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Rx Oral/Topical Medication Module
Doxycycline 100 mg tablets (antibiotic)
Zithromax 500 mg tablets (antibiotic)
Levaquin 500 mg tablets (antibiotic)
Diflucan 150 mg tablets (antifungal)
Norco 10/325 tablets (pain, cough)
Atarax 25 mg tablets (nausea, anxiety, antihistamine, pain medication augmentation)
Mobic (meloxicam) 15 mg tablets (pain medication, anti-inflammatory, fever)
Topicort 0.25% ointment, 1 oz tube (skin allergy)
Tobradex ophthalmic drops, 2.5 ml (eye and ear antibiotic, anti-inflammatory)
Tetracaine ophthalmic solution 0.5%, 15 ml bottle (eye and ear anesthetic)
Denavir (penciclovir) cream 1%.5 gm tube (antiviral, lip and mouth sores)
Stadol nasal spray (severe pain)
Diamox 250 mg tablets (acute mountain sickness prevention)
Decadron 4 mg tablets, 10 per trip (allergy. acute mountain sickness, specific trauma situations)
Flagyl 250 mg, 16 capsules (trichomonas or giardia infection)
Famvir 500 mg. 24 per person with history of herpes simplex cold sores, especially if going to altitude or expecting significant ultraviolet light exposure
Malarone adult dose: atovaquone 250 mg + proguanil 100 mg:
pediatric dose: atovaquone 62.5 mg + proguanil 25 mg (malaria protection)-only if planning on going into a malaria infected area.
DOXYCYCLINE TABLETS, 100 MG
The generic name of an antibiotic that is useful in treating many travel-related diseases. The various sections of the text dealing with infections will indicate the proper dosage, normally 1 tablet twice daily. Not to be used in children 8 years or younger, or during pregnancy. May cause skin sensitivity on exposure to sunlight, thus producing an exaggerated sunburn. This does not usually happen, but be cautious during your first sun exposure when on this product. Many people traveling in the tropics have used this antibiotic safely. Very useful in malaria prevention at a dose of 1 tablet daily, but this must be continued for 4 weeks after leaving the contact area. Common brand names are Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx, Doxycin, and Monodox.
ZITHROMAX TABLETS, 500 MG
This is the brand name of azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to treat certain types of pneumonia, infected throats, skin infections, and venereal diseases due to Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and genital ulcer disease in men due to Haemophilus ducreyi (chancroid). Dosage is 1 tablet daily for 3 days. These 3 tablets result in a therapeutic blood level for the next 7 days, thus providing a total of 10 days of coverage.
LEVAQUIN TABLETS, 500 MG
A broad-spectrum antibiotic of a group known as fluoroquinolones, this medication is useful in treating diarrhea and organisms resistant to the above antibiotics. It is useful in treating sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, skin infections and skin ulcers, and complicated urinary tract and kidney infections. Avoid excessive sun expo sure while on this medication. Avoid in persons under the age of 18, and during nursing and pregnancy. Drink extra water when on this medication. Do not take with antacids, vitamins containing minerals, and ibuprofen; otherwise it may be taken at mealtimes. Some people are made dizzy by this medication. There is a possibility that it might cause tendonitis and should be stopped if muscle pain or ten don inflammation occurs, as a tendon rupture may result. While used to treat diarrhea, it may cause diarrhea, and it may result in vaginal monilia infection.
DIFLUCAN TABLETS, 150 MG
One tablet of this medication is taken to eliminate vaginal yeast (candidiasis) infection. These infections are at greater risk after taking broad-spectrum antibiotics, as they can suppress normal, healthy bacteria in the vagina. Tropical conditions are also a risk factor in developing this condition. While this medication often reacts with other medications, none are included in the Off-Grid Medical Kit, and short-term use of 1 pill will normally not be significant regardless. The most common side effects are headache, nausea, and cramping.
NORCO 10/325 TABLETS
The principal use of the drug (composed of 10 mg of hydrocodone and 325 mg of acetaminophen) is the relief of pain. Hydrocodone is a powerful cough suppressor and is also useful in treating abdominal cramping and diarrhea. The dosage of 1 tablet every 6 hours will normally control a severe toothache. Maximum dosage is 6 tablets per day. It may be augmented with hydroxyzine hydrochloride; see below. This product is now a Schedule II prescription, which makes obtaining it, controlling it, and transporting it much more problematic. This is a good compound and safe when used properly. Unfortunately, misuse has caused very restrictive legislation, both nationally and internationally. It would be very hard to obtain a large quantity of this medication, yet it has many uses as indicated and is safe when used properly. A potential replacement for your medical kit is tramadol 50 mg, which can be taken every 6 hours for pain. You may also take meloxicam, 15 mg daily, or acetaminophen, 500 mg 4 times per day, simultaneously. Tramadol is a Schedule IV controlled medication, which will still require a prescription.
ATARAX TABLETS, 25 MG
A brand name of hydroxyzine hydrochloride (see also the listing under Vistaril in the Rx Injectable Medication Module), these tab lets have multiple uses. They are a very powerful anti-nausea agent, muscle relaxant, antihistamine, antianxiety agent, and sleeping pill, and will potentiate a pain medication (make it work better). For sleep, take 50 mg at bedtime; for nausea, 25 mg every 4 to 6 hours; to potentiate pain medication, take a 25 mg tablet with each dose of the pain medication. This medication treats rashes of all types and has a drying effect on congestion. The injectable version, Vistaril, has identical actions.
MOBIC (MELOXICAM), 15 MG TABLETS
This anti-inflammatory, analgesic tablet is unique in that it does not inhibit platelets from aggregating and thus does not increase the same bleeding tendencies in wounds that occur with aspirin or ibuprofen. For this reason it is included in the blast first aid kits for combat troops in Afghanistan and formerly in Iraq. Dosage is 1 tablet per day taken with food. This is an ideal pain medication, will reduce fever, and helps in the treatment of overuse injuries such as tendonitis or in cases of acute trauma (sprains, strains, fractures, contusions).
TOPICORT (DESOXIMETASONE) OINTMENT (0.25%, 0.5 OZ TUBE)
This Rx steroid ointment treats severe allergic skin rashes. Dosage is a thin coat twice daily. Occlusive dressings are not required when using this product. Should be used with caution over large body surface areas or on children. Use should be limited to 10 days or less, particularly in the latter cases.
TOBRADEX OPHTHALMIC DROPS (2.5 ML)
This is a combination of a powerful antibiotic (tobramycin 0.3%) and a steroid (dexamethasone 0.1%). It can be used to treat infections or allergies in the eye (for which it was designed) or the ear. It can be instilled in either location 2 or 3 times daily. This medication can cause complications in case of viral infections of the eye (which are rare compared to bacterial infections and allergy conditions).
TETRACAINE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION (DROPS), 0.5% (15 ML BOTTLE)
This is a sterile solution for use in the eye or ear to numb pain. Do not reapply to an eye if pain returns without examining very carefully for a foreign body. Try not to use repeatedly in the eye, as overuse delays healing. Continued pain may also mean you have missed a foreign body. Do not use in cars if considerable drainage is present; an eardrum may have ruptured, and if this medication gets into the middle ear through a hole in the eardrum, it will cause profound vertigo (dizziness).
DENAVIR (PENCICLOVIR) CREAM, 1% (5 GM TUBE)
An antiviral treatment useful for cold sores on the face and on the lips. While not approved for use inside the mouth, this product actually works well there and is not harmful if swallowed. This may be used at high altitudes, in deserts, land, and oceans with high reflective light, to prevent cold sores caused by intense ultraviolet light. Apply every 2 hours during waking hours for 4 days.
STADOL NASAL SPRAY
This is a powerful pain medication (generic name butorphanol) formulated to be absorbed by the lining of the nose. It is ten times stronger than morphine on a milligram-to-milligram basis. Use only 1 spray up a nostril and wait 60 to 90 minutes before using a second spray in the other nostril. This process may be repeated in 3 to 4 hours. It should be working effectively within 20 minutes after the first spray. Overspraying or allowing the medication to drain down the throat will waste it since it is inactivated by gastric fluids.
DIAMOX TABLETS, 250 MG
This is used to prevent acute mountain sickness (AMS) for those con templating rapid ascents to elevations over 9,000 feet (2,800 meters). Side effects include tingling of the mouth and fingers, numbness, loss of appetite, and occasional instances of drowsiness and confusion all signs of the AMS that one is trying to prevent. Increased urination and rare sun-sensitive skin rash is encountered. See page 265.
DECADRON (DEXAMETHASONE) TABLETS, 4 MG
For allergy, give 1 tablet twice daily after meals for 5 days. For treatment of acute mountain sickness, give 4 mg every 6 hours until well below the altitude at which symptoms appeared. See pages 151 and 266. This medication can also be used in serious head and spine injuries as indicated on page 00).
FLAGYL CAPSULES, 250 MG
The brand name of metronidazole, this antibiotic is useful in treating diarrhea caused by giardia (see page 223) at a dose of 250 mg 3 times daily. It is also used in treating infections by Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis (both protozoal parasites) and certain other bacteria. May cause numbness and nausea. Should not be taken by people with central nervous system diseases. Do not drink alcohol with this drug, as it causes flushing and vomiting.
FAMVIR CAPSULES (250 OR 500 MG)
This may be taken as a single 1,500 mg dose as prophylaxis to prevent herpes simplex lip lesions, which are often activated by high altitude or reflective ultraviolet light exposure. This medication should be included in the kit if persons are known to have recurrent problems. An alternative is to use the Denavir cream (page 289).
MALARONE TABLETS, ATOVAQUONE AND PROGUANIL, 250 MG-100MG FOR ADULT: 62.5 MG-25 MG PEDIATRIC
For malaria prevention or prophylaxis, the adult dose is 1 tablet daily 1 to 2 days before the exposure, daily while exposed, and for 7 days after exposure. Repeat dose if vomiting occurs within 1 hour after the dose. The children's dose is determined by weight. However, two other dosing regimens may be appropriate. One, a terminal dose for a short-exposure trip, or a treatment dose for presumptive management of illness.
