Understood, but the same problem exists in getting a prescription for any amount of pain and/or antibiotic meds. If you don't have a terrific relationship with a family physician, it's next to impossible to be as prepared as you might like to be.

Fortunately I happen to have a family friend that would write the script if only I asked... but the vast majority of people probably don't have that option. The need for prescription strength [insert any life saving name brand medicine here] in the event of a true emergency is obvious. OTC Zicam isn't going to do a thing for pneumonia. If you are in severe pain due to a superficial trauma or medical condition (broken bones, kidney stones etc.), Tylenol or Advil will be ineffective. This is exactly why DR includes prescription medicines in his PSK, because in a true emergency nothing less would suffice.

True, but it's still kind of cool to see "how" to make medicines. But, yeah, there's a lot there that isn't used. And some stuff that is (like codeine and morphine)

My mom uses a mail order pharmacy called express script, they take her tricare and medicare insurance. The good thing about them is they send her a 90-120 day supply at one time.

I have to do the same thing pretty soon. Either TriCare Mail Order or ExpressScripts....

Thanks for the reminder.

> Tell your pharmasist you are going on a trip, and ask for a 2
> month supply, then refil after 1 month.

That's what I did. The pharmacist called my insurance company and got it okayed.

The goal is to _keep_ that 30-day cushion.

Remember Katrina. If you're stuck in some devastation somewhere, a month's supply of all your medicine is not too much.

With all due respect to DR, a z-pack won't do much for a serious illness, either. azithromycin is a macrolide, a derivative of erythromycin, and is efficient as heck-take the pills for 3-5 days, the azithromycin attaches to the white blood cells and remains active in the body for ten days. Useful for lots of different bacteria. lots of different kinds of infections-skin, lungs, sinuses-but only in mild disease. Penicillin-Pen V-K, amoxicillin, augmentin-are more common choices for moderately severe disease, but you gotta carry more of them, and you gotta take them for ten days to 2 weeks. Gets bulky. But it is like the multitool debate-a tiny one is easier to carry, less expensive to acquire...and almost useless if you have any significant work to do. A Z-pack is the ideal antibiotic to carry-compact and inexpensive-unless you actually need an antibiotic. Penicillin drugs are also one of the therapeutic choices for anthrax, for those of us who anticipate a bio-warfare scenario.

I use the Express Scripts too (or whatever BlueShield just switched me over to) for blood pressure meds. My doctor issues me a 90 day supply with three refills - a one year prescription. I can re-order after 60 days, so within three refills at 60 day intervals I now have atleast a 90 day surplus supply on hand, plus what ever is in the bottle I am currently using. Should a major event ever happen, I would hope that 90 - 120 days of maintenance meds would last me until things became more routine again.

OTC meds, like 24 hr Claritin, I've found at Rite aid in 120 count generic label bottles for under $30. I am guessing that Costco, Sam's Club, etc. has comparable quantities and price brakes.

I think with a little wiggling within the system you can get a surplus of maintenance-meds (BP, Cholesterol, heart, etc.)without having to stretch any laws.

Get a supply of zyvox (hahahahahahahahaha) - Unfortunately, I get to start on a 2 week course tomorrow (yes, I'm a sick boy) (the laugh is due to the massive side affect posibilities and the even more amazing costs - 2 weeks worth - $2800)

I know all about the high prices, I was in the hospital 2-days and the medicine cost was $10,000

What is the bottom line then?