Rxs in Quantity - How many and How?

In Rick's fantastic post:in this thread http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ad.php?t=10333
He discussed his medical back pack, which include this:

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Originally Posted by Rick

Medications
Vicodin 5-500 tablets
Cipro 500 mg – Adults
Amoxicillin 500 mg – Children
Flexeril 5mg

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Rick and everyone else: Let's talk Rxs for a minute. Everything else on your fantastic list is easily available if you have cash.... but the 4 above are available only by an Rx. So, let's just assume you know a MD (like Ken) who will ethically help you.

Next question... what quantity?
Because, if you want Cipro in case of an Anthrax outbreak, the recommended dosage is 500mg 2X/day for 60 days for each person effected/or in your family. That means if TSHTF, my household would need 480 pills. You can't get an Rx for that many, period.

Amoxicillin (I've got kids too) dosage is 250mg @ 3/day for 10 days (or 1/2 for 500mg) that's 60 pills for two kids and that's for only one episode. What if it lasts longer or a kid gets sick again?

Not mentioned above, but on my list is: Tamiflu (for Influenza or Swine Flu outbreak) you need 75mg @2/day for 60 days - that's 120 pills per person or, 480(!) pills... how do you get that?

And we haven't discussed Vicodin/Flexeril for minor pain, let alone heavy duty narcotics like Demerol for serious SHTF. Again, there are MDs who will RX emergency 10 or 20 pills, but that won't get you very far.

Now, I'm less than 1hr from MEX border and am planning my next trip to buy OTC several items that you need an Rx in the US. (I know the risks and have an idea what I'm doing... if you want to discuss this topic, start a different thread.) But we're still talking hundreds of pills... You can't legally take that many across the border and you can't (even in MEX) legally buy large quantities of Rx narcotics, or even Tamiflu for example. Cipro In MEX is OTC at about $1.50 per pill so that's $720(!) for a family of 4 (and you would have to buy it in 10 different locations and then get it across the border.) And I don't know about you, but I'm not smart enough (or is it dumb enough) to try to sneak that many across a US border.

So, with all of that said: those of you storing Rxs: Do you have 10-20 pills, or the hundreds required? And if you have hundreds, how do you get the quantity?

Well, let's put this in perspective. I'm not concerned about a bio event. Not that it can't happen or you shouldn't be concerned about it but that isn't my first priority. What I am concerned about is being out in the woods and breaking an arm or leg or be two days into the boundary waters and come down with an infection.

So I went to my PCP and stated my case. I don't want to find out on Tuesday that I've developed an ear infection (or whatever) and have to cut my trip short just to be prescribed an antibiotic. And I sure don't want to break a leg and lay there in pain any longer than I have to. I asked for something to take the edge off and still allow me to be functional so I can call 911, radio my position, signal my rescuers or whatever I can and need to do.

He wouldn't prescribe Morphine or Demerol. He has to be able to justify the narc scripts he writes and, as I said somewhere else, being knocked out or counting pretty clouds doesn't help my situation. I want to be coherent enough to do what I need to do I just don't want to deal with raw pain if I don't have to.

Fortunately, I have an established relationship with him. He knows I don't abuse medications. Second, he's an outdoor guy, too so he understands where I'm coming from. He had no problem writing the scripts for me. He knows we often take the grandkids with us so that's the reason for the Amoxicillin.

The flexeril is also a prescription but it's one that I always have so it gets added to the kit because it's just too good for sprains, especially back, not to have it along.

I have 12 of the Cipro which should get me through something like 10 days. I should be off the trail by then or, if the infection is getting worse then I'll definitely be off the trail.

I have 30 of the Vicodin. You can take a couple ever 4 hours so that works out to 2.5 days. The idea is rescuers should (hopefully) have located and retrieved me within that time.

I think there were 12 of the Amoxi's as well.

Since my insurance covers a portion of my scripts, cost wasn't a big factor for me.

Max, the dosage and duration for Tamiflu you have is wrong, here's a link to recommended doses at the Roche website.

http://www.tamiflu.com/taking/default.aspx

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Originally Posted by Rick

Well, let's put this in perspective.

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Thanks, perspective is good, obviously not what I was thinking, but a perfect explanation for your thinking.

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Originally Posted by Winnie

Max, the dosage and duration for Tamiflu you have is wrong, here's a link to recommended doses at the Roche website.

http://www.tamiflu.com/taking/default.aspx

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Winnie: You're right as far as standard use of the drug. If there's a WW pandemic, I read the recommended duration is 6 weeks:
http://www.roche.com/med_mbfstamiflu.pdf (see p1, 3rd bullet.)
(Which is scary because no way is there this much available.)

Got it Max! the 6 week dosage is a PEP. The liklihood of anyone (other than health workers) getting this dosage is very remote. I think WHO would advise traditional methods of containment first and using, in this instance Tamilfu to reduce symptoms, rather than prevent them. The trouble with the widespread use of these medications unneccesarily is the virus/ microbe may develop immunity, then we really would be stuffed!

Winnie: I agree with w/ everything. But I'm still wondering how to get enough of all of it.

Just thank your lucky stars you CAN get it! I can't even get any extra of my regular medication!
There's pros and cons to having a pharmacy available I suppose. As I'm not a doctor, I'm not sure it's such a good thing. But if you really want to have them, I see no reason why you shouldn't go ahead. We need one of our EMS folks to give you some advice.

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Originally Posted by TucsonMax

Winnie: I agree with w/ everything. But I'm still wondering how to get enough of all of it.

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TMax, you could make a few trips across the border (less than an hr. away isn't that bad) getting a legal quantity each time.

Please note that Tamiflu has a relatively short shelf life.

Benesse: I wish it was that simple... In MEX you can buy many drugs OTC that require an Rx in the US. However, you can't legally bring them across the border without a valid Rx from a US MD. Also, you can not bring-in Rxs for other people (even a spouse) even if you have a valid US MD Rx. Also, you can't bring in large/excessive quantities. And I don't want to even consider crossing the border w/o declaring whatever I've bought.. that's a federal crime. So one needs to look into the other options and possibilities to get them into the US. And, I'm no smuggler.

TM - I don't know how you'd do it legally. You could try talking to your doctor and perhaps get a script every three months or something like that. And just build up your supply. I have no idea how long they remain effective but I'm sure your doc can advise you. Probably a year but ask them for the real date. Some scripts will go bad in a relatively short time while others will last a very long time.

Antibiotics and some meds can be obtained from vet supply places like Revival Animal health or Drs. Foster and Smith. You can get inj. vials of PenG for $7, tetracycline, etc. not the narcs tho. You can get skin staples and stapler for around $8. IV, dental, surg equip also. If you know someone working in a dental office you might be able to get lidocaine/novacaine or a prescrip. from them.

You really wouldn't take vet drugs would you? Scares me and I'm fearless!!!!

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Originally Posted by Rick

You really wouldn't take vet drugs would you? Scares me and I'm fearless!!!!

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Isn't that where the expression - A little hair of the dog that bit you came from?:innocent:

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Originally Posted by Rick

You really wouldn't take vet drugs would you? Scares me and I'm fearless!!!!

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They've been tested on humans, so it's OK.

Now that right there is funny. I don't care who you are.

When I worked as vet tech at an emerg. animal hosp. the vets and techs took the antis all the time; keflex, amoxi, amp, cyclines, cefa, and the ointments too. Most came from the same co. producing human meds. Equip. too.

Maybe I've been ingrained by their media campaign but we've had a couple of docs on here that said don't do it. That's all I know.

linkmissing: Thanks... a very interesting idea.
BENESSE: I agree with you.

I wouldn't do take pet meds on a daily basis, but if TSHTF, I wouldn't hesitate.

I have a great PCP who goes hunting, fishing and ATVing with me. I am fortunate in that what I take I keep enough to wean myself off slowly. Don't think I will have to worry about cholesterol or blood pressure that ain't that bad to begin with. As for pain, took one potent pill and was out of it for a couple of days. As of now I don't take anything I have to have in that situation so I don't stock up on anything. I'm a lucky ole fossil I guess.