Indeed...

And the drugs are often un-labeled, in Arabic, out of date etc etc. It can be a lottery. Especially outside of major cities.

Beware though. Some pills that are prescription in Europe can land you in jail in others. Opiate based drugs etc. Take them to the UAE and you can end up in jail (So I'm told)..

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Well if that is the case then one should take some needles, blood, forceps, surgical blades and other bits from the surgery. Let's not move away from the pharmacy to the surgery. You only need basic surgical tools such as scissors.
You can take the A&E with you, but if you have an accident you might not be awake to tell them where your clean needles are.

But that is part of the risk of going on such an adventure, otherwise let's stay home where you get help from the air ambulance.

All true, of course. On the other hand, I've often needed the antibiotics, sterilizing pads, anti-parasitics, and painkillers I routinely carry. I've occasionally needed the sterile needles I carry in the same kit. I'll keep on carrying them. I've stopped bringing other stuff that I never seemed to use, and for which locally-available substitutes are readily available--splints, certain forms of bandages and tape, etc.

I try to make a habit of not crashing, which saves me the trouble of trying to stay awake long enough to explain where I keep the spare needles. It might play out differently some day, but so far....

best,

Mark

How is taking out of date, non-effective or incorrectly prescribed medication for a septic wound or nasty parasitic infection 'Part of the adventure'.. ???

It's just stupid for the sake of trying to sound 'hardcore'. Grow an adventure beard instead if it makes you feel better.

If you ever get Guardia, Malaria, etc or have a rat bite go septic in the jungle, I wonder what you'd really choose if given the choice between the correct and tested medication or some untrained bloke's tin shack Pharmacy in the congo selling some random pills which may or may not work. Or even make you sicker.

Tropical diseases and septic wounds are no adventure. They ruin your trip, can ruin your wallet and leave you regretting it for the rest of your life.

I suppose you don't need travel insurance too. Because that's hardly being adventurous either. Just drag yourself home. Crawling on your elbows with a shattered spine. Don't forget to capture that on your GoPro.

"I don't need no god dam ambulance... That's not an adventure. Get those scissors away from me... NOOOOO DON'T SHAVE OFF MY ADVENTURE BEARD"


Excuse my sarcasm.. I don't carry a mobile hospital. Just the basics to keep the trip on track.. Just trying to make a point.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Made me chuckle

Wayne

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OK OK you made your point. But this bit is definitely out of a movie:

((Just drag yourself home. Crawling on your elbows with a shattered spine)).

As you said it is like a lottery. All I meant is one should take some medications and some emergency bits and pieces and take a lucky dip...and who knows may be will hit the jackpot and come back home safe with nice memories.
I wouldn't say take out of date/incorrectly prescribed medication...this is just being plain stupid. And for someone contributed over 4400 posts you should understand what's meant!!!

And yes getting sceptic wounds and nasty parasitic infections is PART OF THE PACKAGE. How getting fixed is something else.
Now here is a fact : third world countries are dirty and full of diseases and the health care is very poor....and one can never fully prepare for every emergency, but I don't think someone doing a round Africa or Eastern Asia trip will be faced away by unlabelled or out of date medicines. Just have some basic stuff and hit the road....and that is HARDCORE.

I have no GoPro I have a Drift.
I always had travel insurance.
I hate beard.
and......Please stop taking the mickey.

Originally Posted by schenkel View Post
But that is part of the risk of going on such an adventure, otherwise let's stay home where you get help from the air ambulance.
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
How is taking out of date, non-effective or incorrectly prescribed medication for a septic wound or nasty parasitic infection 'Part of the adventure'.. ???


Just a little correction here for those who couldn't read well I originally said part of the risk not part of the adventure.

Ha Ted, great post - reminds me of that one not so long ago where someone said that he doesn't carry spare tires through Africa, but makes them himself by combining shreds of old tires which he finds by the roadside.

It is actually a really good point, i.e. that it is amazing that no matter what 'scene' one 'gets into', one always finds that there is always someone willy waving somewhere. My adventure's bigger than yours mate, etc!

and lets move on please.

Impossible.....

Probably a good idea.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Well, I didn't say it's like a lottery. Maybe Ted feels that way, but I don't. I believe I get to stack the odds in my favor in various ways, and to the extent that it doesn't interfere with my trip I'm definitely going to do so.

And while you may believe that the proverbial "someone" won't face fake, adulterated or mis-handled medicines, I've had exactly that experience--counterfeit or expired anti parasitic meds purchased in India when I was dangerously weak from giardia. Neglect to bring your nice, European or American metronidazole to south Asia or Africa and you might have that experience, too.

Or maybe not; maybe you'll go into a Melanesian pharmacy looking for antibiotics because you see red streaks running up your legs following a minor foot wound....and notice that the antibiotics are stored in a giant, dusty, bulk bottle with a long-faded label, on a top shelf in a humid, non-airconditioned room where the ambient temps approach 100F/40C degrees. That's what happened to me in Papua long ago, and I've carried fresh antibiotics ever since.

Or you'll visit a friend in the malaria ward in a West African hospital and see the nurses re-using needles--Grand Bassam, December 2000. Or.....(insert your worst-case healthcare nightmare here).

I'm not telling you what you should bring on whatever your style of preferred adventure. I *am* telling you I've got good reasons for carrying exactly the kit I carry. You might be in a position to learn from me, and I from you.

best,

Mark

And anyway, if anyone else has any more ideas on what to carry when out and about feel free to post

Wayne

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I said FACED AWAY which means turned away!!!!

For stomach problems/lose stools you can use Imodum. Remember it wont cure anything - just slow down your intestins. But comes in handy now and then while on the road.

For real gastointestinal infections, with fever general ill feeling I have always had sucsess with Ciproxin. So I recommend to carry 10-20 tablets of that. Works on a lot if fifferent bacterias. Metronidazole is also an antibiotic that are good for many of the bugs that creates stomach problems.
Amoxicillin is often an effective good antibiotich for skin and wound infections.

Personally I carry only Ciproxin of antibiotics.

Remember for any infection one get - if following the book - one should take a sample of the problematic area and grow the bacteria and find out what kind of bacteria that is present and then decide what antibiotic that effective. But of course this impossible 1000 km and two bordercrossings from the nearest decent hospital.

Scratches and small wounds often get infected in the tropics such as southeast asia. The bacterias tend to be more agressive and potent there compared to Europe and N. America. So be careful with scratches and wounds. Clean them carefully with a decent antiseptic fluid and carry also some antibiotic cream and or Iodine and some band aid and small bandages.

Painkillers as Paracetamol and ibuprofen also comes in handy if any pain problem.

All the above mentioned can be bought in most famacies in Chiang Mai without prescription so theres no need to bring them from UK..... ;-)
And there are literary a farmacy on every corner there.

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