Antibiotics

dartanyon

dartanyon

Joined
May 10, 2002
Messages
705
None of my kits have any antibiotics in them and I sorta feel unprepared without them. Can anyone suggest something I can obtain that doesn't require a perscription and has a good shelf life?
So far my best antiseptic is the good old potassium permanganate.
 
Hi Dartanyon,

In the Netherlands ALL antibiotics are on prescription only, I don't know about the USA but your best gues would be to talk to your physician and explain the situation.
He will probably describe a wide spectrum antibiotic as it will need to be able to take care of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria infections.
There have been several threads about antibiotics. also about the one pill a day ones for a few days.
Do a search and you'll probably find them.

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera
 
Antibiotics are a pretty good idea in an extended outing senario.Greater than one week. I'd advise to just carry them for yourself though. Others may alergic to certain ones. i like Zithromax for this purpose. Its' a 5 day regiment of treatment , opposd to 10 day like many. Remember, when you start an antibiotic, finish the entire regiment, don't just take it for a couple of days...
Availibility is also a problem.( they are all perscription) speak to your family M.D/D.O, or Practioner. Be upfront with them about why you want them. Most of the time, they are understanding enough to give you a script for one regieme of the meds.
 
As Ravenn pointed out Zithrmax is good for this purpose. That's what I keep with me most of the time. Most of the doctors offices have a shelf of antibiotics to give as samples provided by the drug companies. Antibiotics are prescription only but are not controlled substances so I don't see why any MD wouldn't provide what you need. As Bagheera said just explain what you need it for...



Dean
 
An alternative for you to consider. Do a Google search for Vet Supply, you'll soon find many companies who sell antibiotics labeled for pet consumption instead of human consumption. I'm looking at 250 mg. caps of Tetracycline, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin all labeled for aquarium use, 100 tabs, $10-11. I've taken all 3 of these as prescriptions over the years. Pet grade meds might not be our first choice but if your doctor insn't keen on giving you a prescription, a $10 bottle of one of these pet supplies might find it's way into your medicine bag. Our Vet used to give us 6 packs of dropper-bottles of Amoxicillin to use on our abscess prone battle-cats, the bottles unmixed had a good shelf life, we'd mix the powder with water and administer to a battle-cat until it was gone. He told me that there wasn't much difference between the cat meds and human meds, said he'd take it rather than do without. YMMV, of course. These are legal to buy over the web in the US, no rules are being broken. But if all y'all start buying & smoking crushed horse tranquilizers and so on, you're on your own.
 
the Z-pac (5 day azithro regimen) is generally good for respiratory tract infections. For other infections, the course of therapy ranges from 3 -14 days. You can also use plain old erythromycin - much cheaper, has about the same spectrum of coverage.
 
Thanks for the replies as I value all of these inputs. Next step is to ask my GP or as a last resort, I'll check out the VET.
 
The problem with trying to carry one antibiotic to cover all
infections is that different infections require different drugs.
Your physician may be able to supply you with some Levaquin or
Cipro samples that would cover most infections until you could get
back to civilization. Coupled with a good topical antibiotic such
as Polysporin or Neosporin, it could treat most infections. The
real problem with these drugs is the cost. They are probably $4-5
or more each. Erythromycin or Zithromycin were mentioned and they
also have a broad spectrum of coverage, but they make many people
really nauseated. If you are not allergic to it, cephalexin
could be taken along (also requiring a prescription) for much less
money. It is available as a generic and it is cheaper. It covers
many infections, especially skin infections.
Hope this hasn't been too long winded. I work with these drugs
every day.

Mike, RPh.:)
 
Paddlefoot has given some really good advice.

It is good to remember that a lot of "new" antibiotics aren't really new. My understanding is that Zithromax has a different coating from E-mycin, which allows it to absorb more slowly, thus you only take one a day, otherwise they are very similar if not the same.

Another issue is, "Do you really have an infection requiring antibiotics?" Taken for a virus, all you are doing is promoting drug resistant strains. It's a long and complex subject, but if you don't need them you shouldn't take them. If you can't tell the difference, you shouldn't be deciding.

Also, humankind survived until the last 50-60 years without antibiotics. You won't necessarily die from pneumonia just because you don't have them. Having a tetanus vaccination and thorough cleaning are probably the most important things in wound care.

I'm not trying to say you absolutely shouldn't carry antibiotics, but you should have a good understanding of what you are going to need them for and how to use them. Discuss them thoroughly with you doctor.

Don't want to end up like this :barf: :)
 
And don't forget the simple clove of garlic. Anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-social. :D

I have used it as a topical and as a systemic with good results. Don't underestimate it just because it is a common kitchen spice.
 
Here is a tidbit of info I think I grabbed from a Usenet post.
For Upper and Lower Respiratory Tract Infections the PDR is recommending 1
to 2 grams per day given in 2 to 4 doses for an adult.

Example: 4 x 250 mg in the morning; 4 x 250 mg at night

I would strongly advise seeking professional medical attention, however, in
the case of an extreme emergency I hope this helps.

TETRACYCLINE: Adults 8 years and over
Adult DOSAGES: Tetracycline or Oxytetracycline.

1) Minimum adult dosage for the Tetracyclines =
500mg every four hours (q4h) x 60 days
This is a daily total of 3,000mg
Adult DOSAGES: Tetracycline or Oxytetracycline.

1) Minimum adult dosage for the Tetracyclines =
500mg every four hours (q4h) x 60 days
This is a daily total of 3,000mg

Hope it helps. This stuff can actually be picked up in pet stores. Also works on your sick fish ;o)

rjones
 
Here's a list I got from somewhere a while back. Great bilblography, I know.

Natural Antibiotics

Garlic
Echinacea
Goldenseal
Licorice root
Tea tree oil
Gotu kola
Bee pollen
Pau d'arco
Tumeric extract
Cayenne
Green tea

A personal note: I'm prone to upper respiratory infections, bronchitis and such (but only in the city?!). One winter I was experimenting heavily with Cajun and East Indian cooking. I never got sick that winter. I average two trips to a doctor and about a week long absence from work per winter. Could have been luck, could have been the wonders of gumbos and curries as both contain several of the above ingredients plus the almighty onion ;od Good luck.

rjones
 
You can get all your antibiotics at a pet store,stuff like,sorry if its not spelled right,amoxacilin,penacilin,tetracycling.I buy this stuff all the time,look where the fish food and stuff like that is and you can be suprised at what you will find.
 
While traveling in the US or any developed country I carry Zithromax.
For travel to third world countries either Cipro or Levaquin is my choice (it covers the pathogenic diarrheas). Finally if there is a risk of malaria or tick borne disease then Doxycycline would be the antibiotic of choice (and it is the cheapest). Doxy used to be the drug in Army and Air Force survival kits, but I don't know if it still is.
I would stick with antibiotics from the pharmacy perferable still sealed for better shelf life.
Hope this helps.
Tom Harris MD Specializing in Wilderness and Travel Medicine[/I]
 
And also you may check for essential oils:

Melaleuca alternifolia (bush tea tree) very very efficient external antibiotic, antifongic, antiviral. External use only, preferably diluted 1 to 10 in another neutral oil, especially on open wounds.
When you start using it, you do not stop for at leat a week, better 2 weeks, else you just build more resistant bugs.

Some other oils can be used internally, depending on affection, including lavender, (lavendula vera), Cypres (cypressus sempervirens)... etc

Some are researched for their skin regeneration effects (helicrhyse) and used in the states on deep burns etc...

Better read a book on it before starting to use them , some are toxic or hepato-toxic, so better not mixt them and take the wrong one, or too much of one.
Like in self prescribing classical chemicals you'd better know what you are doing. In time I find them more efficient than most antibiotics if taken after the first symptoms. With a pannel of 10 oils, you should cover most common affections.

The good thing is you won't need a prescription. The bad thing is better find some that are biologically cultivated and made if you do not want the effects of the distilled pesticided :( as well as the distilled oil.
 
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