What do I mean by this? I mean for you to specifically identify all the needs of each of your family members and begin acquiring them. Family members have varying needs depending on age and physical condition. Now is the time to ensure you have all the meds you need and the vitamins you will need when the SHTF. Allow me to sound the personal “trumpet” that I have been sounding throughout the years and in many articles:
You guys and gals need to get into good physical shape: it cannot be overemphasized.
Assessing Your Emergency Medicine Supply For the Home
That being said, how do you start? It is simple enough if you just insert a measure of organization and preparedness planning into it. Let’s do it, shall we?
- Start by identifying family members who have special needs and/or ongoing, long-term treatment in terms of medication. Examples of conditions can be Type I Diabetics, Blood Pressure/Circulatory patients (meds such as Calcium Channel blockers, etc.), and family members with respiratory compromise (such as COPD, or severe, chronic asthma).
- Make a chart/sheet for each family member and identify what they need: The correct medicine, the amount needed/dosage, the quantity that is on hand, and a plan to attain more of it. BE SPECIFIC! Accuracy is critical: you cannot afford a “transposition error” either in dosage or in the name of the med. “Flexiril” and “Flagyl” should never be confused, for example. One extra “zero” at the end of a dosage could mean death; one zero “short” could mean substandard, inadequate dosage.
- Shop the sources: yes, the price is almost as important as quality…because you will need quantities. Check out all the discount pharmacies or even the Dollar store that you can, and do your research. Also, convince your happy, Hallmark-Card family physician to write these extra prescriptions for you. If he or she won’t do it? DX’em. That’s an Army term: meaning dump/discard them. If you don’t use the stones now, you won’t use them when the SHTF.
- Pet Antibiotics: yes, “protect the pets,” as I’ve explained in other articles. Pet amoxicillin, pet erythromycin, pet Praziquantel (Biltricide). All of these “goodies” and more are available…to keep those “pets” readily supplied with medicine. ‘Nuff said there. Read more here.
- Vitamins/supplements: Concentrate on the multi-vitamins, and others that are crucial, such as Vitamin C. Again, you need to be sharp when it comes to quality and quantity. Never sacrifice quality for quantity, except if the comparable product is so close to the “top dog” that the difference is negligible. As well, consider purchasing seeds for sprouting so you get vital nutrition during emergencies.
- Herbal/Naturopathic supplies: Here is where your research is going to be critical. DO NOT EXPECT TO BE “SPOON-FED” INFORMATION, especially by your photo-frame-phony-photo family physician. You have to assess on your own what herbs will do the backup for your family member’s (or your) needs if the med supply dries up or is unavailable. There’s a secondary reason: you need to learn and memorize these herbs “cold,” because you may have to scrounge for them as well…in a ruined, burned-out health food concern, or out in the wild with wild-crafting.
- OPSEC: yes, the last thing. Don’t allow anyone outside of the immediate family (and even with them…screen ‘em!) to know about your medicines. You need to safeguard them in protective containers that will safeguard them from elements and secret them from the eyes of marauders or other jerks that will pillage them.
Now is the time to get all of this stuff done. You are responsible in the end for taking care of yourself and your family. Do not procrastinate! You may not have a perfect example to follow, but you can allow common sense, savvy, and street smarts to guide you on the path you need to pursue. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today. The “bad days” will come upon us in an instant. Less than an instant. Fight that good fight, and stock up on those supplies you’ll need to take care of your family now…because you won’t be able to on the day after it hits! JJ out!
I would say, to have plenty of 5000 iu Vitamin D’s for everyone to make it thru the winter months when the sunshine is not able to produce it in the skin. Bear in mind, that when you can no longer get quickly sunburned, then you no longer can produce Vitamin D from the sun either. It’s probably the MOST vital thing you can keep in your pantry, not just for the bones, but for the overall immunity.
Thyroid meds have to be given out as other meds, via periodic blood tests. You can only stock so much Rx drugs.
Is there a source for pet azithromycin?
Actually, the meds are the SAME drugs for people & animals, they just package it differently and label the “pet meds” as “Not for Human Consumption” so you won’t need a prescription. You just need to look up and know how to divide the doses into the proper “mg of drug per kg (2.2 pounds) of body weight”.
If you get it wrong, you will kill the animal with an overdose, or you’ll be giving an UNDERDOSE and that won’t help either.
About a year or so ago, I bought a BUNCH of “pet meds” (often sold as FISH meds) from EBAY. Can also look at Amazon, Fish supply sites, and Alibaba and AliExpress. Search long enough, and you will find dozens or hundreds of sites that sell meds that are good for both animals and pets.
There are a few antibiotics available from FARM supply places, such as Tractor Supply. I’ve bought all purpose WORMING meds (both Ivermectin and others), which are used around the world for PEOPLE too.
Ivermectin will kill SOME breeds of dogs that are genetically ALLERGIC to it, but for those dogs that are OK with it, Ivermectin (won’t kill Tapeworms), but kills all the others, including HEART WORM, Fleas, Ticks, Mosquitoes, Liver Flukes, Pinworms, roundworms, Bedbugs, Lice, etc.
Recently, went into effect on Jan. 1st of 2018), a LOT of farm antibiotics became restricted to PRESCRIPTION only. Ouch. But some are still available, such as the big COW pills (Bolus) of Sulfa drug. I got some of the 31 gram big pills, for about $2.50 each.
They also have the anti-FUNGAL chemicals (horse meds) that are exactly the same meds for humans, and a LOT less expensive.
A single tube (at Tractor Supply), is from $5-15, depending on the med, and it is a plastic syringe dispenser calibrated on the shaft for each “225 or 250 pounds” of horse flesh, and the entire tube is enough to treat up to 1,250 pounds of flesh. Like I said, you gotta be careful about how LITTLE to dispense out.
People use it to fight LYME disease (along with “Sweet Wormwood”/sweet annie/mugwort/Artemesia Annua)… and some antibiotics.
Ivermectin is used in South America, Africa, etc, to fight RIVER BLINDNESS in humans.
You question about a source for pet meds, tells me that you are just beginning your self education and searching for answers.
I hope this helps you on your journey.
PS. Pick up a couple of “on sale” little DIGITAL SCALES (ebay, amazon or even HarborFreightTools), for just $10 each. Will weigh as little as 1/10th of one gram (that’s equal to 100mg).
I got a couple from Harbor Freight, and it also has a “TARE function” (look it up), and is switchable between Ounces, Troy Ounces, Grams, Dime weight, etc.
I HIGHLY highly recommend EVERYBODY to buy (used books on Amazon for just a few bucks), a copy of one of the “NURSE’s Drug Guide” books.
It’s 1000 times better than the Physician’s Desk Reference.
It’s the comprehensive fat little pocket book that doctors and nurses use to look up all the drugs and proper doses for patients and it includes all the diseases and “problems” that are treated with those drugs.
Because those books are updated each year, the out of date books are CHEAP. The NEW ones cost more than $50.
It’s a VALUABLE treasure for ALL the antibiotics, heart meds, blood pressure, anti-psychotics, etc. etc.
The “WHO” (World Health Organisation) has a list of the 100 most important drugs to keep in stock for care, and Ivermectin is CERTAINLY on that list.
A single, ONE time dose of it, is all that’s needed. Take this stuff, and for up to 2 weeks, it keeps working. Even any mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, lice or bed bugs that bite you (suck your blood), will get “dosed” and die.
There are some “sister drugs” that are similar, and kill the tape worms that Ivermectin cannot do.
Taking some of this, is a wonderful way to be sure that you (and others) are free from unseen worms or parasites that you may not even know you’ve got.
CED,I’m well on my way with my pet pharmacy,but azithromycin I have not been able to find.I am just not comfortable to order from India or Asia and pay a high premium to risk actually getting the med Ive paid for.
Heaven forbid ‘Woofie’ gets an aggressive pneumonia and we are iced in,would be very helpful to have a Zpack on hand.
Ivermectin never made my radar,good suggestion there.Wouldnt want my cow to not get treated if she got worms.
A well stocked pet pharmacy,and the knowledge to use it is vital in my preps to keep my dogs,cats,fish and birds well protected,even if it is ‘human grade’ meds,they will just have to take them regardless.
In the past, I had great success ordering “fish meds” from Ebay, domestically as well as from Asian sellers.
Azith is an expensive one.
I ordered a couple of 500 count containers (from Asian sellers) of Doxycycline 100mg for either $59 or $69 each. Got them OK.
I noticed the Ebay prices have increased in the last couple years because the USA dollar is losing value so the sellers have to boost their prices to get the same purchasing power.
The real rate of inflation (value destruction) is not the CPI, but is better shown by things such as the ” Chapwood index ” which reveals that we typically getting robbed by “The Fed” by more than 10% each year.
I’m considering registering at Alibaba to be able to buy thru them, as the prices can be lower than anywhere else, but bulk purchasing is often required. I’ve seen the 10kg buckets of pure Vitamin C powder for $100 or less on Alibaba and they sell antibiotics crazy cheap.
I keep all mine (still sealed in airtight containers) in the deep freezer to give them just about an infinite shelf life, and let them thaw out at room temps before I dare to open them so they won’t collect condensation from the air and make them gooey-ruined.
Doxycycline, is commonly used for birds, fish, dogs, horses, humans, etc. I agree with the instructions to EAT something with it, because if I don’t have anything in my stomach, it can make me want to vomit, but even if I just eat a slice of bread, then I’m OK.
You probably already know there are 2 groups of antibiotics…
Bactericidal and Bacterial-Static.
One group KILLS bacteria and the other prevents them from multiplying and they eventually die from old age without reproducing new copies.
And yes, they are also classed as “Gram negative and Gram positive”.
I throw an O2 absorber in a heavy mylar bag then vacuum pack my sealed meds in them.
ZPack is actually pretty darn cheap as generic using GOODRX internet coupons,they are free,just need a prescription.Most pharmacy have a contract and honor GoodRx coupons as you will see on their site.I get most of my prescription meds using them, cheaper than the insurance co-pay,amazing!!
Plus since its cash pay my Dr can write for a years worth of meds and I dont have to waste my time constantly filling scripts.
I order my pet meds from ebay as well.
Great tips….Thanks.
Be aware that some breeds of dogs are genetically ALLERGIC to ivermectin and even a tiny dose will kill those dogs (often related to the collies), but may include other breeds too, so we ALL have to do some RESEARCH before attempting to dose the dogs.
But for those dogs that are OK with it, it’s the lowest cost method of protecting against heartworm, as well as fleas, ticks, lice, pinworms, live flukes, etc etc.
I HIGHLY highly recommend EVERYBODY to buy (used books on Amazon for
just a few bucks), a copy of one of the “NURSE’s Drug Guide” books.
It’s 1000 times better than the Physician’s Desk Reference.
It’s
the comprehensive fat little pocket book that doctors and nurses use to
look up all the drugs and proper doses for patients and it includes
all the diseases and “problems” that are treated with those drugs.
Because those books are updated each year, the out of date books are CHEAP. The NEW ones cost more than $50.
It’s a VALUABLE treasure for ALL the antibiotics, heart meds, blood pressure, anti-psychotics, etc. etc.