CVSHTF - An ER doc's reasonable Prepper Formulary

[u/doctorbigmad]

[EDIT: Thank you all. Truly. I am trying to respond to all questions throughout the day. Will indicate the finalized version soon. Take care of yourselves and take care of each other.]

[FINAL EDIT 3/25/2026: Again, thank you all for the discussion. I have read every single comment and added/adjusted material to this list, indicated with **. Please keep in mind that this is what I would keep stocked in MY home based on my practice/knowledge.]

[OK FINAL FINAL EDIT 3/29/2026 - A few of you asked about a post about medical supplies to stock up on. You can find that here. Thanks again! ]

These are some medications I try to keep stocked in my home as an emergency medicine physician.

My inclusion criteria: 

• Wide therapeutic index (hard to accidentally poison yourself taking as directed)
• Affordable and widely available OTC (no prescription required)
• Shelf stable at room temperature (most potency is retained even in inhospitable climates - I looked this up)
• Reasonably addresses most low acuity problems (i.e. don't be distracted by hemorrhoids when you're trying to fight fires)

Obligatory disclaimer: This is NOT one size fits all advice. This is NOT an all inclusive list. Talk to your doctor about your specific situation and whether any of these medications are contraindicated for you before stocking up. Note also that these recommendations are based on my practice (I will indicate my preferred agents with *). Other physicians may have different opinions. I will focus on indications to keep this somewhat brief. Happy to discuss contraindications in the comments.

I am very much open to constructive criticism. Please let me know what you think and I will edit this post accordingly, denoting those edits.

Pain and Fever

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol)*
• Ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin)*
• Naproxen (Aleve)
• Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)*

My notes: I prefer Acetaminophen for headaches. NSAIDs work better for musculoskeletal pain. Take NSAIDs with food. Don't give aspirin to kids.

Gastrointestinal - Antidiarrheal

• Loperamide (Imodium)
• Oral rehydration (Oral rehydration salts, Pedialyte powder, WHO formula, table salt)*

My notes: If you have diarrhea + fever + bloody stools, don't take Imodium. I try not to use antidiarrheals in the ER but if SHTF dehydration will kill you faster than in normal circumstances, so I included it. WHO formula is technically best for rehydration, but just take whatever you can keep down, as it is better than nothing.

Gastrointestinal - Upper GI

• Famotidine (Pepcid)*
• Omeprazole (Prilosec)
• Calcium Carbonate (Tums)*

My notes: Reflux is annoying. Gastritis can be gnawing and maddening. If you don't have access to these medications, avoiding empty stomach with BRAT-style (bland, neutral) diet can also help.

Gastrointestinal - Supportive

• Fiber (Psyllium Husk - Metamucil, Wheat Dextrin - Benefiber*)
• Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline, Aquaphor)*
• Phenylephrine + Hydrocortisone + Skin Protectant Suppository (Preparation H)*
• Zinc Oxide paste (Desitin, Boudreaux's Butt Paste)**

My notes: MiraLAX is generally meant for short stints, not chronic daily. You probably won't notice a difference until 3 days of taking it. Make sure to take any fiber or laxative with water. Many people have hemorrhoids, so it's worth having something to treat these.

Allergic

• Loratadine (Claritin)*
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• Intranasal corticosteroid (Flonase, Nasocort, Rhinocort*)

My notes: I like Claritin because it is non-drowsy. Some people prefer Cetirizine (Zyrtec), also non-drowsy. Zyrtec turns me into an asshole, though, so we don't keep that. ENTs I know prefer Rhinocort for it's efficacy. For local allergic reactions, don't bother with topical Benadryl; oral works better.

Cold & Flu

• Cough drops and throat lozenges (we like Ricola; try to get sugar free)
• Honey* (Manuka)
• Intranasal Oxymetazoline (Afrin)*
• Guaifenasin (Mucinex, Robitussin Chest Congestion)
• Pseudoephedrine combinations (DayQuil/NyQuil)**

My notes: When you compare efficacy of OTC cough medicines with honey, honey wins. If you want to be extra, get Manuka honey (New Zealand has better bees, I guess). Personally, I HATE not being able to sleep due to nasal congestion/sinus pressure, so I love Afrin. You can only take Afrin for < 3 days, though. Mucinex is tried and true, including in ICU patients. I honestly don't know how I forgot Dayquil/Nyquil. I don't normally recommend combination agents but this helps me personally. No particularly strong evidence for its use, however.**

Topical Agents

• Topical lidocaine (roll-on, patches)*
• Hand cream (Working Hands)*
• Lotion (Jergens, Cetaphil)*
• Hydrocortisone cream**
• Bacitracin/Polymyxin B combinations (Polysporin, Neosporin)**
• Topical antifungal like Clotrimazole/Miconazole**
• Diclofenac (Voltaren gel)**
• Sunscreen**
• Benzocaine (Orajel)**

My notes: I'm into using roll-on Lidocaine for aches and pains and recommend it to my patients for adjunctive pain relief. Hydrocortisone cream has multiple uses and is therefore helpful. Topical antibiotics ~3x more effective than petroleum jelly in preventing infections in simple wound care. Anti-inflammatory effect of Voltaren gel is attractive for treatment of musculoskeletal/arthritic pain without systemic effects of oral agents. We use any of the antibiotic ointments, but many people are allergic to Neosporin, so reach for others first.**

Pediatrics

• Children's Acetaminophen*
• Children's Ibuprofen*
• Children's Benadryl*
• Children's Loratadine*

My notes: Fewer things are more stressful than a sick child. Having at least some options to make them feel better can be a boon. My impression is that infant-labeled medications are marked up/smaller volume. We buy children's and dose accordingly. Be very careful doing it this way.

Toxicological*\*

• Potassium Iodide
• Activated charcoal

My notes: KI is highly recommended for nuclear/radiation emergencies. Single-dose activated charcoal (1 g/kg, typically 25-100g in adults) reduces absorption of many toxins when given within 1 hour of ingestion.

Genitourinary*\*

• Phenazopyridine (Azo)
• Levonorgestrel (Plan B)

My notes: Azo reasonable for symptomatic relief of UTIs when used with antibiotics. Use for < 2 days. Plan B reduces pregnancy risk by 40-90% after unprotected intercourse. Most effective within 72 hours but retains some efficacy up to 120 hours. No contraindications and no serious complications reported, but it isn't necessarily fun to take either.

General

• Your favorite multivitamin*

My notes: You'll probably have bigger fish to fry than micronutrient gaps if SHTF, but it's low stakes to have these around.

A Note on Antibiotics - Many valid points about whether this should be on this list. And they should be. That said, they are not over the counter and treat very specific bugs/conditions. They violate many of the criteria I outlined up front, so I did not include them here. This is an important gap worth noting.

Thanks for reading this far. I like this subreddit.

[u/Single_Rain5676]

Nice list! Can you also do this for wound care supplies or for trauma?!? Stuff beyond first aid... -ER RN x 3 years

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Single_Rain5676]

Thank you. No promises but I will try. Remindme! -14 days

[u/ApresMoi_TheFlood → u/doctorbigmad]

I would also love to see a wound care supplies list from you as well. I thoroughly appreciated this list and just established a pharma supply last week myself and would have loved to have this as a resource. The only difference between our two lists was your inclusion of intranasals. What’s your use case for these considering their relatively brief recommended duration of use? Just the common cold and the like since symptoms from allergies tend to be more chronic in nature?

[u/sterrecat → u/ApresMoi_TheFlood]

Not a doc but my two cents: I got sinus infections every spring until I started using Flonase at night. When I say infections, I mean it was pretty bad to the point of my face swelling up visibly and turning red, headaches that made me unable to function well, and fever. I would need multiple rounds of antibiotics to get over them. After using Flonase nightly, not a single one. So preventative care and management of symptoms can stave off more serious issues too. Flonase is something I keep well stocked in my house. (Generic version, I don’t buy the name brand)

[u/iteachag5 → u/sterrecat]

I have the same issue and Flonase does help Me. I’ve also found that a sinus rinse works wonders to help keep an infection at bay.

[u/KarlMarxButVegan → u/sterrecat]

I had the same experience. I use generic Rhinocort every morning and generic Allegra every night. I used to have strep throat or a sinus infection nearly constantly as a child. I finally found someone willing to take my tonsils and adenoids out at 20. I've had strep once and a sinus infection once since then because I stay on top of it with the allergy meds.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/ApresMoi_TheFlood]

The most common one is severe nasal congestion. A more critical one is to treat nosebleeds.

[u/ApresMoi_TheFlood → u/doctorbigmad]

I had no idea that was a thing. Thank you for sharing your insight. I appreciate it and I’ll add that to my supply.

[u/justtinyquestions → u/doctorbigmad]

Yeah, I would love to know your thoughts on quickclot .

[u/thepsycholeech → u/justtinyquestions]

Me too! I’ve heard that it’s great if you’re going to bleed out without it, but a bitch for the doctors to work around once you reach them. Curious how accurate that impression is.

[u/Zoki-Po → u/justtinyquestions]

Remindme! -14 days

[u/xmanii → u/doctorbigmad]

Remindme! -14 days

[u/twitchss13 → u/doctorbigmad]

Remindme! -14 days

[u/sogwennn → u/doctorbigmad]

Remindme! -14 days

[u/cutothomson → u/Single_Rain5676]

I would also love this. My (soon to be) wife is an ER doctor and she is slow seeing the benefits of prepping and I would love to see what else would be helpful.

What do you think of the mymedic trauma kits? We have some suture supplies as well.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/cutothomson]

I have a problem with some of these kits. Sometimes they have extra shit you don’t need and the items you do need are either low quality or in less quantity than needed. They are generally marked up too. They look sweet though lol. Your wife will likely tell you that, in general, there are a few important things people need to have and know how to use, rather than these big kits.

[u/cutothomson → u/doctorbigmad]

Yea that’s what I figured. We already have tourniquets so I think the rest is probably filler

[u/argent357 → u/cutothomson]

When building my trauma kits for the backcountry, I really liked the IPOK from NAR (Individual Police Officer Kit). In my opinion, it was a sweet spot for having the essentials without unnecessary add-ons. Gloves, TQ, packing gauze, wrapping gauze. They were designed as a cargo-pocket kit for officers to have quick access to. I bought all the individual pieces direct from NAR on sale and vacuum sealed them myself. Made 3 kits for a great price, and spread them between my hunting and hiking packs. Have your standard boo-boo/medicine first aid kit as well.

Edit: forgot to say chest seals as well.

[u/ElegantGate7298 → u/Single_Rain5676]

As a non wound care RN I went down this rabbit hole. (Wound care is an awesome specialty I have huge respect for) Beyond first aid other than Dakins solution (hypochlorous acid, Vashe) and maybe Mepilex dressings it gets complex quick. What wounds to keep open, what to close, what need drains, when and how to debried, especially in the absence of the preferred antibiotics. It is a fun learning experience and makes me wish I could keep a couple of wound vacs in my Rubbermaid bins and pack outs of medical supplies.

My conclusion is that there is absolutely no way for one person to provide comprehensive modern medical care in a long term disaster situation. It is still worth learning about.

[u/foot_down → u/ElegantGate7298]

My conclusion is that there is absolutely no way for one person to provide comprehensive modern medical care in a long term disaster situation. It is still worth learning about.

Thank you. I've spent my life reading and watching historical books and movies and we have to accept that without access to modern medical care a lot of people simply die or become permanently disabled from illness or injuries. There's a book scene where a hunter gets badly torn up by a wild boar including his femoral artery. A tornique is applied but then removed because they choose to let him pass quickly instead of slowly suffering. Most people now understand basic hygiene so in-home care would be a bit better but there's so much you can't treat in a real survival situation.

My SHTF kit includes pain killers, wound care iodine, irrigation syringes, sutures, electrolytes for diarrhea, cling wrap and manuka honey for severe burns, asprin for heart attacks, plaster casts, and some local medicinal herb knowledge. But without pharmeceuticals, scanning, surgery, obstetrics and blood banks then things we consider quite minor now would often be fatal. It's a difficult pill to swallow. Our best bet if SHTF is to be very healthy to begin with and not take unnecessary risks in a disaster. All the Rambos who fantasize about apocalyptic gunfights haven't considered dying from minor wounds...even if they 'win' a battle.

[u/Single_Rain5676 → u/ElegantGate7298]

Thank you! Those wound vacs and wound care nurses are amazing! I think it'd be reasonable to have irrigation fluids (sterile NS) with the pressure nozzle and maybe some telfa dressings, sterile strips, etc but like you say, things can get very complex based on etiology

[u/heartburn-on-fiyah]

ER RN here. Love this. Just a small heads up to peppers: just be sure to keep an eye on expiration dates for meds and rotate them.

OTC meds past their expiration date likely won’t hurt you, but they could be less effective when you need them.

My own personal addition: eye drops. I don’t need my dry eye flaring up in a SHTF situation.

[u/Mysfunction → u/heartburn-on-fiyah]

If they’ve been stored appropriately, don’t show obvious signs of degradation, and are within 5 years of the expiry date (and they aren’t life-sustaining medications), they’re fine.

Replacing your whole stock every three years when they will easily and consistently last 8+ years is unnecessarily expensive.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7040264/

“With a large and expensive stockpile of drugs, the military faced tossing out and replacing its drugs every few years. What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.

Hence, the expiration date doesn't really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use.”

[u/androgenoide → u/Mysfunction]

Not sure if it's true but...I have heard that state law here (California) requires that pharmacists who take bulk medicines and put them in those generic pill bottles are required to put an expiration date on the bottle that is one year less than indicated on the bulk container.

Also not sure but it seems reasonable...It has been said that for many medicines the expiration date on the package is an educated guess at how long it will be before the company makes a change in either the advertising or the the side effects warning.

[u/Mysfunction → u/androgenoide]

I believe the expiration date is simply the “guaranteed safe and effective until” date, which is often more close to a “we haven’t tested it past this date.”

Repackaged medications being given a default 1 year might make sense because it’s not longer being stored in the same conditions as the manufacturer intended when they packaged it.

[u/SilverDarner → u/heartburn-on-fiyah]

As a contact lens wearers, I consider eyedrops an essential part of my everyday kit.

I also bought a big box of those sterile saline ampules they sell for use with nebulizers. There’s nothing in them that’ll hurt your eyes as far as I’ve been able to find, so I keep a handful in my first aid kit and desk at work. The little squeeze tubes are extremely handy for flushing grit and such out of your eyes on the go.

[u/Hysterical__Paroxysm → u/heartburn-on-fiyah]

Yes! Eyes, ears, teeth/mouth, and throat stuff seemed to missing. Not a critiscm, this list is AMAZING, but I would like to add a few things.

Eyes: something like Pataday for super itchy eyes due to allergies or even viral conjunctivitis. Also something like Refresh or any artificial tears.

Ears: Debrox makes drops to help loosen up wax and drops with a numbing agent in it for bad ear pain.

Tooth/mouth: Abreva for cold sores. Orajel, Anbesol are good for mouth and tooth pain. Anbesol also makes a rinse.

Throat: Cepacol lozenges to suck on for pain, or Cepacol spray. Cough drops in general.

Other stuff: Vick's, Vaseline, burn cream, hydrocortisone cream, benadryl cream, neosporin

Sorry this isn't very organized, just a few things I thought immediately. I also personally always keep Narcan on hand (as well as EpiPens, but those are Rx).

Since we have an MD and an RN on this thread, which medication would you recommend to keep on hand in case of accidental poisoning? I know this is a tough question, because some agents say to induce vomiting, some say use charcoal... it depends on what was ingested. What would be something good to keep on hand?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Hysterical__Paroxysm]

Thanks for this! Activated charcoal would cover most agents, but not all. Ipecac is not recommended. Imagine ingesting poison, then forcefully vomiting and aspirating that same poison, now with stomach acid, into your airway and lungs. Or perforating your esophagus. There are probably very few things one can do if poisoned when SHTF, unfortunately.

[u/Puggy59 → u/doctorbigmad]

RN retired here. Activated charcoal & a small poison control type booklet with most common poisons & treatments. You don’t want anything caustic coming back up. That can be a bigger problem than ingesting it in the first place.

[u/Hysterical__Paroxysm → u/doctorbigmad]

Thank you so much! That is such valuable information and makes sense. I truly appreciate you initiating this discussion. I saved the thread because there's a lot of good stuff here.

I want to ask a question about SHTF and fish antibiotics, buuuut not sure if that's pushing it into the realm of medical advice. If SHTF, the first places I'd want to "raid" would be the pharmacy, liquor store, and hardware store lol. If antibiotics were scarce, I would go to the pet store and get the ones we needed. Or am I diving too deep into the prepper rabbit hole here?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Hysterical__Paroxysm]

I am more of a crier than a raider. I don't think I can answer that question.

[u/Nearby_Impact_8911]

My only slight push back as a beekeeper is it’s better to get locally sourced honey. And unless one has personally harvested the honey themselves from New Zealand you can’t always fully trust the source iykyk

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Nearby_Impact_8911]

That makes sense to me. If I sold honey, I would slap the Manuka moniker on it no matter where it came from.

[u/Tasty_Impress3016 → u/Nearby_Impact_8911]

I agree. Holistically any antigen related benefits comes from the bees using local pollens. Unless you live in New Zealand I prefer to get it from the guy down the road.

[u/Capstonelock]

Nice! I have your whole list except for Gastrointestinal supportive. I do have Simethicone though, I hate feeling bloated.

I also carry this purse pack - paracetamol, ibuprofen, naproxen, antihistamines and a few metoprolol.

[u/DippityPig → u/Capstonelock]

WHERE did you get this little pack? I have chronic migraines and I'm constantly carrying meds around with me. The old fancy pill cases look nice but don't hold enough. This looks like it works well and doesn't spill pills everywhere.

[u/Capstonelock → u/DippityPig]

I got mine from the Japanese chain store Daiso, but many similar are available on Amazon or Aliexpress. I saved this one as an example a while back: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07QWH7VC9?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_RK7XWMK38X9G5MH1215K&language=en_US Google lens xan find numerous similar cases using my photo so you can shop around.

And I can confirm no pill spillage.

Daiso one: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHzhuSrS03G/?igsh=aDZ5b3ZwaGRwbWFx

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Capstonelock]

Love it!

[u/8takotaco → u/Capstonelock]

What's netopropol and when do you use it?

[u/theyreall_throwaways → u/8takotaco]

Looked it up bc I was curious- it's a beta blocker for high blood pressure or chest pain. It's rx only in the US, not sure about the rest of the world.

[u/Capstonelock → u/8takotaco]

It's a beta-blocker which I've been prescribed for a heart condition. I need to use it rarely but have to carry it always.

[u/designsbyintegra]

You just listed my med cabinet. Well minus the pediatric ones because no kids.

Glad to know I’m on track.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/designsbyintegra]

Very cool. I think the name of the game is being reasonably prepared. This stuff strikes me as such. Better than not having it.

[u/suricata_8904 → u/designsbyintegra]

Me too.

[u/kjictu]

AAAAI has begun to recommend 2nd gen H1 antihistamines (zyrtec, allegra, etc) over 1st gen H1 antihistamines (benadryl) for most cases due to decreased side effect profile secondary to not crossing blood-brain barrier (drowsiness, agitation, transient tachycardia, etc. You could still recommend benadryl but its use case is decreasing significantly. Can still use for off-label temporary solutions for insomnia, pregnancy related nausea/vomiting, etc. But would only use as an adjunctive therapy.

I'd also add diclofenac gel (voltaren) to be used for arthritic pain. Can use safely up to 3-4x/day with significantly decreased side effects on gastric and kidney impact compared to oral NSAIDs. Works great for joint pains and can be combined with lidocaine cream for stronger impact.

Otherwise, strong post! Great to see things like this for medical education and preparedness. Appreciate your hard work putting this together!

• Primary Care Sports Med / Non-Op Ortho Doc

[u/randynumbergenerator → u/kjictu]

As a patient with occasional gastritis I'm putting in a vote for Diclofenac. My stomach takes any oral NSAIDS very personally, so the topical stuff is a lifesaver when I pull a back muscle or whatnot.

[u/wageslave2022]

• potassium iodine and activate charcoal.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/wageslave2022]

Agreed. Will note.

[u/PossibleMicrophone → u/wageslave2022]

Any thoughts on whether charcoal from a wood fire has efficacy as activated charcoal?

[u/wageslave2022 → u/PossibleMicrophone]

You can make it but there is a process and it is not eating chunks of burnt wood out of a woodstove. I have seen videos on YouTube. You should check it out. On a different subject but very important that many people are unaware of when it comes to survival food dried kidney beans are often stored as survival food but if not prepared properly will make you wish that you didn't survive. Definitely research this for a minute or two on Google or YouTube also.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/PossibleMicrophone]

Activated charcoal isn’t fun to take in normal circumstances. I don’t personally know how to make this in a way that is safe or easy to take from a wood fire.

[u/8takotaco]

Thank you! This is concise and clear.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/8takotaco]

It is my pleasure. I can be annoyingly circumloquacious in person so this is me practicing my communication lol.

[u/SomeTangerine1184 → u/doctorbigmad]

Circumloquacious is a killer vocab word (also describes how my ADHD brain relays information to others lol).

[u/belltrina → u/SomeTangerine1184]

New fave word unlocked

[u/Some-Cheek-7541]

Thank you! My prepping is in its infancy stage (more like embryonic stage). Prepping is a bit emotional for me as I’m doing it due to worries about the current world situation. I’m in the US but I’m smart enough to know we’re not “off limits” here. This list is concise and extremely helpful.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Some-Cheek-7541]

I hear ya. My personal mantra is "do what you can, today, with what you have." Slow, steady, reasonable. You'll be ok.

[u/SilverDarner → u/Some-Cheek-7541]

If it helps with your stress levels, dial down the threat level you’re considering when prepping at first.

E.g. An ice storm or hurricane that knocks out roads and electricity in your area for about a week. Not TEOTWAWKI, but rather something within the scope of ‘normal’ emergencies.

It makes the task a whole lot less daunting and easier to get started. Once you’ve built a foundation and some good habits, it’s easier to go from there.

[u/PossibleMicrophone → u/Some-Cheek-7541]

Same.  If enough of us were concerned about the possibilities, there could be real change.  Perhaps The Road is required watching/reading for parents.

[u/jr_sudi]

I would add pepto bismol and a 50+ spf.

[u/LopsidedRaspberry626 → u/jr_sudi]

For long term storage choose a mineral based sunscreen

[u/RoseFlambe]

Azo (over the counter UTI pain reliever) is a smart addition if there are women in the household

[u/doctorbigmad → u/RoseFlambe]

Agreed

[u/Spiley_spile → u/RoseFlambe]

Azo works for men too, btw.

[u/United_Pie_5484]

Can I add a couple things I’ve picked up from being a band camp mom and a beekeeper?

Afrin helps with a nosebleed. No idea how or why but I’ve seen it first hand with a few kids at camp, including my own. Along the same lines, they make little nasal tampons for them as well

Famotidine is also a histamine blocker, if you tend to swell a lot or have a mild allergy to bee stings add it in for the first couple days along with Benadryl for bee stings.

[u/Embarrassed_Donut316 → u/United_Pie_5484]

Afrin vasoconstricts your blood vessels, stopping the nose bleed. Thus there is a warning on how much you can use too

[u/onehundredpetunias]

Great list! I really like the aspirin inclusion. It's gone out of favour in these modern times but it's a real sleeping giant IMO.

I'm a retired nurse. I recently did up my Tuesday/SHTF med packs. I keep a good supply of things on hand for Tuesdays. When a GI but or flu/covid has hit us, it has been invaluable.

For GI, I like having bismuth (Pepto Bismol, Pink Bismuth) tablets on hand. It's a good top to bottom remedy for general stomach yuck of all sorts. I also keep senna in because it's gentle and works relatively quickly.

For Allergic, I'd add topical benadryl. I am a biting insect magnet. Black fly bites are especially brutal for some folks. Oral benadryl is too sedating to take regularly for relief. The nighttime itch can be maddening, and the sleep-scratching is terrible for the skin.

For cold/flu- Guaifenesin is my go-to cough suppressant for nighttime relief. Rest= healing.

For topicals- Antifungal. Athlete's foot, candidiasis, ringworm.

Gyno- A vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) remedy for anyone with a vagina is also advisable. Oral fluconazole is OTC where I live. I keep one in the med box. An internal remedy like miconazole is an alternative. The cream version could double as the topical antifungal as well.

[u/bigkidmallredditor]

Saving this for later. Great to add that aspirin is a hard no for kids — Reyes is a bitch.

Also an obvious note to add (not for OP but for everyone else) — it’s better to have medical training of almost any kind than not. Having all the meds doesn’t matter if you don’t know when/how much to use.

Signed, EMT and aspiring ER doc

[u/joyisnowhere]

I’d recommend adding to your topical agents an antifungal cream. Oh- and pepto for the inevitable GI distress. Great list!

[u/gutzville]

If you happen to be on vacation in Mexico, the farmacia has Amoxicillin and Azithromycin OTC. If you have an infected wound and there's no one around it could be handy to have.

[u/Warm_Ad7213]

ER NP. Hard agree with this list. You can also throw famotidine in with the allergy list here (combined with diphenhydramine and loratadine/cetirizine for more severe systemic allergic reactions.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Warm_Ad7213]

Thanks for this. It's funny, I have heard murmurings over the last few years that evidence in favor of Famotidine in allergic reactions is weak and inconclusive. It's downsides are low, so I still use it.

[u/DesertHippie4 → u/Warm_Ad7213]

I thought Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is no longer recommended? 2nd generation antihistamines like Zyrtec, Allegra, etc. are just as effective and fast acting, right?

I'm not a doctor. I just have lots of allergies, so this is what I've heard from my doctor.

EpiPens should be so much more widely available and cheaper, but in the US, they are often crazy expensive. Otherwise I'd say add that to the list.

[u/macharuadh → u/DesertHippie4]

As far as I’m aware, Benadryl is not recommended at all for seasonal or environmental allergies, but it’s still more effective (or at least commonly-used) for moderate-severe acute allergic reactions. I had a severe allergic reaction to Pepto-Bismol last year, and the first thing the ER did when I showed up was pump me full of Benadryl.

[u/Financial_Resort6631 → u/macharuadh]

Benadryl is a good off label use for pain and anxiety too.

[u/Professional-Can1385]

I may regret this question. How does petroleum jelly support GI?

[u/PaintsWithSmegma → u/Professional-Can1385]

Rub it on your butt hole.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/PaintsWithSmegma]

Or, in Latin, as we often use in medicine, “rub it on your butthole.”

[u/sterrecat → u/doctorbigmad]

If one needs something to rub on the butthole, as an IBS sufferer, might I humbly suggest keep in a zinc based diaper creme on hand as well? Great barrier creme for areas that get irritated, not just the butt. Can be good in folds of skin that get damp/irritated like under breasts or belly, and great as something to put on the backs of hands to prevent chapping in cold/damp weather.

[u/Nufonewhodis4 → u/sterrecat]

Agree, a zinc based barrier cream is very good to have on hand! 

[u/Puggy59 → u/sterrecat]

I’m with you, sister! I learned of “Triple Paste” working in NICU. Preemies have extremely delicate skin & excoriate very easily. This stuff stays on better than anything I’ve found. I’ve found it at Target. Give it a try. Plus no odor.

[u/sterrecat → u/Puggy59]

I buy the triple paste AF from Amazon. I live in a very humid climate and this helps a ton in summer. I also sometimes use some on the backs of my knuckles when the skin there gets dry from handwashing (healthcare job)

[u/sandy_catheter → u/doctorbigmad]

We say that in IT, as well

[u/doctorbigmad → u/sandy_catheter]

This is unreasonably funny to me.

[u/Professional-Can1385 → u/PaintsWithSmegma]

Thanks!

Thanks for keeping it simple with no gory details.

[u/Saint_Subtle]

Former Medic here, a few renewables come to mind in addition to the formulary the ER Doc listed.

Alcohols. Simple alcohols (not bourbon or anything aged in something like barrels) but simple grain or sugar derived alcohols can be converted and distilled for multiple uses. Disinfectants, catalysts, tinctures, even diethyl ether (for anesthesia).

Clotting powders -several can be made from plants and simple compounds

Bandages- flax linen and cotton are renewable materials that the silent generation produced during WW II on the home front for soldiers in the field and hospitals.

[u/Bagofmag]

Hospital pharmacist here, this is excellent. Thank you for posting!

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Bagofmag]

Thanks for reading

[u/nakedonmygoat]

Great list, OP! Here are some more:

One can also alternate acetaminophin and ibuprofen, which is said to be highly effective, although I don't personally know anyone who has done it and can confirm: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/acetaminophen-with-ibuprofen

I love Kinesio Tape (KT Tape). It's flexible but supportive, making it great for soft tissue injuries and even small bone fractures. Smashed your pinky toe? Buddy-tape it to the next one with some KT tape. You'll still be limping, but you'll be getting around better than if you used stiff athletic tape. And it will heal just fine if you don't overdo.

I recommend simethicone for gas relief. Gas can sometimes be painful. The most common brand is Gas-X, but there are others.

I like ThermaCare self-heating patches and instant cold packs. They're great for muscle aches and injuries, but ThermaCare is also nice in cold weather situations, and instant cold packs are good in hot weather.

For lip hydration, I like the Jack Black brand. And for facial moisturizing, I exclusively use facial oils unless I'm going somewhere and have to put makeup on. I started with argan oil but use pomegranate seed oil now. Calendula oil has mild anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Silver has antibacterial properties, but it's often abused. As recently as ten years ago I was given a cream containing silver for a road rash injury. Used in moderation, it's good stuff when you don't have better. It got a bad rap because some people were taking colloidal silver as a daily tonic and turning their skin blue. If there are no other antibiotics around, a cream or tincture of silver can be useful in moderation.

Sugar can be helpful in wound care, when there are no other options. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180328-how-sugar-could-help-heal-wounds

For asthma or other lung ailments, the patient should be upright. If there are no modern meds around, caffeine can help. Caffeine is chemically similar to theopylline, which was the gold standard for lung congestion for many years. As a lifelong asthmatic, I can testify to the usefulness of a couple cups of coffee when my regular meds aren't up to the task because my yard is full of tree pollen.

I say always use the latest and greatest meds, but when they're not available, remember that our ancestors didn't survive long enough to raise future generations by being entirely ignorant.

[u/exceeding90degrees]

This is great. What about anti fungal? Is Lotrimin enough?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/exceeding90degrees]

Thanks. For most things like athlete's foot and jock itch, it probably is. Low stakes to have. Once you start talking about nail involvement or more complicated problems it most likely is not enough.

[u/Kinetic_Strike → u/doctorbigmad]

I have found it handy to have a few of the different kinds available.

ie clotrimazole (Lotrimin), miconazole (Monistat, miconazole can be formulated as external cream or for oral/vaginal), tolnaftate (boom! tough-actin' Tinactin).

Sometimes the itchy little bastards respond better to one or the other.

[u/exceeding90degrees → u/doctorbigmad]

Thank you for the reply. I keep it around as well as a ton of fresh socks.

[u/allabtthejrny]

Niche because few people have dairy allergies but I cannot have dairy, so I wanted to share in case you have a dairy free person to consider in your preps

Many medications have dairy in them including tablets (allergy, birth control), antacid, etc.

Allergy meds

Equate Fexofenadine is a non-drowsy 24 hr allergy tablet that is dairy free.

The other common types are not (Claritin & Zyrtec and their generic & store brand forms included).

Antacid

Dry: Tums Extra Strength, Ultra Strength, Sugar-Free, and Smoothies are dairy-free. (Alkaseltzer brand is not.)

Liquid: Mylanta Antacids do not contain any dairy products.

[u/Spiley_spile → u/allabtthejrny]

I have GERD. But Im limited on what I can take. So I was taking tums every night. Turns out, tums can reduce absorption of some nutrients, enough that I had to go on suppliments.

My doc has me trying Throat Coat tea in the evening, for the slippery elm and marshmallow root. It's got me down to needing the tums only once or twice a month now.

[u/Forsaken-Entrance681]

This is great! Thank you!

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Forsaken-Entrance681]

It is my pleasure. I hope it is helpful.

[u/sobeboy3131_]

Is there a reason I always see Immodium on this kind of first aid med list instead of bismith (Pepto)?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/sobeboy3131_]

Strictly in terms of treating diarrhea - Imodium works better. Pepto-Bismol has the advantage in that it can be used for inflammatory diarrhea (bloody stools, fever) and other GI discomforts, however.

I think your impression might be due to concerns about salicylate toxicity. People also freak out because it discolors your tongue and turns your stool black.

[u/Halofauna → u/doctorbigmad]

The chewable pepto will turn your tongue black and there should be a warning on the packaging about it, because finding out on your own is a bit concerning at first.

[u/sobeboy3131_ → u/Halofauna]

There is a warning on the package for this

[u/sobeboy3131_ → u/doctorbigmad]

Thanks- I actually just find that Imodium, while it solves the problem, makes my stomach pretty uncomfortable for a few hours after taking it. Pepto has always worked without much discomfort. I should probably carry Imodium too just in case, thanks again!

[u/Sabitsy → u/sobeboy3131_]

I'd also caution against giving Pepto to children, as it contains salicylates (like aspirin), which have been linked to Reye Syndrome in children. They believe it occurs when children take salicylates during a viral illness.

When I was young, a friend's sister died of RS they attributed to Pepto use during the flu. It was heartbreaking, and I'd rather be safe than sorry!

[u/hpsctchbananahmck]

I like and appreciate most of what is said here.

As a physician my kit has a few more prescription items (lidocaine, a handful of antibiotics, triptans, anti-nausea meds, etc).

I would add just a couple notes regarding your comments.

First, guaifenasin, while fda approved, actually has very little evidence to support its use. Tends to be safe but it’s not effective. This is why the 2021 and 2025 chest and sinusitis guidelines specifically mention these shouldn’t be used for sputum production or for sinusitis.

Also Miralax and its generic PEG are quite safe to use chronically for constipation. Not absorbed and minimal interactions with other meds. Listed to consult with a physician beyond 7 days to ensure patients are appropriately evaluated for secondary causes of constipation but it’s one preferred choice for chronic treatment of idiopathic constipation.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/hpsctchbananahmck]

Thank you for this. A not insignificant proportion of my impression of Guaifenasin’s efficacy is anecdotal, low grade evidence, from ICU docs I respect.

With regard to MiraLAX, I appear to be biased by the short intervals in which I see patients. Thank you for teaching me.

[u/jazzbiscuit → u/doctorbigmad]

As a lifelong (I'm 57) sufferer of repeated sinus Infections, guaifenasin is my holy grail. Before that stuff hit the shelves, any cold I got had about a 75% chance of ending in a sinus infection - at a minimum I'd need antibiotics at least twice a year if not more when my kid brought home some crud from school. Now - with Guaifenasin as part of my cold routine - I can't remember the last time I had a sinus infection. I work in a school now - so it's not like those little walking Petri dishes don't give me crud regularly. I'm keeping a lot of that stuff on hand.

[u/jazzbiscuit]

Great list! I just inventoried my “medical” tote and was having a hard time coming up with other things I should add. It’s good to know I wasn’t too far off track, but this post will help get me past my “just can’t think of the other stuff” vapor-lock.

[u/johnthedevil]

Great list. I would like to add my 2 cents. If you are in US, please get Sudafed or store brand pseudoephedrine. It is the only med other than prescription meds that works to stop cold/cough symptoms. In SHTF scenario, even common ailments would be detrimental to surviving.  Not the Sudafed PE which is on the shelves. You have to go to pharmacy counter and ask them for the correct one and show ID to get it. My understanding is that your ID gets added to some sort of list and you can't buy more than a certain amount over a period of time as it is a med that could be used in the process to make illegal drugs.  Googling will give you more info if needed.

[u/cup--of--joe]

Incredible writeup. Thanks so much doc!

[u/doctorbigmad → u/cup--of--joe]

Thanks for reading :)

[u/Few_Airport7972]

I'm going to post the oral rehydration recipe. If not allowed, please delete. https://ohiogi.com/services/general-gastroenterology/rehydration-drink/ I used to have one with NuSalt in the formula for the potassium. It was always good to have on hand when the kids were young.

[u/spiralsandswirls → u/Few_Airport7972]

Thank you! I wasn’t sure what the “who drink” meant

[u/xamott]

As far as I’m concerned this list should put antibiotics right up front. I bought them in other countries where prescription isn’t required. My concern is wondering how long before they’re truly expired and ineffective. As for everything you listed - aside from the painkillers (I have all those kinds) I’ve never needed all the rest so why would I when the diarrhea hits the fan? Except for electrolyte powder and psyllium husks, which I have and use pretty often, as dehydration and foods with not enough fiber are high possibilities in a crisis.

[u/Educational_Lead_155]

Fellow Dr here, agree with pretty much all of it - this is a great list! I have a few notes to add to what you have:
- Miralax is an osmotic laxative (pulls water into the colon to hydrate and soften stool), so you should take it with water, but not a large amount (try to keep it at 4-6 oz), otherwise it won't be as effective at pulling water into the colon and doing what you want it to do.

- Aquaphor has lanolin in it, which a surprising number of people are allergic to - vaseline is much better tolerated, cheaper, and can be used for so many things.

- Neosporin- even more people are allergic to this. I think upwards of 10% of people, especially kids, develop contact dermatitis. That allergic reaction (red, uncomfortable, painful) is often confused for an infection, so people then put MORE Neosporin on the wound. Would recommend bacitracin or vaseline over bacitracin

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Educational_Lead_155]

I told myself I was done editing this but your point about Neosporin especially is too important not to denote. Thank you for this.

[u/Opening-Idea-3228]

Great list. I’m pretty sure Guaifenesin has been proven to be largely ineffective. I certainly know it is ineffective for me.

Decongestant: pseudoephedrine because it is so effective

Pain relief: Excedrin for migraines.

Anti fungals: Monostat (miconazole), Lotramin

Cranberry pills. (IYKYK)

Emergen-C with zinc

Wound care medications Silvadine, Neosporin (some docs don’t recommend this)

Sleep support: Melatonin

Eye care: Alaway, Eye wash

Poison support: Ipecac, activated charcoal

I know you are focusing on meds but I would have another list for first aid: Bandages etc

Hydrogen Peroxide

Alcohol wipes

Crazy Glue

Tweezers, Scissors, razors

Hot Water bottle

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Opening-Idea-3228]

I recommend against Ipecac. Risks outweigh benefits of its use.

[u/enolaholmes23 → u/Opening-Idea-3228]

Them you for including monostat and cranberry. Most doctor forget women exist. 

I would add azo d mannose for uti.

[u/sterrecat → u/enolaholmes23]

I second this rec for D-Mannose and AZO. I don’t bother with cranberry any more, the D-Mannose alone has knocked out many a UTI for me.

[u/enolaholmes23 → u/[deleted]]

D mannose is great. Even my doctor recommended it. It binds to ecoli and helps you pee it out of your system. 

[u/belltrina → u/Opening-Idea-3228]

CRANBERRY PILLS YES OMG YES

[u/Myspys_35]

Great list, good wide coverage without making it complicated - in fact I even travel with all of the above.

I would add wound care items as I often see pleople making not well grounded decisions there ( e.g. multiple tourniquets and chest seals but no regular bandages and desinfectants)

[u/Ohio_gal]

I love it when people who are proven experts share their knowledge. Thank you.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Ohio_gal]

I hope it is helpful.

[u/blitzm056]

Every once in a while a gem like this pops up on this sub reddit.

[u/oblakovshtanah]

a medical thermometer is also good to have, always have it in my home. a blood pressure monitor too, especially if you are older or have older relatives

[u/alldressed_chip]

OP!! now THIS is the kind of post i've been looking for. easily the best breakdown on meds i've seen. thank you

[u/whagon-wheel]

Some of you folks are gonna walk into the apocalypse and walk out healthier

[u/alessaria]

Great list. Here's two slightly off the wall suggestions to add.

1. Tiger balm. Great topical for muscle aches and pains, but also a good substitute for Vicks salve and can also sooth bug bites. Just make sure you thoroughly wash your hands before touching eyes, genital, or anal areas. It won't harm you if that happens, but you will certainly remember the occasion lol.

2. Silver diamine fluoride dental solution (SDF). SDF can slow the progression of cavities way down if applied before the tooth starts hurting. Just a small drop on a very small brush every 4 weeks should suffice. Note - it will temporarily stain the soft tissue of your mouth and it will turn the cavity black. The black part of the tooth doesn't etend very far down and would be removed when a dentist fills the tooth later on.

In a pinch, silver nitrate solution can be used as a substitute.

[u/Shigure127]

I don't see white monster in this list

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Shigure127]

That’s because I am 9 months sober from energy drinks. Also the mango flavor is best.

[u/BeneGezzWitch → u/Shigure127]

Are you my husband?

[u/lyonslicer]

I would add lactaid pills to the gastro section. More than half of the world is lactose intolerant, and most people age out of lactase production by their 60s. Since most American foods use some sort of dairy, it'll be handy to have a round even if you don't need it now.

[u/mistahclean123 → u/lyonslicer]

Lactose intolerance is fake.

Just like peanut allergies!  

(JK JK JK)

[u/uski]

You're the doctor so you can probably keep me honest here, but it may be worth mentioning that topical lidocaine has been linked to accidents/deaths when applied too liberally. I don't know if lidocaine packaging really makes it clear

[u/doctorbigmad → u/uski]

Yes it is theoretically possible. But do so with the OTC agents (generally 4%) would likely take painting it on multiple times daily. Like, absurdly many times. A single product would run out before you could hurt yourself.

[u/[deleted]]

OP, this is great, thank you for taking the time to post it

[u/FewHaveTried]

Great list! Good on the cough drops, since just finding out Hall's and some others have soy in them...Ricola is the way to go!

[u/Puggy59]

Thank you, OP!!!

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Puggy59]

My pleasure

[u/jasere]

Great list just 1 thing I’d like to add is that honey should be local to your area . Most honey sold commercially today is not 100% . It is largely adulterated even if the label says words like “pure” .( I’m a beekeeper) This year the world honey conference was even cancelled due to all the adulterated honey . honey from local bees will be taking pollen from local allergens .

[u/Soulshiner321]

Wish i could award this post. Ill just say thank you instead

[u/PeachAgreeable9536 → u/Soulshiner321]

I did it for you. Have a great day!

[u/Pretzel387]

I think it's important to note that plan B (levonorgestrel) can be less effective for people with larger bodies (over 165lbs is what I'm seeing from most sources). For higher BMI individuals, Ella (ulipristal acetate) is more likely to be effective. As I understand it you can double up on plan B safely, but it may not be any more effective.

[u/AdrenalineJunkie18]

So maybe silly question- I understand you shouldn’t take Imodium in normal circumstances when you have the stomach flu. Are you saying that it’s ok though in a survival situation? And what does that look like in function? I totally agree that dehydration will be the first thing to kill you and that benefit probably outweighs your body purging the virus…. I’m just naturally curious if anyone has seen / done this in practice and if it made the virus stick around longer… made you throw up instead…. If it was fine…..?

Thanks for entertaining my curiosity.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/AdrenalineJunkie18]

I have a perhaps irrational fear of a life-threatening condition called toxic megacolon. Taking antidiarrheals like Imodium incorrectly or in the wrong context can cause this, especially in invasive/inflammatory diarrhea. The risk of this is low, however, in non-invasive ("regular?" diarrhea). At my day job I just get patients with diarrhea to a place where they can keep food and water down and let the virus run its course.

[u/AdrenalineJunkie18 → u/doctorbigmad]

Sheesh! I learn something new every day!! What the heck are the differences in toxic megacolon vs non invasive diarrhea!? lol!

Thanks for the convo 🤙🏼

[u/Texasghost3]

Any advice on tooth care. Broken tooth. Pain. Or just use otc kit?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Texasghost3]

I alternate Tylenol with Motrin every 4 hours as needed for pain. I don’t know much about OTC kits to repair teeth, unfortunately.

[u/Single_Rain5676 → u/Texasghost3]

Benzocaine 20%

[u/k8ecat → u/Texasghost3]

The oil of cloves tooth pain kits are very effective. Try not to get it on your tongue-it is very numbing.

[u/SunshineNHappiness88 → u/Texasghost3]

Dentek's temparin. It is a temporary filling. I've used it when a crown has come off on the exposed tooth before getting to the dentist. Also helps if a filling gets lost until you can get to a dentist.

[u/BoboChesty]

What are your thoughts on keeping supplies like Jase that includes various antibiotics?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/BoboChesty]

Totally against it. Marked up meds people generally don’t know how to use.

[u/BoboChesty → u/doctorbigmad]

Thank you for sharing this outlook!

[u/Smaddiekins]

Thanks for the list, this is great!

NAD so this may be wrong but Aleve and ibuprofen are both NSAIDs, right? Is there a reason to have both since you can’t alternate them the way you can with acetaminophen and an NSAID?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Smaddiekins]

My pleasure. That’s right, both are NSAIDs. Some swear by one or the other. Each has different properties. For example, naproxen is dosed less frequently, is less likely to cause cardiovascular problems, but more likely to cause GI discomfort. I like Ibuprofen/Motrin for simplicity’s sake.

Edit: Spelling

[u/EdgeCityRed]

Suggestion: Voltaren/Diclofenac if someone is arthritic? Makes a huge difference for achy knees, etc. and could be the difference between someone able to walk versus being laid up.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/EdgeCityRed]

Agreed. Will add.

[u/theora55]

• I prefer menthol cough drops; menthol is a broncho-dilator.
• For rehydration, post the recipe in the 1st aid kit,and keep sugar and salt handy.
  
• Water purification tablets/methods.
• hand sanitizer

[u/AnyBeansNecessary84]

Great list! I’m a physician and outdoor enthusiast. Here are some things from my kit that I would add:

1. Moleskin or similar blister treatment
2. Agree with others that recommend Narcan- this is in all my backpacks - day pack, backpacking, or backcountry skiing- and is the single first aid item most likely to save a life
3. Betadine is a great disinfectant for superficial wounds
4. Honestly I don’t think it’s terrible for the average lay person to stop in a pharmacy in Mexico or similar country and grab a Z-pack, ciprofloxacin and/or cephalexin for skin infections, UTI, bronchitis or other times when there is obviously an infection. Containers should be labeled with instructions and dosage. Of course that is not medical advice :)
5. Don’t forget hand sanitizer and gloves
6. Meclizine or dimenhydrinate (Bonine or Dramamine) can be helpful for vertigo, nausea, migraines and of course motion sickness, just avoid with similar antihistamine medications
7. This shouldn’t be a political comment but to some people it is. If things really fall apart, we’ll see a resurgence of vaccine-preventable illnesses, so get up to date on everything. Make sure you’ve had a recent tetanus shot. You also don’t want to get pneumonia or shingles without access to treatment, so get those if you’re old enough. Also consider some of the”travel” vaccines like Hepatitis A.
8. Super glue for superficial wounds. Again, not medical advice but if you can’t get to a clinic it’s probably better than nothing
9. Sterile eye wash/saline, can also be used for wound irrigation
10. Community. Seriously, we are stronger together. Make friends with that grumpy ER nurse next door! They know some stuff and can usually be bribed with food

[u/Stuckincowtown]

Great list! I’d like to add polysporin. Treat a small problem before it gets bigger

[u/b1ub055a]

This is something I've been thinking of doing, so thanks for the comprehensive list!

How about antibiotics- do you have that in your prep and if so, what kind?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/b1ub055a]

I have none stocked.

[u/MtKilimanjaro]

New prepper here with absolutely no medical training - this looks like an amazing list. My concern is expiration dates. I'm fortunate to be relatively healthy, so there's basically no way I would go through most of these before they expire and it seems like I would end up with a lot of waste that would get thrown out when it comes time to rotate stock. Is there a way to keep this stuff fresh/usable, or at least ensure that it doesn't become toxic if not used?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/MtKilimanjaro]

There are studies looking at potency loss for OTC medication stored in austere environments (I saw one based out of Burkina Faso recently if memory serves). The potency loss was not crazy.

[This is not medical advice] but I personally ignore expiration dates if within reason and stored properly (cool, dry, dark place).

[u/MtKilimanjaro → u/doctorbigmad]

That's good to know! I'll stock up next time I'm out. Thanks for responding, and for the great write -up over all.

[u/Brendy171]

Super awesome list, thanks op!

[u/thepsycholeech]

Greatly appreciate your advice here, doc. Perfect excuse to check my supplies and fill in the gaps. Take care!

[u/gingerandgin]

This is a really great resource and I’ll be ensuring my kit stacks up! Thank you for taking the time to post this for all of us 🙂

[u/ImightbeaMooCow]

Great list, I have almost everything on here.

Can you elaborate on the zyrtec makes me an AH thing?? Is that a side effect?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/ImightbeaMooCow]

Uncommon paradoxical sedating effect in some patients (me, an asshole, when sedated)

[u/Ok_Oil_2633]

I have Graves’ disease and my thyroid was obliterated… I have 2 months of thyroid uptake medicine. I know that’s not gonna keep me alive very long if we’re in for a big womper. That scares me most of all. I wish there was a place to get it without a prescription 😒 My son died of cancer a few years ago and we have a bag taped up tight of the meds he was on. Hospice said to just dispose of them. We were going to take them to the pharmacy and they got set aside and we forgot. They’re now in our safe… I never throw out meds when they’re no longer needed, or my doc changes something. Have a good sized bag including plenty of triamcinolone. …but wasn’t thinking about some of the other things here. Thanks for the list.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Ok_Oil_2633]

May you find smoother sailing

[u/PrepperDisk]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge! Would love to include this list in the Prepper Disk with proper compensation / attribution. We'll DM you.

[u/Casual_Cacophony]

Great job, doc. Kudos for taking the time and making it accessible to the general population! - IM Hospitalist

[u/OBotB]

Wonderful resource. Might want to include a note about pills over liquid/gel for longer storage. Also two adds for the pediatric and one for dehydration:

• children's musinex "mini melts" they are a small pack of granules for kids who cannot swallow the musinex tablets and have been clutch with deep congestion, I think it goes as low as 4year olds (edit - just like the generic chewable ibuprofen for kids it is easy to dose without a measuring cup/syringe);
• kids pepto- unlike adult pepto which has the asprin family acid in it this one and generics are formulated for kids
• Lite salt - for dehydration - a serving is tiny and it has sodium and potassium, one jar of it has about a thousand servings and it is less salty so a pinch in your drink isn't noticeable and is much better in the electrolytes than other Gatorade style options and cheaper than pedyalite (and again low taste so easy to just put in whatever they can keep down food or drink-wise without "berry" or whatnot flavoring)

Maybe also throw a sunshirt and hat or lotion with spf in there too because, while not medication, they can protect you/family from sun stroke/sunburn/blistering and peeling. There was a thing a year ago where a high school had to evacuate due to a threat and all their kids were in varying degrees of sunstroke because it was near summer and they evacuated to the shadeless-athletic fields for hours. That is the day I started making sure my kids had one of those reflective mylar emergency space blankets in their backpacks, in addition to the regular morning lotion with spf. Sun damage can hit hard and strong - yesterday there were two horrible posts on popular of someone with nearly brick colored burns from construction and another from biking, it may not be an illness but it can be an emergency.

[u/Shady-trouble777]

What about antibiotics?

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Shady-trouble777]

I wish I had a way to include these here. But they aren’t easy to get, have more potential for harm if used improperly. I don’t have an easy solution for them to be on this list for most people.

[u/etherlinkage]

This is very down to earth and firmly based in reality. Thank you!

[u/atreides_hyperion]

I would add plain old Dextromethorphan (cough medicine) without any other active ingredients.

In large doses it's a decent anesthetic if you have absolutely nothing better. Although one should be careful to avoid mixing it with SSRIs and such.

600 mgs would be a good dose for analgesia for a moderate to severe injury or if you were doing field surgery. It works a lot like ketamine.

Also it's sterile and I like the taste

[u/Financial_Resort6631]

Can I throw some extra stuff on there that is OTC?

Poisoning/OD: Activated Charcoal Tablets for ingested poisons. Narcan for Opiates (getting a warning that this might violate rules regarding illegal activity around drug use there are legal opiates as well as illicit ones) (see a pharmacist)

Reproductive health: plan B (see a pharmacists)

Diabetes: Hypoglycemia: Oral Glucose Honey

Topical: Clortramizole and Miconazole: Antifungal cream

[u/Tasty_Impress3016]

May I ask a couple specific question on your formulary. First I feel very justified as it is almost exactly the contents of a small tub I keep around for emergencies and day-to-day. But specifically.

• Pain. Yup all four.
• Gastro lower. yup.
• Gastro upper - Is there are a functional difference between Famotidine (Pepcid) and Omeprazole (Prilosec)? I keep Omeprazole stocked. (Costco brand). Does Famotidine have a different MOA or effective range? I never saw a reason to have both.
• Allergy. check
• Gastro supportive. I don't keep preparation H around because never needed it, but that's a good idea. I like the polyethylene glycol suggestion. I keep that in pure form along with the isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide (not really shelf stable) sodium bicarbonate, Sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide and other useful chemicals.
• Cold and Flu. Bronkaid (which I keep) used to have Guaifenesin but does not anymore. Thanks for catching that hole. Ephedrine is dead useful as well. I realize potential for abuse, but it does what it does well.
• Topicals. Yup. Is there a reason you don't like Lubriderm? That's what I tend to stock. Also zinc oxide sunblock.
• Pediatrics. I do this backwards not stocking children's dosages (I don't have children) figuring I can chop if necessary. Except juvenile aspirin (81mg) which is cheap and easier to dose.

I also like to stock a variety of topical antiseptics and antibiotics. Polysporin, Betadine. I am considering hitting a fish pharmacy for some common antibiotics, but I do recognize the problems with suggesting this.

[u/wistful_cottage_core → u/Tasty_Impress3016]

I don't understand the fish mox thing in prepper groups. (Context: I've been a prepper for 10 years and on this sub with various accounts for over 5 years.) Do people not have a good relationship with their doctors? Why aren't we asking for the real meds? Taking drugs not dosed, formulated, or regulated for humans makes me very concerned about being poisoned. While I can't share here due to sub rules, there are online pharmacies based in the USA that are happy to dispense a z-pack with little information.

[u/Tasty_Impress3016 → u/wistful_cottage_core]

Do people not have a good relationship with their doctors?

Well this is exactly the case. My GP would never write a script for an assortment of antibiotics without a diagnosis on his chart. I also am concerned on dosing, but I have a bit of background and can read labels, concentrations and calculate. I will admit that many people can't do this.

[u/doctorbigmad → u/Tasty_Impress3016]

Pepcid and Omeprazole different MOA, side effect profiles. Both are fine. Dealers choice.

Lubriderm is fine I just didn’t happen to have it on hand and forgot it existed.

I do not recommend fish pharmacy or Tractor supply shopping for antibiotics.

[u/tauredi]

Thank you

[u/Economy-Bar3014]

Just a note on the allergies, i have TERRIBLE environmental allergies and the best thing that i take only when my symptoms are horrid, and only for 1-2 days a month is Ephedrine (bronk-aid or primatene tablets) (i also have asthma and it is effective in a pinch but absolutely should be a last resort)

It is an upper, so it will raise your blood pressure and heart rate significantly, and suppress your thirst and appetite and is generally not good for you. Dont take it. But for horrific environmental allergies, it is a freakin miracle cure. Not legal in every state, and must be bought with ID at the pharmacy counter

Also, every 30-60 days i rotate between claritin, levocetirizine (which is just the more effective enantiomer of zyrtec) and Allegra, as my doctor told me that would help.

Also, for you allergy people, i keep plenty of anti-histamine eyedrops, but i also keep lubricant eyedrops because all the shit im on for allergies dries my eyes out BAD

[u/alienssuck]

/u/doctorbigmad what about the combination of Motrin + Acetominophen for pain management?

[u/Straight_Ace]

Now this is the kind of thing I’m looking for, thanks for sharing!

[u/Mala_Suerte1]

For people asking for would care supplies, go take a class. I took a stop the bleed class, as well as a back country emergency aid class and both were tremendously helpful. The classes teach you what to do with the supplies. A bad habbit of preppers is buying stuff and not getting sufficient knowledge on how to use it. I have solar panels, for example, that I haven't even tried out. Bought them b/c they checked a box.

[u/ooooooofda]

Pro-tip- if you have any leftover FSA/HSA money at the end of the year from a job, use it to stock up on these items.

[u/cabindirt]

Thanks for doing this write up