I think it is best to avoid anti-biotics for stomach bugs or diarrhea unless it is extreme or unless you have an actual parasite that will probably not leave on its own accord i.e. the India backpackers favourite - Giardia. Taking powerful anti-biotics kills everything. It really should be a last resort. Likewise, Immodium can cause problems as it undermines your bodies natural defenses, another last resort then.

Exercising caution when choosing places to dine out and implementing some sort of decent water filtration would be wise, as prevention is always the best cure. Also, the worldwide overuse of anti-biotics undermining their effectiveness. I also feel if I can get through a bout of the runs without them that I`m taking one for the team

As for Valium, that is a really useful drug to have around but yes I can attest to it being highly addictive. It is annoying that they are restricted in Europe, for as Ted says, they are fantastic for long-haul flights, and turn an otherwise cramped 14 hour flight into a pretty good party, especially combined with two, three, four or five plus complimentary gin and tonics - after which I find everything makes perfect sense

Iodine liquid is the best anti-septic in my experience, especially for the tropics where cream-based treatments are ineffective. Plus you can purify water with it - great stuff! Only problem is that is it quite hard to find, definitely stock up before you leave.

on a trip to africa ,had all the antibiotics ,stomach cures
what I forgot was some medicated eyedrops.

was in the central kalahari with some sort of eye infection.
was ready to head for gabarone hospital,when a kindly south african lady
gave me some eye drops .three days later good as new.

good luck
kp

You don't need to take the pharmacy with you as most of what you take from the UK is available everywhere in the world and a lot cheaper.

Not really. In some places they donw even have new needles so if you dont bring your own they use the ons from the patient before:


Visiting the worst clinic ever in Cambodia

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And the drugs are often un-labeled, in Arabic, out of date etc etc.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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Usually my travel health kit contains antidiarrheal medication like bismuth subsalicylate, antihistamine, anti-motion sickness medication, acetaminophen, aspirin, cough drops, antifungal and antibacterial ointments and 1% hydrocortisone cream. And I store everything in special containers bought at https://www.walmart.com/browse/healt...979341_6338546 https://allinpackaging.co.uk/containers/

have a safe trip

__________________
cheers

Not sure if this is what you are talking about, but I have a small med bag, and in that bag I have one of those cheap 7 day pill boxes with:

Advil, Aspirin, Benadryl, Imodium A-D, Tums, Tylenol, Cough Drops

over the years it has been used a lot by a lot of people.

In the whole Kit:
Band-Aids, Medical Wrap, Medical Tape, Eye Drops, Tiger Balm, Hand Cleaner, Sunscreen, Pepto-Bismal, Monkey Butt Powder, Hand Lotion, Lip Balm (chapstick stuff), pill box with stuff above.

It all fits in a Walmart school pencil bag.

Think everything else has been mentioned here, but just a word of caution for antibiotics: do not use it intermittently. Take it as recommended, and do so until the last day of the recommendation. In the case of counterfeit drugs, just make sure to stick with legit pharmacies, an online search should help you with that.