You're SOL if they are life threatening. High cholesterol may not be a big deal. Clogged arteries will be. Some things will kill you, some things will go away as people's diets change with the scarcity of food and they shed all the fat that made them unhealthy to begin with.

People needing insulin will be in real bad shape as supplies run out.

 

I agree. A lot of the 'non genetic' (and maybe even some genetic based) diabetes and high blood pressure will probably self correct. It's hard to have 'lifestyle' diseases when you're only eating what is vital to survive, and getting a lot more exercise. Same goes for a whole lot of other health conditions; many of the pills thrown at us are either not life saving, or completely unneeded.

But, on the flip side, there are many diseases and conditions that will probably prove fatal without medication. And that is gonna suck.

I guess you'd just have to stockpile as much as you can and hope for the best. Unless you can figure out how to manufacture it yourself (which would be exceeding difficult for some drugs, but not impossible.)

 

How do your prepare for this?

Look at the reason for the medication and go from there. You could change your lifestyle NOW to correct the issue (high blood pressure, high cholesterol) or try alternative methods which are not reliant on prescription drugs.

 

This what I do, every time I get a new prescription I remove 3 to 5 days of a dosage from the bottle and save it. As of now I have almost 6 months worth of my prescriptions and it grows every month. Should the SHTF I at least have some wiggle room before I get to worried.

 

Well, I am in that boat.

I have an asthma inhaler + take a blood pressure pill + take an allergy pill.

So my prep is something like this:

1. I know how long an inhaler lasts me, and all the other medications I can take in a pinch that have similar results. I have three fresh inhalers read always.

2. Blood pressure, I am lucky enough that I take a very small dose and really haven't needed it since my workout routine kicked into overdrive. But I keep 6mo on hand and I know a few alternatives.

3. Allergy pills are OTC. Any antihistamine does an ok job. I keep 6mo on hand.


I apply the revolving pantry methodology to this stuff just like food. It gets used and replenished. I am friends with my primary care physician (he lives a few blocks over) and I still hang out with my doctor from when I was a kid (Vegas Buddy) who is more than willing to write scrips.

 

Blood pressure. Try to get your DR. to prescribe a larger dosage if you are not at maximum. In my case it is 10mg instead of 5mg. I cut the pills in half to save a extra pill each. That gave me a year extra and than I went back to 5mg prescription and now rotate the old for new.

Reflux. Just started to take omeprazole (generic Prilosec) last year. Although I use the prescription because the price is cheaper it is a over the counter (OTC) drug now and can be bought for emergency use.

 

Of the things you listed above the only one that I would be concerned about not taking (personally) is the thyroid one. All of the others are symptom chasing medications. Mainly of symptoms brought on from modern living of too much junk food and not enough exercise.

The best way is to stockpile as many as you can in advance. Many times there are doctors that are willing to write a larger prescription for common drugs that cannot turn into street drugs. Search for other threads on the exact procedure.

 

Remember, most people will be on an extreme diet and exercise plan. That's going to reduce 80% of the problems.

Processed foods will not be available. That takes care of another chunk.

Other problems, like my bipolar, well, I lived with the symptoms for 32 years before diagnosis. I would just have to be careful to taper down on the lithium as I could have a big freak out if I went cold turkey.

I feel bad for my friends with chronic pain issues, but I wonder how/if they will improve, once they are eating better and cold turkey.

When I refill my prescription "early" I have to sign an affadavit saying I am not selling or distributing the medication to anyone else.

 

That's a good idea to have a plan to taper off any psychoactive drugs. Many drugs will have unpleasant physical effects when you stop and might last many months or longer.

 

Well, it depends on the drug.

Wellbutrin, no problem.
I forgot to put the Haldol in the pill organizer, I was OK for days until I started seeing frogs everywhere.

I get pretty evil when I can't take my lithium (3 day migraine years ago). I don't care to repeat that.

 

Well, it depends on the drug.

Wellbutrin, no problem.
I forgot to put the Haldol in the pill organizer, I was OK for days until I started seeing frogs everywhere.

I get pretty evil when I can't take my lithium (3 day migraine years ago). I don't care to repeat that.

Just because you had no problem doesn't make it safe in general. Not everyone who smokes cigarettes gets lung cancer but we don't use that as a reason to NOT discourage smoking.

HERE is one of many evidenced-based articles on the risks of abrupt discontinuation of antidepressants including Wellbutrin. Rarely a good idea to stop ANY of them abruptly. The odds are good for a bad outcome.

 

Here is what I have done, though it has taken me a while.

For medications that I need daily for myself, I will skip a day here and there and save them up. Always rotate doing this even though expiration dates are, for the most part, pointless.

When i am prescribed something that I don't need, I fill it anyway. For example, I'm usually given a script for prednisone when I get bronchitis. But it makes me feel like absolute doo, so I don't take it but fill it and save it should anyone else need it (bartering) or in the event I come down with something that I absolutely need it for.

From there, I ask close family members that I trust to give me anything they have before discarding. Not legal but I don't care about legal when I may need something in a SHTF situation that could save my life.

Lastly, herbs and oils can be used for many things that prescribed antibiotics do. Tinctures, salves, etc. tea tree oil makes a great antiseptic!

There are a few good books on medicinal herbs and this may be the only way to make medicine once enough time has gone by and nothing else is left.

 

For some of my meds that I really need, when I get a prescription I fill it 1st through CanadaDrugs.com. They are a real/legit pharmacy with the drugs I get coming from the mfgs in the UK, Aus, etc. You do need to fax / email your prescription first. They want you to send it in physically, but I never do that. I still can get a refill without doing that.

It's cheaper, but doesn't take insurance, nor is it something that a Flexible Spending Account will reimburse. I then take my prescription and get it filled normally. This gives me extra to have on hand in event of an emergency. I do rotate as well.

I haven't noticed any quality differences.

They have a referral program where if you use me as a reference I would get 1 or 2% credit, but it didn't work well when I referred my sister.

HTH!

 

Unless you have a genetic issue with cholesterol... how about not taking that stuff, at all? It will kill you before a heart attack will.

Thyroid med you need to have. Focus on stuff you really need.

 

You can talk to your doc about possible generic substitutes. Wal-Mart has a list of generics for $4/ month or $10/ 3 months. And a mail program. Other stores will price match. Generics seem cheaper here in us than thru Canada. Though many drugs are much cheaper thru Canada. Often cheaper than just the copay here.

 

You could also try online pharmacies from other countries like India, Mexico, South Africa, etc. Google them and you can see which ones you think MIGHT be trustworthy. Order some stuff and see what happens. I travel to India on a regular basis and get can get a ton of stuff (antibiotics, ambien, asthma medication, testosterone, Retin-A, Lunesta, are some of the items I've gotten for myself and others) for very cheap prices. I'm definitely not sure of the legality of doing this, but I'm not a lawyer either. If it's important to you and you are genuinely concerned about a post SHTF world, well, then make up your own mind about it.

 

It's not technically legal to import drugs. But customs, I have only done this driving back from Canada so check yourself first, allows a three month personal supply to pass. I called a couple customs people and they agreed. I was stopped once after declaring the drugs and sent inside. They examined the drugs and did a lot of typing but then passed me. Didn't even ask for a prescription or proof that it was a three months supply.

I have also used Canadian pharmacies ship drugs into the us from overseas. There are several accrediting agencies and I only would use an approved pharmacy. These typically guarantee delivery, offering to replace or refund if stopped by customs, which I have never had happen. Watch shipping delivery dates, the first order may take extra time. And don't expect overnight delivery from overseas. It may be fairly fast but don't count on it and run out.

 

Consider some herbal alternatives. I don't mean dump what you are taking cold tukey and try and go all natural.. i mean look into alternative herbal remedies. No they are not as easy as one pill a day concentrated efficacy of pharmaceutical medicine, but in a pinch could really help out. I understand the concern about those things, but they have been helping countless folks all over the world for thousands of years. It's not all bs like the drug companies and drs who make money off of you will often claim. Times are changing and i have been to several brick and mortar drs who have advised herbs either in conjunction with smaller doses of pharmaceutical meds or as stand alone remedies. Seriously look into it.

You can stockpile meds from the net if they are net if they are not narcotics, and the worste thing that might happen is you get a package ceased and a nasty note from customs, but that's about it, again so long as not a controlled substance., so don't put all your eggs in one basket as they say but do small test orders to build confidence. There are whole forums on the net dedicated to consumers helping each other navigate these sometime murky waters.

Also there are plenty of drs that will write scripts online with a phone consult and have meds sent to your door. Lots of solutions, keep at it.

 

You are not the only one with these concerns.
Look into the alternatives for your health issues.
Did you know that camels milk contains a large amount of insulin? Look into it.
Look at the 80-10-10 diet for a diabetic condition. I did and my blood sugar dropped from
231 to 105 in 10 days. This is the best thing I have done for diabetic control.
Cinnamon is very good for helping to control blood sugar.
Look at as many alternatives as possible. There is a wealth of information on he net

 

I haven't seen this idea listed yet -- I call it "Stretch-The-Day". Instead of taking your once-a-day medicine at the same time every day, (every 24 hours,) stretch that to every 32 or 36 hours.

For the 32-hour stretch, take your meds at 6 am the first day, at 2 pm the 2nd day, at 10 pm the third day, and totally skip the 4th day. (You just saved 1 pill for the future! By the end of the month you'll have an extra weeks worth of medication.)

For the 36-hour stretch, take your meds at 6 am the first day, at 6 pm the 2nd day, and skip the third day. By the end of the month you'll have an extra 10 pills.

Of course for the 48-hour stretch you just take your meds every other day (or only take half of a pill every day.)

There may be some of your meds that interfere with your sleep if you take it at 10 pm, (think water-pills!) but you may be able to make other adjustments.

Good Luck!

 

Eating wheat seems to be the cause for the use of many medications. Maybe when stocking up with survival preparation food avoid adding grains, or if grains are a must, adding white rice which stores well and seems to be less health problematic for many. On different diet avoid grain sights people will sometimes list different medications he/she was able to stop taking once wheat was out of the diet. Here's one write up on that ~

"What medications have you been able to stop on the Wheat Belly lifestyle?"

What medications have you been able to stop on the Wheat Belly lifestyle? | Dr. William Davis

 

Without grains there would be no civilizations. They did it wrong all that time?

 

Agriculture did bring about modern society a few thousand years ago, and imagine we do not plan on going back to a hunter gathering life style. it does not surprise me though that many people see health improvements and are able to stop taking medications once he/she stops eating grains.

With health and medicine, it is interesting when reading into diets of primitive societies verses western societies high in grains. One of the better known researchers in this area was dentist Weston Price. He was a practicing dentist for awhile, and later a researcher for The American Dental Society. In the 1920s and 30 he and his wife traveled the world searching for societies newly exposed to western diets high in grains, sugars, etc. What he found is societies under health stress when eating western diets high in grains, where previously these societies with traditional diets had been healthy and robust. A book was written about his research work which can be seen at.

"Nutrition and Physical Degeneration"

Nutrition and Physical Degeneration: Weston A. Price, Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation: 9780916764203: Amazon.com: Books

Better known writer Professor Jared Diamond with his best selling books is one of the better known debaters on the topic, when it comes to agriculture diets verses traditional diets and its impact on health and society.

"The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race"

The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race

 

Availablity of meds in SHTF

For most things that most people take every day like cholesterol and blood pressure pills, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, vitamin supplements, sleeping pills etc., if they are not immediately essential for life than people will have to manage without them (and may well be better for it). Concentrate firstly on lifestyle measures (lose weight, exercise more, healthier diet.

Get all the immunizations you can while these are still available.

For things which are hard to manufacture like insulin and thyroxin, people unfortunately are just going to have to die, because in a real SHTF situation these will not be available. In theory, if you have lots of spare time and know-how and happen to live next door to a slaughterhouse, I suppose you could extract insulin from animal pancreases and thyroxin from animal thyroid glands but I'm not sure that it would be worth the effort.

Pain medications are actually not that difficult to produce locally as they are a subcategory of herbal medicines. There was generally no shortage of pain medications, for example, for soldiers undergoing amputations in the American Civil War. However, as discussion of that is forbidden on this site, I am not going to discuss it.

 

We have worked hard to get off most of our prescriptions. I take nothing that requires a prescription, but do take iodine for my thyroid (please talk to a ND before switching). I also take vitamin D for my SADD.

My husband is off all of his high blood pressure medications but still takes one, but it is to protect his kidneys, not to lower his blood pressure. He is a type 1 diabetic, so insulin and testing supplies are our biggest concern. Walmart has generics of both and we are increasing our supplies slowly. We also storing honey for lows. He can substantially decrease the amount of insulin he uses by diet but will always need some. We can't change that.

I agree with everyone. Do what you can to change what you take. See a Naturopath and find alternatives to what you have to take and then stock that. Certain things can't be changed, but there are a lot of people on lifestyle drugs that could certainly get off of them.

 

I'm on a blood thinner (warfarin) due to a history of blood clots that have a habit of breaking loose and cruising through my heart and lungs. The last time my doc adjusted my dosage he forgot to issue a new scrip for half of the previous dose, so every 90 days I actually get 180 days worth of the drug. In a year's time I'll have a year's supply on hand "just in case". If things get really bad I could probably even cut my current dose in half and still have a pretty decent chance of survival.

The one thing that worries me about a SHTF situation is the sudden loss of psych meds for people who really, really need them. My wife is a nurse, and I hear a lot of really sad and scary stories about people who suddenly quit taking them. For some of the milder psych issues there are some herbal remedies that can help a bit, but for schizophrenics with serious issues there just isn't anything out there that will work.

 

I've only been prescribed high blood pressure pills for borderline HBP and took them for a couple 2 3 years, took myself off it last year with a drop of 10 pounds and dont plan to go back on it or take any prescribed meds. I've found that magnesium really helps control HBP for me, it actually works very quickly, I monitor my blood pressure daily and can see it drop within 30 minutes of taking a magnesium pill.

I have an aunt that takes 15 pills every day, she us a walking medicine cabinet and I don't want to go there