Favorite travel medicine and remedies – Cuba – Debbie's Carribean Reviews Forums

flygt 2007-10-21 19:07:30 UTC #1

Here’s a list of a few travel medicines and remedies that I’ve either used or which have been recommended to pack just in case;

Dukoral
Airborne
Oscillo
Zicam
Cipro

Any other good ones out there? Thanks.

system 2007-10-21 19:17:38 UTC #2

Gravol…I don’t leave home without it

system 2007-10-21 19:34:59 UTC #3

Kaopectate or Imodium. Keeps a vacation running smoothly, not running away!

Actifed – great antihistamine.

Tylenol #3 – pain

Neosporin – topical antibiotic

tuss 2007-10-21 20:09:02 UTC #4

Here’s a list of a few travel medicines that I’ve either used or which have been recommended to pack just in case;

Dukoral
Airborne
Oscillo
Zicam
Cipro

Any other good ones out there? Thanks.

Flygt, of the 5 items you’ve listed only 1 is actually a medicine. Dukoral is a vaccine to cholera that must be taken prior to a vacation. Most diarrheal illnesses that are picked up in the caribbean are not due to cholera, so it won’t be much help. Probably won’t hurt, but every vaccine has potential for side effects. The next 3 you list are all classified as homeopathic nutritional substances that may or may not prevent illness. Again, probably won’t hurt, but not much proof that they actually do much but take money out of your wallet. finally, Cipro, is a very good antibiotic, but if you’re goign to bring it with you then you must get clear instructions from your physician as to when it will help, and when it might hurt. Also, Cipro can make you sun sensitive (you can get a rash if you take it and go in the sun) so you have to be careful. I always bring a bottle with me, but i’ve yet to need it.

Other things i take:

• Tylenol/advil – for sprains, strains, headache. Also works for the pain of sunburn.
• Immodium – anti-diarrheal.
• anti-histamine – for the itch of insect bites or for other allergic reactions
• Any perscription/OTC meds that you might need.

Make sure with any medication that you know what it is and when to use it. Use your own physician or pharmacist or the advice of a travel clinic rather than the possibly uninformed advice from strangers on an internet travel site.

makemineamojito 2007-10-21 20:18:39 UTC #5

We’ve just returned from Cayo Guillermo on friday and this time I took a small bottle of tea tree oil as I suffer badly with ‘prickly heat’. I applied the oil directly to the effected areas every morning and evening and whilst I still got the rash the oil stopped the awful itching.

It also worked a treat when applied directly to bites etc – I won’t be leaving home without it in the future.

monteverde 2007-10-21 20:43:48 UTC #6

That’s good to know about the tea tree oil because I get “sun poisoning”. I can usually fend it off by taking Benadryl, but sometimes it starts anyway, with that terrible itch.

missme 2007-10-21 21:32:48 UTC #7

I concur. Tylenol/Advil, Immodium, Benadryl, usually Pepto bismol, and now I am going to add the Tea Tree oil.

monteverde 2007-10-21 21:57:45 UTC #8

I concur. Tylenol/Advil, Immodium, Benadryl, usually Pepto bismol, and now I am going to add the Tea Tree oil.

and Polysporin, or somesuch . . .

torontogal 2007-10-21 23:09:00 UTC #9

We always use Dukoral before, swear by it, but Benadryl Liquid and Cream are numero uno. In case of sting, bites etc we gulp the liquid to stave off a bad reaction, then slather on cream. Oh, and in case of a jellyfish sting or cut needing stitches, EMLA Lidocaine patches or cream.

canuks 2007-10-22 00:53:09 UTC #10

For us …

Homeopaths: Apis, Rescue Remedy, PLeo Oku, SBX , Glonoinum, Nux Vomica/Colubrina, Belladonna

First Aid: Imodium, Peroxide, Rolaids, sinutabs, Calamine/histamine lotion

djenning 2007-10-22 02:17:14 UTC #11

epipen and rum. the latter as a topical antiseptic for the tummy.

monteverde 2007-10-22 02:21:39 UTC #12

epipen and rum. the latter as a topical antiseptic for the tummy.

Oh right, I forgot ;D

alcohol is antiseptic, good for what ails you ;D

henrydeb 2007-10-22 03:54:55 UTC #13

Last year in CR I got a case of Travellers D. and someone gave me a prescription medication, unsure of the name, but it worked like a hot damn, just one and I was cured!
I would love to know the name of it so I can ask my doctor!

Debbie

tuss 2007-10-22 14:56:00 UTC #14

[quote author=debmich board=Cuba thread=1192993650 post=1193025295]Last year in CR I got a case of Travellers D. and someone gave me a prescription medication, unsure of the name, but it worked like a hot darn, just one and I was cured!
I would love to know the name of it so I can ask my doctor!

Debbie[/quote]

Hey Debbie – might be Immodium or Lomotil. Those would be the only two that i can think of that would stop it in just one dose. Immodium can be bought over the counter but Lomotil is perscription only. They both work similarly though.

pinacoladaddict 2007-10-22 15:03:22 UTC #15

I find the tea tree oil helps to keep the mosquitoes away as well. I never leave home without it.

booklady6635 2007-10-22 17:13:45 UTC #16

Something to think about is buying small sizes of OTC medicines (ie. Tylenol, polysporin, etc.) when you are in the US. That way when you take them on holiday you can leave them with the staff when you leave and the instructions are also in Spanish.

tanlines 2007-10-22 17:39:37 UTC #17

I always pack:

• ibuprofen
• polysporin
• anti-histamine
• anti-diarrhea pills
  And I’ve been using tea tree oil for over 5 years now. It is great addition to the medicine cabinet. A little goes a long way. I’m a big fan…as it known to be a natural antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal & antibiotic. (Hint- mix in a couple of drops with body lotion…so soothing after showering off the days suntan lotion and sand …ouch 😮 :-*)

yvrck 2007-10-22 17:52:18 UTC #18

Something to think about is buying small sizes of OTC medicines (ie. Tylenol, polysporin, etc.) when you are in the US. That way when you take them on holiday you can leave them with the staff when you leave and the instructions are also in Spanish.

Great idea! Thanks!

I’d never bothered to look at US medicines to see what languages are on the label.

monteverde 2007-10-23 00:09:58 UTC #19

[quote author=booklady6635 board=Cuba thread=1192993650 post=1193073225]Something to think about is buying small sizes of OTC medicines (ie. Tylenol, polysporin, etc.) when you are in the US. That way when you take them on holiday you can leave them with the staff when you leave and the instructions are also in Spanish.

Great idea! Thanks!

I’d never bothered to look at US medicines to see what languages are on the label.[/quote]

Good point about the labels, they can be so easily misinterpreted if they’re in English / French: “once a day” in English could be read as 11 times a day in Spanish (once = 11)

sandandbeer 2007-10-23 03:10:07 UTC #20

I must mention. Considering the degree of sun and heat you will encounter and the copious amounts of alcohol one may consume. Your true enemy is dehydration. We take a can of crystal Gatorade or similar sports drink. Mix it with a large bottle of water and you bounce right back. As your body absorbs the needed electrolytes (Sodium & Potassium).

We drink ours before supper.

Leaving for the Caracol on the 31st for 12 nights… Hope to see some of yous there.

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