Medicines kit

[SYDMIA69]

just Berocca and Panadol!

 

[Flashback]

Earlier in this thread I mentioned the Travel Doctor's kit. We were travelling as a family of four at Christmas and took our original kit with us. As it turned out we traveled from Cambodia to Vietnam on Christmas eve. 3:30am on Christmas morning one of the teenagers was vomiting with diarrhea from some dodgy airport food the previous afternoon. We were able to use the Norfloxacin and Gastrostop to start getting things under control.

While it can be extreme to carry some of these things, Christmas day was tamer than expected but we weren't running around DaNang on Christmas Day trying to find a doctor and medicines. Drs and medicines would certainly be available it's just not a good way to spend Christmas Day.

While I've got the kit out here are a few of the other items onboard when we travel:

Loperamide
Tinidazole
Buscopan
Stemil Tablets
Roxithromycin
Paracetamol
Avomine
Soframycin
Docusate
Dressings and Bandages

Alby

Interesting list. Without having to Google each one can you note what each thing is for?

I'm travelling through Africa soon so need to put one together. The only additional thing I can think of is insect repellant!

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using AustFreqFly

 

[fjc]

Paracetemol is called Acetaminophen in USA (and, I think Canada). Apparently, it is one of the few drugs that has 2 generic names.

This was mentioned in the middle of an earlier post, but thought I would make it clear. Travelling in US last year, I injured my back. Used up all the paracetemol, nurofen was doing no good at all, so off to the pharmac_. First pharmacist didn't know it, NOT on his lookup, and almost didn't believe me when I said it was OTC in Oz. Second pharmacist (who was Egyptian) knew the US generic name and sold me the right stuff (500mg, like our strength). Back responded immediately.

 

[albatross710]

Interesting list. Without having to Google each one can you note what each thing is for?

My non-medical understanding from the notes with the kit is as follows:


Norfloxacin - Antibiotic for germs causing dysentery
Loperamide - stops the flow of diarrhoea
Tinidazole - Antibiotic kills giardia germ
Buscopan - stomach pains and cramps
Stemil Tablets - relieve nausea
Roxithromycin - Antibiotic for chest/sinus/throat germs
Paracetamol
Avomine - Antihistamine
Soframycin - eye/ear infections
Docusate - constipation
Dressings and Bandages - cuts and abrasions

Having had the kit for 5 years now I have used the items in Bold either for myself, family or my travel partners. If anything is used overseas I keep the used packets and then refill on my next GP visit.

If i was to cut it down, I would prioritise the gut related drugs which seem to be the biggest cause of travel related sickness.

Cheers and happy travels.

Alby

 

[cove]

Alby you have a treasure trove of medications there.
We have saved on health issues by not travelling to the boonies.

 

[Flashback]

Alby you have a treasure trove of medications there.
We have saved on health issues by not travelling to the boonies.

Unfortunately that's not a luxury we all have!

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly

 

[cove]

Yes Flashware but you get the chance to write a book on Africa you lucky doer!
One of my friends worked in a guarded compound in Angola for 3 years....after Perth.....
Did you get your first flight to Africa or do the medical shots take a while?
And what medications do you put in your bag?
I have heart medications on hand as the just in case.

 

[Flashback]

Yes Flashware but you get the chance to write a book on Africa you lucky doer!
One of my friends worked in a guarded compound in Angola for 3 years....after Perth.....
Did you get your first flight to Africa or do the medical shots take a while?
And what medications do you put in your bag?
I have heart medications on hand as the just in case.

Should be flying out early next week. Just had shot 7 / 8 this morning and face feels a bit tingly. Might have to watch that :shock:

I'm in the process of building my medical kit so this thread is proving to be of use.

 

[albatross710]

Should be flying out early next week. Just had shot 7 / 8 this morning and face feels a bit tingly. Might have to watch that :shock:

I'm in the process of building my medical kit so this thread is proving to be of use.

This is where I spent $120 and got it taken care of, labeling, prescriptions etc etc.

http://www.tmvc.com.au/p_travmedkit.html

 

[Flashback]

This is where I spent $120 and got it taken care of, labeling, prescriptions etc etc.

Travellers Medical Kits, Insect avoidance, safe eating and drinking, healthy travel tools, healthy travel books

Just need to find something UK based

 

[albatross710]

Norfloxacin - Antibiotic for germs causing dysentery

During our most recent trip in UK 'someone' (not me) was painfully awake at 3am in the morning with a self-diagnosed UTI.

I did a search through the Travel Doctor's little booklet using the Travel Doctor's little LED torch (I always wondered why it was there.)

The Norflaxacin seemed to be the closest thing that we had for similar urinary infections. A look on Wikipedia showed it was. We started the person on the course at that time with an understanding that we would go to a Dr if things didn't improve later that day. We wanted to be on the road by 9am and had a full day of sightseeing and driving ahead. As it turned out there was improvement and the person completed the full course.

As I've mentioned before one of the benefits of carrying a selection of meds is being able to carry on with the travel schedule. Even in the UK we would have been delayed probably a day by the time we got an appointment, got a prescription etc.

From each trip I keep any empty boxes of the meds and just take them to my GP on the next visit to have them refilled.

Alby

 

[k_sheep]

During our most recent trip in UK 'someone' (not me) was painfully awake at 3am in the morning with a self-diagnosed ITU.

UTI, not ITU

Yes, norflox is a very good choice for UTIs. Not used so much in Australia as it needs authority to prescribe under the PBS. I keep some in my kit for UTI and for dysentry if required.

 

[albatross710]

Yes, norflox is a very good choice for UTIs. Not used so much in Australia as it needs authority to prescribe under the PBS. I keep some in my kit for UTI and for dysentry if required.

Thanks for the correction. I get the drugs prescribed by my Australian GP and then ensured correct labeling by the chemist. The box I carry was labelled for dysentry and for use also with a hit of the Loperamide. So weren't 100% on the efficacy but figured starting the course wouldn't do much harm if things didn't improve.