Ibuprofen, 200 mg (Motrin & Advil)
- A popular pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, and fever reducer.
- It can alleviate pan from strains, sprains, arthritis, and traumatic injury, as well as reduce inflammation in the injured area.
- Ibuprofen is also useful in reducing fevers from infections, but can cause stomach upset.
- Ibuprofen 200 mg can be used one or two every four hours, three every six hours, or four every eight hours.
Acetamineophen, 325 mg (Tylenol):
- Another popular pain reliever and fever reducer.
- It can be used for all of the problems that you can take ibuprofen for, with the added benefit of not causing stomach irritation or thinning of the blood.
- Unfortunately, it has no significant anti-inflammatory effect.
- It is an excellent for treatment of pain and fevers in children at lower doses.
- It comes in regular strength (325 mg) and extra strength (650 mg).
- Adults take one or two every four hours.
Aspirin, 325 mg:
- Aspirin is also a pain reliever, fever reducer, and anti-inflammatory, but it has blood thinning properties as well.
- It may be all you have to help those with medical uses that require the use of anticoagulants.
- It is useful to treat older people with coronary artery disease.
- If you suspect someone of having a heart attack, have the chew an adult aspirin immediately.
- Take two adult aspirin for pain, fever , and inflammation or one baby aspirin (81 mg) daily to help with coronary artery disease and as an anticoagulant.
- In a collapse situation, higher doses may be appropriate to replace anticoagulant drugs like Coumadin, but this has not been fully researched.
- Stomach upset is possible when taking aspirin.
Loperamide, 2mg (Imodioum):
- Antidiarrheal.
- Slows intestinal motility, causing less water loss, and thus less dehydration.
- With diarrheal disease you will have nausea and vomiting, so you will also want to have Meclizine.
Meclizine, 12.5mg, 25mg, and 50mg (Dramamine, Antivert):
- Prevents nausea and vomiting. Often used to prevent motion sickness.
- Also may help with dizziness, and tends to act as a sedative.
- Take one 25mg tablet one hour before boarding a plane or boat, or 50-100mg daily in divided doses for dizziness, anxiety or sleep.
Metamucil:
- In survival situations a lack of a balanced diet with fiber may cuase issues with constipation. Metamucil (now called Meta) is made from psyllium seed husks and provides a goo source of fiber when it is not easily available otherwise.
- Metamucil may have benefits for cholesterol, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome as well.
- Some people note less hunger between meals when they take it.
Triple Antibiotic Ointment (Neosporin, Bacitracin, Bactroban):
- When applied to an injury involving a break in the skin it greatly decreases the chance of infections which could lead to a life-threatening condition.
- Triple antibiotic ointment won’t cure a deep infection. That will require oral or IV antibiotics. Treating an injury with the ointment immediately after an injury will give you a good chance at preventing an infection.
- Apply three to four times a day.
Diphenhydramine 25mg and 50mg (Benadryl):
- An antihistamine alleviates itching, rashes, nasal congestion, and other symptoms of allergic reactions.
- It also helps drain the nasal passages in some respiratory infections.
- At the higher 50mg does it makes an effective sleep aid.
- Use 25mg every six hours for mild reactions.
- Use 50mg every six hours for severe reactions, anxiety, or sleep.
- It also comes in cream or ointment form.
Hydrocortisone Cream (1%):
- A cream used for various type of dermatitis that cause redness, flakiness, itching, and thickening of the skin.
- It is a mild steroid which reduces inflammation and various symptoms of allergic dermatitis, exzema, diaper rah, etc.
- Apply three to four times per day to affected area.
Lidocaine Ointment (Xylocaine):
- Topical anesthetic meant to decrease pain in areas of the skin.
- Helpful to deal with burns, insect bites, minor cuts, and other injuries.
- Apply two to three times per day.
- Can be used to deaden skin prior to inserting a needle, but are not numbing enough to perform procedures like suture closures.
Omeprazole 20-40mg, Cimetidine 200-800mg, Ranitidine 75-150mg, (Prilosec, Tagamet, Zantac, etc.):
- These antacids will calm heartburn, queasiness, and stomach upset.
- Calcium Carbonate (Tums) or Magnesium sulfate (Maalox) are also fine in solid form. These medications are also useful for acid reflux and ulcer disease.
Clotrimazole, Miconazole Cream / Powder (Lotrimin, Monistat):
- Infections can be bacterial, but they can also be caused by fungus. Common examples would be Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), vaginal infections (monilia), ringworm, an jock itch (tinea cruris).
- Clotrimazole and Miconazole are examples of anti-fungal medications that would be useful to treat these conditions.
- Apply twice per day externally, or once daily intravaginally.
- Some vaginal creams come in different strengths. In some the whole treatment course is over in one day. In others, three days to a week.
Multi-Vitamins:
- In a societal collapse the unavailability of a good variety of food may lead to dietary deficiencies, not just in calories, but in vitamins and minerals.
- You should have plenty of multi-vitamins, commercial or natural, in your medical storage.
- You won’t have to take these on a daily basis as many multi-vitamins give you more than you need if taken daily and you body will excrete what your body can’t absorb.
- Recent studies suggest that few, if any, vitamins are needed when a balanced diet is available. In a collapse, once a week would be sufficient to prevent most problems.
The Savannah Arsenal Project 