What is in your medicine chest? (NOT first aid)

[Anak]

I am particularly interested in what those who are full-timers have found to be most worthwhile to carry around.

I am not looking for the first aid type stuff, but rather what is most useful in dealing with germs/bacteria/viruses (however you want to categorize those things that make you sick without necessarily having any fun in the process).

I have The Varmints with me, and I have a personal theory of children and germs: Children love to collect things and trade them. Think baseball cards and Pokemon. Well germs are the ultimate in collectible and tradeable. You can trade them and yet still keep them. So children set about to collect them all. This is why you find them touching and even licking every public surface they can access.

Several times I have found myself hunting for Echinacea while traveling because one of The Varmints has picked up yet another cold, and dagnabbit I don't want them to share it with me. I am thinking this needs to become part of my regular gear. And it begs the question, what else am I missing which should go along with it.

I find peppermint is useful for an upset stomach, so that probably belongs in there.

I am not looking to pack up a whole pharmacy, but I would like to know what others have found useful.

What do you carry and why?

 

[billiardspintail]

I know this isn't the reply you were looking for, but I am a Type 1 Diabetic, so my medicine kit is full of goodies:

• Insulin
• Syringes
• Insulin pump Infusion sets
• Insulin pump sensors
• Emergency sugar: apple juice, apple sauce, sugar tabs, etc.
• Ibuprofen (really good in already treated High Blood sugar)
• Allergy medication (good at helping reduce blood sugar impact due to heightened immune response)
• Ketone strips
• Test strips
• Backup blood glucose tester

I'm sure I'm missing some.

 

[Desert Runner]

Beyond 400 rd. ammo can 1st aid kits (larger and sealed), i have the following in home, and i am in the process of putting together a gear bag beyond the basics. This would be transportable, but not a defined trauma kit. It would be more a 1st aid kit on steroids.

Multiple gauze rolls
'ACE' bandages x3
gauze pads
keflex/burn dressing sleeves
rolls of 1st aid/dressing tape
Multiples of band-aid sizes
antiseptic wipes
sissors-5 types for multiple applications
Stitching packs (wound closure/needles and cat gut)
hemostats
generic over the counter antibiotic cream (neosporin or tribiotic)
Bactrin antibiotic cream
Silver-dine ointment (burns and antibiotic)
Saline solution (wound washing)
Blood-Stop (clotting agent)
eye wash solution
alcohol
hydrogen-peroxide
pain pills- ibuprofen, Tylenol. aspirin
latex gloves
Israeli combat bandge-6 inch, need the 4 inch size!

Need to look into getting a chest-seal trauma bandage also!
Plus a compact tourniquet kit

If you google TRAUMA-BAG, they really hit you with $$$ for just a empty bag. You still have to fill it. The only redeeming feature is the storage lay-out where organization is made easier.

Of course your personal medicine would be another category, and any special necessities you or your travel companion would need. I know there is more i am forgetting, that would be helpful. If packed in a concise manner, the bag would not become cumbersome, but would be manageable like any piece of gear. In a group setting these items could keep a bad situation from getting worse, and mitigate complications until professional help arrives.

I am looking forward for more member input, where ideas from more knowledgeable people will add to the conversation.

EDIT:
I have prescription stomach medicine, Imodium, some HD anti-bionics, etc. I have to restock some
allergy and other things that seem pertinent from viewer suggestions here on the board. ALSO BENADRYL......a important over the counter medicine for food allergies or things like Bee stings.

Have a accident like a roll-over, where multiple people might be hurt, and suddenly you might not have as much medical supplies as you think.

 

[Get Out GO]

Besides my trauma kit, my first aid kit and "medicine box" are mixed. If you're close to civilization you obviously won't need a lot of this but we often camp where you're days away from a doctor or pharmacy. Medicine wise, these are the basics I usually carry;

- Malanil / Malarone (for Malaria areas)
- Azithromycin (broad spectrum antibiotic)
- Imodium / Lomotil (diarrhea)
- Buscopan Co (stomach / intestinal cramps)
- Dulcolax (laxative)
- Deselex (antihistamine)
- Fucithalmic drops / Sulphacetamide ointment (eye infections)
- Covacaine drops (ear infections)
- Lipids eye drops (for eye irritation)
- Voltaren tablets (anti-inflammatory)
- Ibuprofen / paracetamol (aches and pains)
- Otrivin nasal spray (sinusitis)
- Linctagon-C (colds and flu)
- Merthiolate spray (antiseptic)
- Betadine topical cream (antiseptic)
- Quadriderm topical cream (fungal infection)
- Anthisan topical cream (allergic skin reactions, stings and bites)
- Chloroxylenol (antiseptic liquid)
- Burnshield (hydro gel for minor burns)
- Citri-soda (antacid and urinary alkalinising agent)

Ps. this excludes first-aid items obviously, this is only the medicine part

 

[Anak]

Besides my trauma kit, my first aid kit and "medicine box" are mixed. If you're close to civilization you obviously won't need a lot of this but we often camp where you're days away from a doctor or pharmacy. Medicine wise, these are the basics I usually carry;

- Malanil / Malarone (for Malaria areas)
- Azithromycin (broad spectrum antibiotic)
- Imodium / Lomotil (diarrhea)
- Buscopan Co (stomach / intestinal cramps)
- Dulcolax (laxative)
- Deselex (antihistamine)
- Fucithalmic drops / Sulphacetamide ointment (eye infections)
- Covacaine drops (ear infections)
- Lipids eye drops (for eye irritation)
- Voltaren tablets (anti-inflammatory)
- Ibuprofen / paracetamol (aches and pains)
- Otrivin nasal spray (sinusitis)
- Linctagon-C (colds and flu)
- Merthiolate spray (antiseptic)
- Betadine topical cream (antiseptic)
- Quadriderm topical cream (fungal infection)
- Anthisan topical cream (allergic skin reactions, stings and bites)
- Chloroxylenol (antiseptic liquid)
- Burnshield (hydro gel for minor burns)
- Citri-soda (antacid and urinary alkalinising agent)

Ps. this excludes first-aid items obviously, this is only the medicine part

Awesome.

That is the sort of thing I am looking for.

Thank you.

 

[[DO]Ron]

Mine isn't as extensive... Really just consists out of anti diarrhea, a laxative, (for obvious reasons) Paracetamol and ibuprofen (both pain killers) and some salve against minor burns. Thats pretty much it..