a survivalist who's really into survival,
won't rely on mass produced synthetic meds... They will
BOOST THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEM, PRACTICE PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE,
and LEARN/EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT NATURAL ROUTES & METHODS WHICH WILL BE WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE LONG TERM.
The BEST time to start is NOW!
Just my 2 cents.

~Wildernessgal~
( WHO LIKES TO TAKE CONTROL OF HER/FAMILIES HEALTH :
doesn't wash fresh garden vegetables fruits or wild edibles, does ALOT of fermenting/catching of wild yeasts, never preserves/kills the nutritional value of food by modern canning, has NEVER washed an udder before milking, leaves fresh milk sitting out for days without refrigeration, doesn't do much housecleaning (<--no storeboughten cleansers as they are super dangerous/'cause cancer)
& OMG that = 's we are never sick )

P.S.- If you want to avoid the FLU, harvest & use YELLOW DOCK <--- trust me it is HIGHLY EFFECTIVE!

 

I agree with most as far as things such as the common cold, flu, etc. but my Dad has heart problems and he has enough to get by for some time, which is good, just something to think about

 

Re: RAW HONEY for THE HEART, & etc...

Hey no offense S.E., but one of the GREATEST things ever for THE HEART is ALL NATURAL RAW HONEY (from naturally raised bees which were fed their own honey & not sugar water laden with synthetic garbage/drugs).
REAL MEDICINAL HEALING HONEY will burn the back of your throat after consuming, unlike the mass produced, commonly found low-quality pasteurized sugar fed storebought junk they call - honey.

http://www.stakich.com/hfolder/honeyinmedicine.htm

Here are 2 GREAT SOURCES BELOW:

http://www.stakich.com/hfolder/honey.htm

http://www.reallyrawhoney.com/healthfacts.php

So many people are so FEARFUL & follow MODERN MEDICINE, which is absolutely horrifying when you think that they NEVER ACTUALLY FIX/HEAL PROBLEMS & only want to keep repeat customers for $$$$$$$.
What's harming people is "PROCESSED FOODS/LACK OF EXCERCISE" and if you eat lots of raw garlic and medicinal herbs like CLEAVERS TEA (<--it's a blood cleanser which is very purifying & etc...) you will truly see a difference in your health. Raw Milk is also something which is very healing to those who have a wide-variety of HEALTH ISSUES... that is RAW MILK (UNPASTEURIZED from naturally raised dairy animals which are natural/pasture raised). Maybe you should look into it. I think that if one is into survival you'd want to do reseach to maintain yourself/family without having to rely on a system which is absolutely failing,dysfunctional & ineffective... in my opinion.

I've had SEVERE ARTHRITIS & BONE PROBLEMS since I was born. Also had a very crooked leg. Around 12yrs. it was beyond painful and I had hurt so very badly. My mother decided to try going to the doctor & all they could do was tell me the answer was in MEDS!!!! Do you know that through the years I've healed myself by DIET CHANGE!!!! INCREDIBLE, but the body will heal itself... I even had SEVERE CARPAL TUNNEL & was told that the ONLY ANSWER WAS MEDS/SURGERY. Well ofcourse, I chose NONE... and instead I went through all of my hubbie's MASTER HERBALIST BOOKS reading that raw garlic is ANTI-INFLAMMATORY. Well I put 2 & 2 together and ate raw garlic everyday for 1 whole year. Do you know that I NEVER ATE MEDS, NEVER HAD SURGERY and haven't had anymore problems at all. I am so healed and can once again brush my hair, sew, cook, work in the garden/orchard, enjoy the outdoors (which is my passion) and etc.. which I couldn't do before. I've always tried THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX,
and most of the time when I am not happy with something I EXPERIMENT,/RESEARCH and come up with ALTERNATIVES WHICH I/WE (my family) LIKE SO MUCH BETTER/FIND TO BE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE.
Two years ago my grandpa died from using an extreme amount of MEDS, then I had another family member who tried an experimental drug and died shortly thereafter. Sometimes it seems like the world is a BUNCH OF GUINEA PIGS and they end up with so many more problems than they started out with after consuming MEDS. I shall say a prayer and hope for the best for you, your father and all of the others ASKING THE SAME QUESTION. I will also hope that you will all find better resolutions which will also be more healthful and maiNtainable in a S.H.T.F. Situation.
Best of luck to ya & HERE'S TO EVERYONE'S HEALTH!
Sincerely,

~WILDERNESSGAL~

P.S.- Always remember that no one will LOVE YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AS MUCH AS YOURSELF & DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING FROM $$THEM$$... ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN DO BETTER.There are options and Naturopathic Doctors out there who can get you going down the right track. Once you get going and learn what you need to do, you can very easily maintain yourself, if you want to. Hopefully your DAD isn't too far gone and damaged by MEDS???

 

WG: How has the "modern extremism of washing/cleaning" weakened our immune systems?

This question is not to start a flame, but to understand where you are coming from and what information you might have concerning this topic.

phishi

 

Everytime your body is exsposed bactria/viruses it builds anti-bodies to fight the bactria/viruses and betters your immune system. If your not exsposed to those things, through using anti-bactria soap/harsh cleaners your body never builds the anti-bodies. The less your body is exsposed to the less it has to fight off, therefore the weaker your immune system is.

OGM

 

http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/795_antibio.html

From
The Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Infections


Barbara E. Murray, M.D., of the University of Texas Medical School at Houston writes in the April 28, 1994, New England Journal of Medicine that simple improvements in public health measures can go a long way towards preventing infection. Such approaches include more frequent hand washing by health-care workers, quick identification and isolation of patients with drug-resistant infections, and improving sewage systems and water purity in developing nations.

 

For those on maintenance meds for things such as asthma, blood pressure, diabetes, etc...

Most insurance will give you one month's supply at a time. However, they don't usually make you wait exactly 30 days before refilling. I got in the habit of refilling meds as early as possible - usually around 23 - 23 days after the last refill. Eventually, I had a back stock of meds.

I agree with Phishi that prevention is the best medicine. Many problems of 'aging' - like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc - can be reduced with weight loss, exercise and good nutrition.

WG I love what you say about not doing much housecleaning. I don't either. Not so much out of conviction, like you, but more out of laziness. But I do agree with you that more exposure to buggies increases our resistance.

 

I dont have any links to it but I know there was even a report on TV a while back from the medical comunity mentioning that the anti-bacterial soaps being used CONSTANTLY had the effect of weakening the imune system to a degree and also added to the rise in drug resistant bugs, about the same as OVER perscribing/use of antibiotics.

I think a good example of the truth to what WG was saying can be seen simply by looking at the aversage farmer/rancher who will walk through feed lots daily and be up to their knees in manure and such but rarely get sick as opposed to folks who live in urban areas who are exposed to large amounts of animal waste and then get sick.

I DO however see that the best coarse of action IMHO is moderation. While not being obcessive about washing ALL the time and thus allowing some exposure in order to build up resistance, I also would have to agree that digging around in the garden where you had spread a BUNCH of manure for fertalizer then not bothering to wash your hands (even if it wasnt with anti-bacterial soap) before eating would be a bad idea. I would also say that any time you had any open wound or sore (even say a blister) that it would be best to take more care to keep it clean.

 

We do wash our hands when we come in from working out side but we never buy anti-bacterial soap. Are we going to roll around in a manure pile, no. Have I gotten manure on an open wound, yes but haven't died yet. I don't go out of my way to get manure on open wounds, or on myself for that matter, but it happens on a farm.

OGM

 

On a related note, it has been medically 'suggested' (I've seen reports but the mass media didn't really make a big hubbub about showing them), that our increased predeliction for central AC and central heat has significantly increased the onset of asthma and other respiratory ailments, especially among children. In fact, it has been 'suggested' that central AC and heat has directly caused (accompanied by the now popular instance of inside recess/playtime instead of outside) the near pandemic of asthma in children in the US.

That's kinda scary, don't you think? But it goes along with the exposure thing. If you're not exposed to the naturally occuring bacteria/virii, etc., especially when young, then you're simply not only going to not be able to fight off infection as well, you're not going to have built-in immunity to possible mutations of your own body later.

*Only* reason there is a small bottle of anti-bacterial soap in my household right now is daughter got a tattoo a few weeks back and was told to wash it with the a-bac soap to keep infection down.

~Falcon

 

OK, I have heard from everyone but for whom the question was asked. She formed her response in a certain way and I am curious as to why she, not anyone else, did so. Specifically, I am looking to understand what she, not anyone else, refers to as "the modern extremism of hand washing".

Until WG responds, again, not anyone else, I don't feel that I can respond properly. I don't want to appear to be a jerk, but it was a specific question posed to a specific person. I do not feel that I can address anyone else until I understand what she meant.

WG, you are welcome to take all of the time you need to respond. I do not feel that you should be rushed or that I am impatient for your response.

Everyone else who posted my screen name and quote followed by what you think WG would have said, kindly let her speak for herself. While I do value your opinion and will seek to engage you on what you have said, I do not feel that I can until I understand what WG meant. Please feel free to move the post forward at its own speed, but do attempt to keep it on topic or start a new thread if need be.

Thank you,
phishi

 

I do understand that people clean way too much...and all of the reasoning listed..I really do! Promise...

But after a bout with MRSA last year...and 3 subsequent surgeries to excise the site of infection....and meeting a 28 yr old that lost his leg below the knee as it went in his bones?

I am very careful with hand washing...sanitizing ..and what I come in contact with...It will make a believer out of you...
I also don't have long nails anymore...

After cleaning what I walked in to here? OMG...I can't tell you how bad this house I "inherited" was....there are no words...a couple of you on here know what I went through though....

12 yrs of floor nursing in a hospital and seeing what happened to those who didn't wash their hands frequently, well....I wash my hands a LOT...

 

The reason I answered for her is because she is my wife and I knew what she was refering to. She hasn't been on the computer much the last couple of days.

OGM

 

WildernesGal, How do you eat raw garlic everyday? Do you mix it into something to make it more palatible? Is raw garlic that much more better for you than cooked garlic?

 

Yes raw garlic is much better than cooked, because when you cook garlic it loses it's medicinal value. We just eat it like you would an apple.

OGM