What Drugs/Medicine Do You Take With You When Travelling

[Evan]

How do people obtain these antibiotics? Are doctors prescribing them just in case? If so, do they give advice when to take them?
Steve

Doctors prescribe and pharmac_ to purchase. Yes, just in case. If your traveling to some locations a doctor would do this for you.
Helps if you have a medical professional in your family though.

But you would always consult a doctor on the phone before taking, some would say why not see a local doctor, well in a lot of locations that just not possible and even if you did you could not access quality medications.

On a recent trip to Egypt a group of people used all they had taken over with them, a number of people were very sick. Having such items can be a life saver.

The 2 major causes of stomach sickness are parasitic and bacterial, both can kill you without treatment, especially without clean water.

E

 

[Platy]

I simply carry:

- Imodium or Lomotil
- an antihistamine
- an antibiotic (eg. double course of Amoxycillin)
- some psyllium basd cereal (eg. Kelloggs Guardian)

Yes, it helps to have a "sympathetic" GP as a best friend for the antibiotic prescription. I then carry several photocopies of the prescription.

 

[Harriet Vane]

For those of you who take aspirin before travel as a blood thinner, how much do you take? My doctor said to take some for a few days before, but neglected to specify how much. I'm assuming one tablet a day?

 

[IainF]

For those of you who take aspirin before travel as a blood thinner, how much do you take? My doctor said to take some for a few days before, but neglected to specify how much. I'm assuming one tablet a day?

My mum, (a GP) had advised me (a 90kg male) that I should take a 300mg tablet several days before/during/after travel.

My caveat on this advice, is that aspirin DOES have side effects and you should ALWAYS seek advice from a healthcare professional (GP or pharmacist) :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:

 

[coco50]

For those of you who take aspirin before travel as a blood thinner, how much do you take? My doctor said to take some for a few days before, but neglected to specify how much. I'm assuming one tablet a day?

You can buy aspirin in 100mg doses - Cartia or Cardiprin OTC. I take one each day. !00 mg is much better than 300 mg and will do the trick. The downside of this is that I cannot take aspirin for headache because the extra dose of aspirin would cause bleeding from the stomach lining. Thus, I take paracetamol when I have a headache (usually self inflicted)

 

[yo yo ma]

For those of you who take aspirin before travel as a blood thinner, how much do you take? My doctor said to take some for a few days before, but neglected to specify how much. I'm assuming one tablet a day?

Speak to your pharmacist but 100mg- 300mg a day starting several days beforehand is enough. Aspirin should be taken with food, or as mentioned, Cartia or other enteric coated brands will prevent stomach ulcers.

Ev
There is an article put out by the National Prescribing Service called, "colds need commonsense, not antibiotics." Good to know people are getting advice before taking the ab's. They can have side effects (eg allergic reactions) which can also kill you, so good if you have taken them before to test. Agree that if going to remote/ developing nations, they are good to have.
National Prescribing Service Limited
Cheers mate
Steve

 

[Evan]

Steve,

I know what your saying i have a medical family. As a matter of fact i have not taken any antiboitics in the last 12-13 years ! (i hate people whi think they need then for a common cold that is viral anyway) But i have given some to a friend after speaking with a doctor, in 1 and a half days he was vomiting blood, ****ting blood and lost 6.5kg ! (approx 10% body weight) And he was only a couple of hours from home in Asia.

I personally just about never get anything but its a just in case. As i said you cannot often get these drugs easily in a lot of places, better to take your own. I would never ever say take anything without first speaking to a professional. (But i have never spoken to many professionals in some locations so the phone is the next best thing)

E