In an emergency or grid-down scenario, pharmacies are generally the first establishments targeted for looting. Unfortunately, this has been seen numerous times during natural disasters, riots and other public outbursts.
So, what can you do if you can’t safely get to your local CVS to get the medicine you need to survive?
Being prepared means stocking up on all the items you may need should you find yourself in a precarious situation, that includes medications that can save your life.
While everyone will require different things, there are some items that should always be held in your stockpile.
Over-The-Counter medications, or OTCs, are the easiest medicines to get your hands on as they do not require a prescription. Thus, OTC medications should be added to your stock early and rotated regularly.
1. Pain Medications
While OTC pain medicines are generally less effective than prescription painkillers, they can help alleviate some of the side effects of injury and take the edge off.
OTC pain medications include Tylenol, Advil, or Naproxen, which treat pain and inflammation.
⇒ Similar to Morphine: The Best Natural Painkiller That Grows In Your Backyard
Although these medications are prevalent, and you may have a small supply on hand, chances are you do not have a significant stockpile – though you should. These medications are commonly overlooked or understocked by preppers.
Furthermore, even if you have some stored in your preparedness kit, you can quickly run out if you are injured or under stress. Having too much medication is always better than not enough.
2. Antiemetics
Antiemetics are anti-diarrhea and anti-nausea medicines. These include products such as Pepto Bismol and Imodium.
In an emergency, you are more likely to encounter contaminated water that can lead to an upset stomach. Additionally, nausea or diarrhea may be caused by a change of diet. Regardless of the cause, these medications can be a lifesaver and should be a part of your stockpile.
Storing these medications in pill form rather than liquid whenever possible is better. It is also a good idea to stock some stool softeners and laxatives.
3. Cold And Flu Medicine
Treating a cold or flu is something we often take for granted. When we feel a cold coming on, we run out to the pharmacy for some Sudafed. However, these simple trips may not be safe or possible in an emergency. Therefore, stocking some cold and flu medication is a good idea so that you have it available when you need it.
4. Antibiotics
In any emergency, infection poses the most significant risk to your health and safety.
Typically, if we get an infection, we visit the doctor, take some antibiotics, and continue unfazed. Unfortunately, an infection can quickly become severe without a doctor or pharmacy access. Furthermore, in a crisis even a small cut or scrape can be a death sentence.
Infections are powerful and they continue to end lives even today. Infections of various types have been a top killer throughout history.
Stocking up on antibiotics is your best defense, and it is an excellent way to be prepared. However, unlike OTCs, antibiotics can be challenging to acquire.
In fact, it is getting more and more difficult to get your hands on antibiotics, and some regions are regulating and limiting their use. If possible, keep a few prescribed antibiotics on hand or look for alternatives.
Note: Most fish or aquarium stores will sell antibiotic products.
However, there is a safety concern, and we do not condone using these unless it is a dire emergency.
Furthermore, be sure to do research before consumption.
Related: What Actually Happens If You Take Fish Antibiotics
Some companies will prescribe emergency supplies of antibiotics, and you can keep them on hand for use in an emergency.
Apart from these four medicines, here’s what you shouldn’t forget about:
Daily Medications
One of the most significant barriers we will face during a crisis is accessing required daily medications. For example, blood pressure pills and insulin are usually only prescribed in small amounts and refilled monthly.
Should a crisis arise that prevents you from refilling these medications, the consequences could be fatal.
While it can be complicated to stock up on these products, and doctors are not likely to prescribe an emergency supply, it is still a good idea to plan and find a way to safely store or access these things if needed.
Home Remedies
Home remedies have been used for thousands of years to treat various ailments, and these treatments could be a lifesaver in an emergency.
Turmeric is an excellent example of an effective home remedy. It has been widely used for centuries and is backed by scientific evidence supporting its use in treating pain and inflammation.
While turmeric may be less effective than a painkiller, drinking turmeric tea daily can significantly reduce pain.
Research the most common home remedies and ensure you store at least a few for an emergency. It is important to remember that just because something is labeled as all-natural does not mean it is always safe. Use any remedy with caution.
While you can’t prepare for everything, you can be as prepared as possible. Stocking up on medications should be at the top of your to-do list if you are new to prepping and should always be an aspect of your routine if you are a veteran.
This is not a comprehensive list of medications you should store for an emergency. Instead, it is meant to make you think about the types of things you may require should SHTF.
I would love to hear what medications you recommend that I have not listed. Feel free to share your thoughts and tips in the comments. Stay safe.
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I had a friend who used to work at a pharmaceutical company in charlotte NC. He said human antibiotics were packaged on day shift, and animal antibiotics on night shift…always from the same drums so there shouldn’t be any concern over using them.
Exactly. My uncle who is a pharmacist told me years ago they were the same thing. I have a nice supply stocked away.
Maybe we need a neutral Inspector General investigation of all American and foreign Big pharma facilities. We don’t want a self reporting from the big pharma industry. We will never get to the truth of drug manufacturing.
Are we safe? Before the AMA dominance we had the old family practice doctors using Homeopathy medicine.
So both are the same in ingredients. Are the ones for humans more refined in less additives than the animal version of the same stuff?
When I think of vats it reminds me of the concrete mixer vats. After awhile if not scraped they get caked with the previous batches. So are our meds really all that pure whether for humans or animals? Interesting?
Pill form fish antibiotic made in same lab as human has number on it as human pills do. They will be same color size ECT. You can look that number up in nurses drug hand book which you should own as well, will find all info needed, dose to use for age, purpose of drug, contra indications, much info in small hand book. Thomas Labs makes both human and fish, same number imprinted on pill. Get the nurses drug hand book if opt for fish antibiotic!
I’ve used them for years on both myself and my animals and they worked fine with no side effects. I also buy abx online
Neighbor showed me his “fish” antibiotics, and they were identical to the ones my doc gave me for a leg laceration that got infected. Identical. The contents also looked and smelled the same, and I touched my fingertip to both and they both tasted the same, not good, but the same.
On/off topic; Current events-
We are dependent on China for our base medical ingredients. Even those American companies say it’s made in America is a red herring or so. Those companies buy China ingredients and mix them on American soil.
What is hilarious is China also makes Fentanyl sent to Mexican drug cartels to kill Americans same time.
**We got China owned American farms stealing patented vegetable seeds from American farms. They are reveres engineering the seeds to use it against us in the future. Failed crops, insect attacks, food supply is our national security.
Poor nutrition, poor minded actions to stop or enforce our nations laws. Build the Southern Border Wall as Chinese nationals invade our land. They congregate on Chinese owned American Farms.
**Recently authorities have found at least one California Chinese illegal lab. Chock full of potential bio-weapons diseases and chemicals.
Currently we have at least 2 Chinese born, naturalized citizens in the Navy spying on and giving sensitized information to their Chinese handler. Videos, manuals, real-time military operations.
Yes!!! bring in the flood of illegals into America, they honest hard working spies and terrorist. Coming to a neighborhood home or apartment next to us. Who the hell is vetting those illegal criminals?????????
In Florida they have found cases of Leprosy. There are govt plain flights of illegals with weird diseases we have not seen in decades or eliminated by legitimate vaccines.
Americans are too dumb to put down their Chinese influenced social media and China made smartphones to see. You are being lied to everyday, most people don’t know any better anymore.
So maybe that is why the enlightened do prepping. They see we can’t fix stupid, it costs too much to fix.
And low information people think TRUMP is all the problem, guess again folks!
Happy Friday!, enjoy the weekend until Monday reality hits us again!
OK, Eeyore. Gotta stay real but at the same time fear allows the demons in. So keep that energy upbeat while you still can.
Also heard from a whistleblower the big pharma mix old drugs in vats. These are made into drugs for the military. No wonder we hear of medical issues happening with the military personnel.
The COVID meds forced on the public and the military so far is showing up in heart issues.
The evil powers in politics forced a take the shot or die as in loose your job and freedom for not taking the shot.
Trump got the slow ball rolling warp speed to develop a vaccine.
But the elites took advantage of pushing an untested COVID vaccine on Americans. New meds are supposed to get a trial period to adjust and shake out the variables. The politician’s rush in judgement made very bad mistakes.
It did not help by the evil medical dictator of Dr. Anthony Fauci and his friends. The bioweapon labs in China were funded by the unknowing American taxpayers.
COVID was a weapon of mass big pharma destruction on Americans and the world population.
Who are these evil people? Why are there bioweapon labs around the world? Are they part of the culture of death? The Gay, lesbian lifestyle, abortion, destruction of the core family, even war all depopulation examples.
Will the coming 2024 election be more than just electing a new president? Are we on the verge of taking back America to ‘we the people’ or have complete tyranny?
Medicine can be our Red pill or Blue pill decision of our future in health and politics.
Do we need to stock up on big pharma drugs or make our own meds?
Pride comes before the fall.
Will we have a phoenix movement to the AMA that protects medical doctor’s with malpractice insurance.
And reset our medicine knowledge and med school to include alternative medicine as equals? The AMA demands only a board certified medical physician can cure a disease. How did the AMA and other med organizations come to power?
Why can’t other forms of medicine be recognized as healers an cures of the human condition? Spiritual, Tesla type medicine, Herbal, on pare with the drug culture.
The psychiatric medicine is it really medicine or a form of mind manipulation torture. Is the recent PTSD another way for doctors to pump the individual for drugs? Then really addressing the conditions then the symptoms?
America from the 20th century to the 21st century have seen big pharma more of a wealth creating machine than a true healing component.
What is needed is a completely competitive system for medicines. NOT LINKED to regulation that inhibits individuals purchasing their own medicine. If I know I need an antibiotic then I should be able to purchase it. PERIOD. There are no risks in purchasing what I ALREADY KNOW is the correct medicine for my situation. There should NEVER BE REGULATOIN BETWEEN A DR AND INDIVIDUAL PAYING FOR THEIR SERVICES.
The mess that created this problem is supporting a FEDERAL TYRANT KING MEDICINE RULER…
Somethings governments should not stick their noses into. Like twisting non-approved alternative medicine because the bureaucratic AMA says so.
Then we get Microsoft-like bloatware govt agencies: like the IRS, FDA, FTC, AT&F, Homeland Security from 911, the Patriot Act spying on the public.
And eventual corruption of once good intent into weaponized agencies of the Biden Crime Family and other elites as well.
They caused more problems when law enforcement got in tight with the prohibitionists of alcohol. Causing criminals like the mafia to profit and many murders because of restricting alcohol. Sometimes the religious people get the noses in a twist for someones personal choices like booze. Probably back then the church coffers were loosing out to alcohol use an abuse.
We get too many prissy-ass control freaks wanting the 15 minutes of control fame. Americans don’t care for dictatorships. That seem to be rearing their ugly heads today. Because of less educated public. Like what happened to the school lockdowns of the teacher’s prison union mafia!
Why pot was considered on the same level as heroine was do to a bureaucrat.
Much of Harry Anslinger’s crusade against marijuana was predicated on the racist fear that drugs in the hands of blacks posed a danger to white women and children.
The U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs held a moment of silence in memory of Anslinger’s passing during its February 1976 meeting.
At least Mrs. Reagan had it right, JUST SAY NO! If you dumb enough to take illicit drugs suffer the consequences but don’t ask us for help either. We have our own lives to live by our choices in life too. Those who smoke or vap don’t ask us to feel sorry for you either, it was your choice. Life has it’s choices we make them everyday.
Govt is never about commonsense, no matter what their crazy PSA’s promote.
He Anslinger, started the original WAR ON DRUGS!
The CIA’s cold war mind control experiments of drugs like LSD, Timothy Leary stuff. CIA safe houses drugged innocent civilians. And during those times the drug of choice for the hippie movement was pot. The current pot strengths of THC in pot is more potent.
Drugs in America have been used for nefarious purposes including the foreign agents doing terrorist activities on our public. Since the beginning of America to present.
People who want to have a beer once in awhile encounter the likes of the woke sh*t head that brought down Bud lite. Drug cartels are still supplying the addicts with fentanyl laced pot.
Could tough love of letting all the drug users by their choices, by letting them die. Be away to eliminate our drug addicted society, withhold medical care. Fight fire with fire on the China and India drug manufactures and the Mexican drug cartels. It’s time to step up or society rotting from within, no enemy bullets shot in our takeover.
i use honey some time for stomach issues
Shelf life of medicines must be considered.
Off topic but relevant, did you hear about the August 20 or 22, 2023 banking?
Something about foreign countries having a gold backed currency to replace the US dollar?
What is going on? Will our dollars be useless and do we buy gold and silver now?
I believe we are being attacked by a group of elites who hate America.
We should have stopped Nixon and gone back to American gold back money. It maybe too late to reverse course. We got Biden the globalist in charge he will sell us out ASAP!
Meds in America have been stranglehold by the AMA for decades. The drug dealer physician’s get a kickback from big pharma pushing poison.
I buy silver rounds and bars in 1 ounce sizes. It’s cheaper than gold by a long shot and neither gold or silver has ever been worth zero. I chose silver instead of gold because you can easily break pieces off of the coin or bar to buy things depending on the cost. Yes you “can” do the same with gold but it’s harder due to the size of the coin or bar. If someone wants $25 for a couple of gallons of gas a single silver coin would do it but how will you figure out how much $25 is on a gold coin worth $1500 now? I’m talking CURRENT silver and gold prices. Both will go up in value WHEN the SHTF. To me it’s just easier to use silver but I’m not against having gold as well. Just my 25 cents. (Went up from 2 cents because of Biden).
Now is a good time to improve your overall health. If you have problems with certain chronic diseases, learn what you can do to lessen their effects. I require no medications to sustain me.
It is good to learn as much as you can about how to use what is right in your backyard that you can use to help you and your family medicinally cope if (when) SHTF does happen. OTC medications run out or expires so it behooves us to do what we can to protect ourselves from disease.
I also keep a good supply of allergy medication available – seasonal allergies are a pain, but if you had a bad reaction to something new, a Benedryl might save your life.
FYI the military at Ft Dietrich did a study roughly 20yrs ago to find ways to save money on drugs they were using. They had been tossing meds on the “use by” date or “expiration ” dates. Turns out MOST drugs lasted years after those dates. Some 29 30yrs with no loss of efficacy. This is both OTC and prescription meds. OTC meds mostly change the boxes and expire dates so they can sell you more drugs. A few antibiotics like doxycicline don’t last a huge amount past their expiration dates. Some liquids are the same way. (BTW do NOT flush drugs down the toilet or just put in the trash. Some studies show those meds show up in potable water since some waste water is recycled). Check your local fire or police departments for where you can dispose them if needed. While I don’t recall the name of the study it is available on line with good info about ACTUAL time periods that certain drugs lose their effectiveness. Try Ft Dietrich medicine study or something similar. It may also be available from the US Printing Office.
Everything I have read about using animal meds seems positive and youu can buy them online but they always come with a disclaimer because they have to. FishMox and Fish Flex are 2 that I recall. One source is a guy named Dr Joe Alton. He has a website and monthly news letter.
I also recommend getting things like sutures, skin staples, emergency surgery kit and some medical books that show how to do things. Look in 2nd hand book stores and thrift stores because new books are very expensive. Get a PDR. That’s a Physicians Desk Reference as it has pretty much everything about meds/pills in it. Yo don’t necessarily have to have the latest like 2023 because they too are expensive. Again try thrift and used book stores. If you can get any of these books under %50 you are doing good. They are usually upwards of $200 plus. You can also get medical equipment on Amazon and other online companies too for things like sutures and suture kits. They will say “for student practice only” but they are the same stuff your surgeon or doctor uses.
Get some Israeli bandages and a tourniquet or 2 as well. And you can never have too many bandages. Large, med, small, skin closures, finger tip and yes you CAN use kotex for heavy bleeding. They are designed for that. I have heard use tampons for bullet wounds or large puncture wounds but others say no. Do your own research there. Speaking of “those ” things have a stockpile of them too. You WILL need them almost as much as you will need toilet paper. Lol.
Hi everyone. Look up Jase Medical for your emergency meds. Like most meds, you must follow instructions for best results. the kit comes with an explanation for each.
Looking at the facts section questions. It’s not a simple process, somewhere we need our primary physician to have done an examine in a 2 year period. And provide a government issue ID. The meds are determined by the Telemedicine physician.
It’s good for those hooked into the system, not for those who want to be off the grid. It’s good for those who need a legal emergency backup source.
Yes Robert! I have the Jase antibiotic kit. It’s Great! Low costs and appears good quality.
I also think another great med is Ivermectin, a wide spectrum antiviral including all strains of Covid, parasites and one of the safest drugs – about 40 x safer than Ibuprofen, and just a few dollars per pill. If you live near the Mexican border, it can be bought over the counter for about $2.50 each There are also places on line in the US where it can be bought, and they will write you an RX to make it legal.
Good info!
Probiotics,
I use milk kefir grains, not store bought premade milk kefir.
The best grains so far are; Amazon Fusion Teas 1 TBSP Organic Milk Kefir Grains. Tried others, these seem to do well.
Baking soda and white vinegar for stomach issues. It really works. Or you can boil Strawbery leaves and use a spoonful to settle.
Antacids would be good to have.
Any Type 2 diabetic should have on hand and be using Berberine, 500 mg twice a day. I have stopped taking all insulin, Metformin and Sulfonylurea drugs since starting Berberine. Doc was so impressed by my A1c results, she started her own mother on it.
Or if you’re prediabetic. Helps us too!
Maybe ditch the pharmaceuticals and go with the constant advice on this site and use natural solutions
Carob powder for diarrhea works very well for animals and humans. There are many incredible medicines outside. I remember when I was young an elder lady that lived near us came over and she had a broken ankle or leg. My mom took some of her comfrey (knitbone) and made a poultice and strapped it on there with some cheesecloth. She said it stopped the pain and the doctors said it healed up great. And she was an alcoholic!!
While you mention Home Remedies, it is a tiny part of this post. Our Grandparents, great-grandparents had no option for medicines like we do now, yet they used “Home Remedies” very successfully.
Everything on this list can be made from local herbs and items in your pantry, AND without the side effects or toxic ingredients. Yes, even herbals for virus and bacteria. Even to help prevent health issues in the first place.
Most all Rx’s were made using natural herbs and ingredients. The basis for Metformin, a T2D drug came from the herb Goat’s Rue. Aspirin from White Willow Bark, and on and on…
The over use of antibiotics causes several problems, including: needing to use stronger and stronger doses to get the same results, drug resistant bacteria, which means that the ‘bugs’ become used to the medications and it won’t work anymore, which could actually lead to death and other issues.
Herbals used to help with infections instead of antibiotics do not have the same problems and bacteria do not become resistant to herbs.
I’m NOT saying to stay away from antibiotics completely, and there are some instances where they must be used, but the first choice should be to use herbals unless it is life threatening.
I disagree with stocking up on cold/flu remedies. Instead stock up on C, D3, Zinc etc..
Cold remedies suppress the symptoms, they don’t cure the cold. We are designed to fight off colds…the running nose, water eyes, coughing are all meant to expel the bug. If we suppress those symptoms it can take longer to recover. I always let a cold “run it’s course” and hit the vitamins, Vicks, chicken soup, water & electrolytes. The so called remedies are great if you must function (go to work, etc…) but IMHO they just prolong the inevitable.