Meds on the shelf for SHTF...read "rainy day"

Alea Jacta Est · Feb 7, 2015

...so, not that I'd ever put anything aside for a rainy day but...

Any insights on best spread spectrum antibiotic with good legs/long shelf life????

Part Deux...bonus points: How would a common Joe go about reasonably procuring "some"??

Thanks in advance for your insights, SWAGs and pertinent or other witticisms.

mopar92 · Feb 7, 2015

No idea about usefulness or shelf life. But most preppers I know get antibiotics from veterinary supply places. No idea what hoops are needed.

rwbow1969 · Feb 7, 2015

mopar92 said:
No idea about usefulness or shelf life. But most preppers I know get antibiotics from veterinary supply places. No idea what hoops are needed.

No hoops, just know what you are looking for.

teratos · Feb 7, 2015

Good question. Procurement is the biggest problem for most folks. Sometimes you can find a prepper friendly doctor. May be tough, but doesn't hurt to ask. Veterinary supply shops should be a good source.

I keep a few antibiotics around for SHTF. You need a few to over the majority of scenarios you could encounter. You also need some knowledge on what to treat. In normal times people love going to the doctor for "sinus infections" and "bronchitis". They get antibiotics and often complain they aren't strong enough and didn't work. They don't work because 90-98% of these infections are viral. Studies show that even the bacterial sinus infections get better with no antibiotics. You won't want to waste your precious resources on these. If people have just a cough, productive of ugly stuff with a fever it may be pneumonia. I imagine if SHTF this will become much more common. That is worth treating. Skin infections are likely to be the most common thing encountered.

Doxycycline - This is a good all-around antibiotic. Great for SHTF because it treats respiratory infections, skin infections (including most strains of MRSA) and tick borne diseases like Lyme. Bad because unlike many antibiotics, it actually has a shelf life. I wouldn't use this more than 3 years beyond factory expiration date. Probably 5 years beyond expiration noted on the bottle. One twice a day for 10 days. Even though the recommendations for Lyme say treat for 21 days, 10 is sufficient.

Ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/moxifloxacin - cousins, but levofloxacin and moxifloxacin cover more. Good for pneumonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections (diverticulitis), bacterial diarrhea, and also treat anthrax, if that is an issue.

Bactrim (TMP/SMZ) - Another good "workhorse". If I could pick only one, this would be it. Treats skin infections (including most strains of MRSA), respiratory infections like pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections.

Metronidazole -Use in combination with Bactrim or any of the -floxacin antibiotics for penetrating abdominal wounds. Use by itself for parasitic infections like amebic dysentery.

Tamiflu - May be useful. I have it because I can, but probably the least important thing. If you have a group and the flu hits, quarantine those people who have it. If you have very young or very old folks, they may be worth treating. If I were in a SHTF scenario and I got the flu, I wouldn't take it for myself.

Shelf life on everything but doxycycline should be decades.

Alea Jacta Est · Feb 7, 2015

teratos said:
Good question. Procurement is the biggest problem for most folks. Sometimes you can find a prepper friendly doctor. May be tough, but doesn't hurt to ask. Veterinary supply shops should be a good source.

I keep a few antibiotics around for SHTF. You need a few to over the majority of scenarios you could encounter. You also need some knowledge on what to treat. In normal times people love going to the doctor for "sinus infections" and "bronchitis". They get antibiotics and often complain they aren't strong enough and didn't work. They don't work because 90-98% of these infections are viral. Studies show that even the bacterial sinus infections get better with no antibiotics. You won't want to waste your precious resources on these. If people have just a cough, productive of ugly stuff with a fever it may be pneumonia. I imagine if SHTF this will become much more common. That is worth treating. Skin infections are likely to be the most common thing encountered.

Doxycycline - This is a good all-around antibiotic. Great for SHTF because it treats respiratory infections, skin infections (including most strains of MRSA) and tick borne diseases like Lyme. Bad because unlike many antibiotics, it actually has a shelf life. I wouldn't use this more than 3 years beyond factory expiration date. Probably 5 years beyond expiration noted on the bottle. One twice a day for 10 days. Even though the recommendations for Lyme say treat for 21 days, 10 is sufficient.

Ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/moxifloxacin - cousins, but levofloxacin and moxifloxacin cover more. Good for pneumonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections (diverticulitis), bacterial diarrhea, and also treat anthrax, if that is an issue.

Bactrim (TMP/SMZ) - Another good "workhorse". If I could pick only one, this would be it. Treats skin infections (including most strains of MRSA), respiratory infections like pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections.

Metronidazole -Use in combination with Bactrim or any of the -floxacin antibiotics for penetrating abdominal wounds. Use by itself for parasitic infections like amebic dysentery.

Tamiflu - May be useful. I have it because I can, but probably the least important thing. If you have a group and the flu hits, quarantine those people who have it. If you have very young or very old folks, they may be worth treating. If I were in a SHTF scenario and I got the flu, I wouldn't take it for myself.

Shelf life on everything but doxycycline should be decades.

Now that's an ANSWER!

Thank you.

Troublesbrewin · Feb 7, 2015

Great info Doc and the insight on how when and why is very helpful.

pbharvey · Feb 7, 2015

teratos said:
Good question. Procurement is the biggest problem for most folks. Sometimes you can find a prepper friendly doctor. May be tough, but doesn't hurt to ask. Veterinary supply shops should be a good source.

I keep a few antibiotics around for SHTF. You need a few to over the majority of scenarios you could encounter. You also need some knowledge on what to treat. In normal times people love going to the doctor for "sinus infections" and "bronchitis". They get antibiotics and often complain they aren't strong enough and didn't work. They don't work because 90-98% of these infections are viral. Studies show that even the bacterial sinus infections get better with no antibiotics. You won't want to waste your precious resources on these. If people have just a cough, productive of ugly stuff with a fever it may be pneumonia. I imagine if SHTF this will become much more common. That is worth treating. Skin infections are likely to be the most common thing encountered.

Doxycycline - This is a good all-around antibiotic. Great for SHTF because it treats respiratory infections, skin infections (including most strains of MRSA) and tick borne diseases like Lyme. Bad because unlike many antibiotics, it actually has a shelf life. I wouldn't use this more than 3 years beyond factory expiration date. Probably 5 years beyond expiration noted on the bottle. One twice a day for 10 days. Even though the recommendations for Lyme say treat for 21 days, 10 is sufficient.

Ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/moxifloxacin - cousins, but levofloxacin and moxifloxacin cover more. Good for pneumonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections (diverticulitis), bacterial diarrhea, and also treat anthrax, if that is an issue.

Bactrim (TMP/SMZ) - Another good "workhorse". If I could pick only one, this would be it. Treats skin infections (including most strains of MRSA), respiratory infections like pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections.

Metronidazole -Use in combination with Bactrim or any of the -floxacin antibiotics for penetrating abdominal wounds. Use by itself for parasitic infections like amebic dysentery.

Tamiflu - May be useful. I have it because I can, but probably the least important thing. If you have a group and the flu hits, quarantine those people who have it. If you have very young or very old folks, they may be worth treating. If I were in a SHTF scenario and I got the flu, I wouldn't take it for myself.

Shelf life on everything but doxycycline should be decades.

Thanks for the info.
I'll be printing this out and keeping it stashed away somewhere.

MacGuns · Feb 7, 2015

You should stock up on Fish meds so you can make sure your aquarium is healthy for that rainy day.

http://www.fishmoxfishflex.com/index.php/fish-antibiotics.html

Norton · Feb 7, 2015

http://survivalblog.com/so_you_bought_fish_antibiotics_now_what_by_tx_er_doc/

http://survivalblog.com/seven_antibiotics_to_stockpile/

t84a · Feb 7, 2015

Money post, teratos. Thanks

GUNSnROTORS · Feb 7, 2015

t84a said:
Money post, teratos. Thanks

Absolutely!

teratos said:
... Shelf life on everything but doxycycline should be decades.

Thanks Doc!

Any advice on Potassium Iodide shelf life and expiration dates??

Half-cocked · Feb 7, 2015

Can the shelf life of Doxycycline be extended by storing it in a freezer?

MikeTF · Feb 7, 2015

Here's how to get antibiotics and all the vaccinations you never wanted. International travel. Go to an immunologist and tell them that your employer plans to send you to a remote area in China or India. Search on a map and pick a city known for Malaria and/or dengue fever. You will get a travel pack of antibiotics like Levaquin (used for anthrax), sutures, and needles (to bring with you if you have to go to a hospital. In those regions needles and sutures are expensive and often reused on multiple patients). You will also get more shots than you ever imagined and will be prescribed for a Malaria prophylaxis which you'll be instructed to take before, during and after your trip.

Mark75H · Feb 7, 2015

Half-cocked said:
Can the shelf life of Doxycycline be extended by storing it in a freezer?

Remember that "most-free" freezers do not run at steady temperature like chest freezers.

The only way to keep something cold and steady for long term storage is in a chest freezer or old time upright that has to be manually defrosted.

Storing stuff in the top of your refrig/freezer is temporary/short term due to the temperature fluctuation caused by the defrost cycle. This is the main reason ice cream "goes flat" (turns hard & icy). Most frost free stuff cycles twice a day, some do 3 or 4 times ... over 700 cycles per year minimum.

DZ · Feb 7, 2015

teratos said:
Good question. Procurement is the biggest problem for most folks. Sometimes you can find a prepper friendly doctor. May be tough, but doesn't hurt to ask. Veterinary supply shops should be a good source.

I keep a few antibiotics around for SHTF. You need a few to over the majority of scenarios you could encounter. You also need some knowledge on what to treat. In normal times people love going to the doctor for "sinus infections" and "bronchitis". They get antibiotics and often complain they aren't strong enough and didn't work. They don't work because 90-98% of these infections are viral. Studies show that even the bacterial sinus infections get better with no antibiotics. You won't want to waste your precious resources on these. If people have just a cough, productive of ugly stuff with a fever it may be pneumonia. I imagine if SHTF this will become much more common. That is worth treating. Skin infections are likely to be the most common thing encountered.

Doxycycline - This is a good all-around antibiotic. Great for SHTF because it treats respiratory infections, skin infections (including most strains of MRSA) and tick borne diseases like Lyme. Bad because unlike many antibiotics, it actually has a shelf life. I wouldn't use this more than 3 years beyond factory expiration date. Probably 5 years beyond expiration noted on the bottle. One twice a day for 10 days. Even though the recommendations for Lyme say treat for 21 days, 10 is sufficient.

Ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/moxifloxacin - cousins, but levofloxacin and moxifloxacin cover more. Good for pneumonia, urinary tract infections, intra-abdominal infections (diverticulitis), bacterial diarrhea, and also treat anthrax, if that is an issue.

Bactrim (TMP/SMZ) - Another good "workhorse". If I could pick only one, this would be it. Treats skin infections (including most strains of MRSA), respiratory infections like pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections.

Metronidazole -Use in combination with Bactrim or any of the -floxacin antibiotics for penetrating abdominal wounds. Use by itself for parasitic infections like amebic dysentery.

Tamiflu - May be useful. I have it because I can, but probably the least important thing. If you have a group and the flu hits, quarantine those people who have it. If you have very young or very old folks, they may be worth treating. If I were in a SHTF scenario and I got the flu, I wouldn't take it for myself.

Shelf life on everything but doxycycline should be decades.

Thanks for sharing, Doc. Can you recommend any basic texts/resources for general symptom diagnosis? Obviously the standard caveats apply, but would certainly be better than nothing in a scenario in which you need to provide treatment.

FPL53 · Feb 7, 2015

What about Erythromicin? I know you can purchace bulk low dose amounts at aquarium shops. Or at least, you used to be able to.

Bob A · Feb 7, 2015

GUNSnROTORS said:
Absolutely!

Thanks Doc!

Any advice on Potassium Iodide shelf life and expiration dates??

Potassium Iodide is a salt. Kept dry, it should last more or less forever.

GUNSnROTORS · Feb 7, 2015

Thanks Bob!

Have a bucket of the stuff from a 2005 purchase, with expiration date of 2011.

clandestine · Feb 7, 2015

Teratos is awesome. I love him.

have read that using veterinary meds can screw up a person's teeth. I don't need vet meds but is that true Teratos, In regards to animal meds used in humans?

AntiGun · Feb 7, 2015

clandestine said:
Teratos is awesome. I love him.

have read that using veterinary meds can screw up a person's teeth. I don't need vet meds but is that true Teratos, In regards to animal meds used in humans?

Tetracycline can stain teeth as can doxy. I learned that one after a few years on it.

ETA: children are most at risk for staining

Meds on the shelf for SHTF...read "rainy day"

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