Over-the-Counter Medications for Your Bug-Out Bag
You’ve probably read many articles about bug-out bags and what to put in them. If you included everything that everyone suggests, you’d need at least five suitcases. Last time I checked, it’s pretty difficult to lug five suitcases around.
Fortunately, most medications you might require after you’ve made your way out of Dodge are small and will fit easily in a bag. The difficulty might come in deciding which ones to include.
Obviously, your first priority should be the prescription meds you and your family members take on a regular basis. As I’ve suggested before, let your doctor know about your interest in preparedness and see if you can get him or her to keep your subscriptions filled three months in advance.
But what about over-the-counter meds? Which ones should you include and which can you live without? These are individual decisions, of course, and allergies need to be taken into consideration. But below is a list of 10 that most people will want to have handy. I’ve listed brand names, but you may prefer one of their competitors.
- Tylenol. Good for headaches (and there will be plenty of those during a crisis), this acetaminophen med is a reliable pain and fever reducer.
- Motrin or Advil. Also an anti-inflammatory drug, this ibuprofen med is great for pain and higher fevers.
- Benadryl. Ideal for hives and itching from rashes, which is more likely to occur in the wild. Keeps swelling down to a minimum.
- Hydrocortisone cream. Another good med for inflamed and itchy rashes, including those caused by eczema.
- Imodium. If you’ve ever had diarrhea away from home, you might put this anti-diarrheal med at the top of your list. Also helps relieve cramping.
- Neosporin. Helps prevent skin infections after you’ve been cut. Also effective following an insect bite or sting.
- Lotrimin. Works against yeast and fungal infections, including athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, etc.
- Dramamine. Good for motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and some dizziness.
- Sudafed. Relives congestion in the respiratory tracts and can treat mild asthma and bronchitis.
- Zantac. Treats heartburn and ulcers, and can also relieve hives.
Like what you read? There’s more where that came from. See how your stockpile stacks up… Click here!
What do you bring instead if your allergic to penicillin
As an RN, I think the OTC list is pretty good. I would emphasize the benadryl, as it can be used early to treat severe allergies like bee stings and a myriad of rashes caused by plants and food. It does the same things as sudafed and can (1) be given to pets and (2) be used as a sleep aid. I’m thinking about children here, as the adults will have to remain alert! Another must have is iodine tablets. They don’t take up much space and can prevent needing that Imodium. Perhaps a better anti inflammatory would be naproxen (Aleve), which can be taken less often (1 tab every 12 hrs vs 2 tabs every 6 hours) This frees up a little space in the EDC kit as well. I have naproxen, acetaminophen, benadryl, and a few multivitamins as well as some iodine tablets, Imodium, and caffeine pills. The pills are vacuum sealed with a label and individual pill description and instructions and placed in my portable FAK. My main FAK has duplicates plus a variety of antibiotics obtained from online fish stores.
One critical must-have item: pennecillin ! An antibiotic will save lives in a chrises situation. Get a bottle of fish antibiotics at your pet store.
40 years ago when my dad was diagnosed with diabetes the only insulin available was pig and cow insulin. When I was diagnosed 18 years ago, insulin had come a long way. Not sure what I would do if I ran out of “man made” insulin in a SHTF situation. Maybe extract it from cadavers, pigs or cows or maybe, “natural remedies” can enlighten us. I’m sure there are other people with similar questions.
Frank has given sound advice and has given you a bit of a head start. There are other medications and ointments that could and should be added, and I will offer a few that I carry and why I carry them. But first I want to remind you that any and all medication(s) need to be inventoried every 6 months and no later than a year. Why? Medication over time and depending upon its storage and age can become dangerous and impotent. This is why it is very important that you inventory everything you plan on using should you have to leave. That is to say that you must look at everything from your equipment, supplies, food stores and medication.
Here are a few extras that I have in my Bug Out Bag, BOB:
Betadine – solution or ointment – a bactericide effective against yeasts, mold, fungi, viruses and protozoans. It is used to disinfect deep cuts and wounds prior to surgery.
Iodine – it to is a bactericide effective against yeasts, mold, fungi, viruses and protozoans. It can also be used to purify water.
Aspirin – used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. At low doses Aspirin help prevents heart attacks, strokes, and blood clot formation.
Colloidal Silver, cream or solution – as a cream it is used as an antibacterial ointment to dress wounds, used in solution for water purification and in small doses taken internally can clear the body of internal diseases.
Sulfur powder – used as an antibacterial topical powder. It helps disinfects open wounds from infections.
Gold Bond medicated powder – temporarily relieves the pain and itch of minor cuts, sunburn, insect bites, scrapes, prickly heat, minor burns, rashes, foot powder to help prevent athlete foot fungus, dries the oozing of poison ivy, oak, and sumac. It is the zinc stearate in the talcum that makes it so beneficial.
These are just a few added medical remedies for your BOB. A little bit will help keep you healthy a larger supply for long term use will keep you safe and healthy until you can figure out what you need to do. I have these items and I don’t leave home without them.
bullshit why dont you do some homework on what those drugs do for you compared to natural remedies!
Ms. Garneau, It is one thing to say that you disagree it is another to tell the people what you would do. I live in the arid part of the United States. I don’t have the green woods that the East coast enjoys. This means that I do not have access to the same “natural remedies” that you may have. For that reason I must rely upon man made products to meet my medical needs “In a Hurry.” So the “homework” is to take what I have available and on hand instead of trusting in nature to have what I may need out in the wilds. Remember, your remedies are seasonal and I may have need now, not six months from now.
That is to say it is good to know where you can restock on natural remedies; but for all practicalities, I just want to get the Hell out of Dodge, now!
Wow – could you be a little more polite?
Many people don’t want or have the time, talent, knowledge, or ability to produce/procure so-called natural remedies. Many times they don’t even work as well (in my experience). Either way, it isn’t necessary to swear, or to be rude!