First Aid: Prescription Meds

[CrzyTrekker]

Wondering if any emergency prescription meds are being carried by Roksliders.

In the past I've carried the following items, and am going to add a prescription pain killer this year. My intent is to be able to effect a self-rescue if necessary. These items fit inside a small kifaru pullout and only weight a couple ounces.

1. Immodium A-D (Anti-Diarrheal)
2. Benadryl (Anti-Allergy)
3. Zofran (Anti-Emetic (vomiting & nausea))
4. Azithromycin (Antibiotic)
5. Tylenol and Motrin
6. very small roll of duct tape
7. blister kit

What prescription meds do you carry/have you seen used in the backcountry?

 

[Becca]

I overhauled our first aid kid last spring, and pared it down to right at 11oz (you can see the thread here: http://www.rokslide.com/forums/showthread.php?2412-First-aid-emergency-kit-overhaul ) I coped the list below to show what we currently carry with us.

Everyone has a different opinion abut what you need/don't need to have along. I am trying to keep the weight down, while still planning for contingencies. Keep in mind that many of our trips are fly-in or way off the road system...running back to town for supplies or emergency dental work isn't a realistic option, or at the very least ends the trip. Also keep in mind that we carry other survival gear (fire starting material, para cord, lighters matches, sat phone, etc) elsewhere. Because my leg sometimes still bothers me some when I pack heavy loads, I usually have a small bottle with Tylenol and ibuprofen in my bino pouch.

Medical Supplies
Moleskin 1 4x4" piece
Large Band aids-4
Small band aids-4
Non adherent dressings- 2
4"x4" gauze pads-4
2"x2" gauze pads-2
Triple antibiotic ointment packets- 4
Alcohol pads-6
Sting relief pads-2
Cotton tipped applicators-2
Nitrile Gloves- 1 pair
Quick Clot Pack 3.5"x3.5"-1
Needle nose tweezers-1 set
Derma bond applicator- 1
4' of 1" transpore tape
10cc syringe- 1
Den temp temporary dental filling- One kit

Medications
Alkaseltzer- 3 packets
Tylenol- 4 packets (500mg each)
Ibuprofen- 4 packets (400mg each)
Vicodin- (5/3251) bottle left over from dental procedure, probably around 20 pills
Benadryl- 4 packets (50mg each)
Diflucan- 1 pill (150mg)

Repair Kit
Sewing kit: 3 needles, assorted thread, 3 buttons of varying sizes, 6 safety pins, small scissors
Superglue

 

[littlebuf]

I carry allergy medicine, pain killers and tums. what ever the strongest pain killers I can get my hands on is whats thrown in the pack. basically I want to be able to walk/drag myself if necessary with a broken bone.

 

[Becca]

I carry allergy medicine, pain killers and tums. what ever the strongest pain killers I can get my hands on is whats thrown in the pack. basically I want to be able to walk/drag myself if necessary with a broken bone.

With a fractured arm, or a hairline fracture to an ankle maybe...I can tell you from experience, if you have a dislocated fracture of one or more bones in your leg you aren't walking anywhere, regardless of what pain killers you brought with you. Best to have some way to signal/call for help, or a partner who can give you a hand...

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Becca - Thanks, was hoping you'd respond cause you have as much experience in this area as any . . .

Some useful stuff on your list I hadn't thought about. I'm definitely adding a couple things and will ask my doc for a pain killer. If I have to get on the sat phone to request a rescue then I want to be as comfortable as possible. If I'm still capable of traveling then I will do my best to self-rescue. I'm always optimistic about going out, even alone, but I occasionally wonder about those "what if" scenarios.

 

[Rizzy]

Ibuprofen is the only prescription drug I carry and have used in the back country for that matter. I also have Imodium, Benadryl, and Tylenol, but have never used them.
I like the Zofran idea, I am going to add that.

 

[Curtis C]

Last year I carried Vicodin in as I had just had back surgery in July. Glad I took them because I needed one each evening. I will likely take them this year but suspect I will have a few left at the end of the hunt. I also carry similar OTC products that you have listed.

 

[fillthefreezer]

dont let the "what if fairy" get to you...

 

[CrzyTrekker]

Rizzy - Are you talking about 800 mg Ibuprofen? I wonder if that would be the same as taking four 200 mg pills.

I like the idea of having something relatively strong like 800 mg Ibuprofen, and also having something like Vicodin as a backup.

 

[CrzyTrekker]

dont let the "what if fairy" get to you...

I hear you!

I do a lot of backcountry trips each year. 10 (I think) last year and 3 so far in 2013. Been lucky over 30 years of backcountry activity and never injured. Rarely have so much as a blister. But there's that pesky Murphy and his law.

 

[jls]

Rizzy - Are you talking about 800 mg Ibuprofen? I wonder if that would be the same as taking four 200 mg pills.

I like the idea of having something relatively strong like 800 mg Ibuprofen, and also having something like Vicodin as a backup.

Unless you are doing some kind of "new" math, I think four 200mg tabs adds up to 800mg total. Anyone care to confirm this Careful with the vicoden (hydrocodone) because some of those tabs are formulated with ibuprofen.

I'm neither a doctor or a pharmacist but for past injuries I felt oxycodone worked better for me YMMV

 

[jmez]

With a fractured arm, or a hairline fracture to an ankle maybe...I can tell you from experience, if you have a dislocated fracture of one or more bones in your leg you aren't walking anywhere, regardless of what pain killers you brought with you. Best to have some way to signal/call for help, or a partner who can give you a hand...

\

This! They don't make an oral painkiller that works in this situation. It won't even "dull" the pain.

And yes, 2 200mg tablets is the same as 1 800mg prescription Ibuprofen for those asking.

I don't carry any presciption meds in my firstaid kit. Buddy usually has some augmentin in his. I would substitute that, a potentiated sulfa or a teteracycline for the azithro. Azitromycin has a pretty narrow spectrum.

 

[larryschwartz]

\

This! They don't make an oral painkiller that works in this situation. It won't even "dull" the pain.

And yes, 2 200mg tablets is the same as 1 800mg prescription Ibuprofen for those asking.

I don't carry any presciption meds in my firstaid kit. Buddy usually has some augmentin in his. I would substitute that, a potentiated sulfa or a teteracycline for the azithro. Azitromycin has a pretty narrow spectrum.

How can 2 x 200 = 1 x 800?

 

[larryschwartz]

changed "would up" to "wound up"

I would be careful with taking 800 mg of ibuprofin unless you have done so before. I may be the exception but I mistakenly double dosed myself on Motrin and wound up with my throat starting to swell up/close up. Not something you want to have happen in the backcountry.

On a brighter note, I too carry things like immodium and benadryl in addition to pain killers since they are things that can ruin your trip just as much, if not more, than muscle aches or headaches will.

 

[Aron Snyder]

How can 2 x 200 = 1 x 800?

I'm thinking he's talking about the ability to kill pain.

So 400 won't feel any different than 800 for relief of pain.

 

[7mag.]

I'm thinking he's talking about the ability to kill pain.

So 400 won't feel any different than 800 for relief of pain.

I didn't know that. That is handy information.

 

[wapitibob]

Ibuprofen wouldn't be my preferred pain reliever. It's better as an anti inflammatory without having to go the steroid route.

 

[Becca]

I think the bottom line is knowing which medications work for you, and how the effect you individually before you take them into the field.

I prefer ibuprofen for anti inflammatory effects (think headaches or muscle pain), but I know for personal experience that high doses (like 800mg, which is technically prescription strength, whether its in one 800mg pill or 4x 200mg) give me an upset stomach.

Tylenol (for me) works better for bone and joint pain, so its my go to if my old fracture bothers me packing heavy loads.

We carry hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin) because oxycodone (Percocet) makes me puke. It's for last resort, someone is badly injured use only. Either to help someone with a minor enough injury walk out, or to provide some measure of comfort while waiting for help.

We carry antibiotic ointment for small cuts and scrapes, but I purposely don't carry any oral antibiotics. Unless you are prone to recurrent infections (like the bladder infections that plague some unlucky folks), and know exactly what antibiotic you need, most folks won't know when to take antibiotics and what kind. Even doctors dont typically know with certainty whether an infection is viral or bacterial without lab testing, and if it is bacterial, it requires a culture to ensure you have the right drug for a particular infection. With the nasty potential side effects of antibiotics (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, and well as anaphylaxis if you develop an allergy) combined with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the world today, I don't bring antibiotics into the field with me. Considering that I haven't needed and prescription for antibiotics in the last 10 years, it seems like a no brainer to leave them (and their risks) behind...

 

[CrzyTrekker]

I'm thinking he's talking about the ability to kill pain.

yep

I just got back from the doctor's office. My doctor was out, so I saw a PA. She gave me 5 Vicodin (after questioning my need for any of this stuff) and some Levaquin instead of another Z-Pack. She renewed the Zofran as well.

Also carry a few Ibuprofen and Tylenol with me for inflammatory and minor aches and pains.

Thanks for your thoughts on this!

Eric

 

[Rizzy]

Yeah, the 800mg, I had some left over from a back injury a couple years ago. They may have actually been expired but they worked great at the end of the day, I slept like a log too

I just used the last one on my last trip and replaced them with the OTC 200mg, I'm glad to know 2 of them equals 800mg because I was planning on taking 4....lol