OTC Supplies

I'm taking care of most of my family's medical supplies and only listing what I'm in charge of. I'm not including any prescription medications in the following list. That said, I welcome all suggestions for OTC.

I cannot swallow pills, so I include liquid or chewable medications or medications I can pulverize with a pill crusher.

In addition to my medical bag, I EDC a modified Traveler Kit and have the following on shelves or in a plastic bin. Loose or odd-shaped items are in the container. Items in their original box or bottle are on the shelves, some of which are to refill my medical bag and my EDC first aid kit.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
(1) The Survival Medicine Handbook
(1) Where there is no Dentist

PERSONAL PROTECTION
(1) Biohazard Waste Bags, 50-Count Box
(4) Hand Sanitizer, 32 Ounce
(5) Hand Sanitizer, 8 Ounce
(6) Nitrile Gloves, 100-Count Boxes
(25) Bear Claw Glove Kits

AIRWAY
(1) Lubricating Jelly, 3g Packet, Box of 144

WOUND
(8) Alcohol Swabs, 200-Count Box
(13) CoFlex LF2, 2"
(1) Trauma Pad, 5" x 9", 25-Count Box
(1) Non-Adherent Dressing, 3" x 4", 100-Count Box
(4) Sterile Gauze Pad, 3" x 3", 100-Count Box
(1) Povidone-Iodine, Swabs, 100-Count Box
(4) Povidone-Iodine, 8 Ounce Bottle
(8) Stretch Gauze, 3"
(1) Knuckle Bandages, 100-Count
(7) Wound Care Kit

IMMOBILIZATION
(12) Triangular Bandage

MEDICATION
(4) Glucose, 15 g
(3) Liquid Acetaminophen, 8 Ounce
(1) Alka-Seltzer, 116-Count
(12) Aspirin, 36-Count
(4) Biofreeze, 5 Large Patches
(4) Children's Benadryl, Allergy, 8 Ounce
(12) Carmex
(87) ChapStick
(1) Caladryl, 6 Ounce
(1) Cornstarch, 14 Ounce
(1) DayQuil, 12 Ounce
(4) Cough Syrup, 8 Ounce
(3) Gold Bond, 10 Ounce
(4) Liddell Letting Go - Homeopathic Remedies, 1 Ounce
(1) Loperamide Hydrochloride, Anti-Diarrheal, 8 Ounce
(1) Milk of Magnesia, 12 Ounce
(1) Natrapel, Tick & Insect Repellent, 3.4 Ounce (100 ml)
(1) NyQuil, 12 Ounce
(72) Omeprazole, 20 mg, 14-Count Bottle
(4) Pepto Bismol, 16 Ounce
(1) Rid Super Max, Lice Kit
(5) Simethicone, Antigas, 48-Count
(1) Sunscreen, 8 Ounce
(4) Vaseline, 13 Ounce
(1) Vicks VaporRub, 1.76 Ounce (50 g)
(1) Visine, 1/2 Ounce

INSTRUMENTS
(10) Scalpel, Sterile, #11
(1) Microdot Xtra Glucometer
(1) 25 Count Test Strips
(1) Microdot Xtra High (red) testing solution
(1) Microdot Xtra Low (blue) testing solutions
(25) Twist-top lancets

OTHER
(1) Chinook Travel Suture Module
(1) Chinook Travel Syringe Module
(1) FIRST AID KIT DENTAL GRAB N GO™
(1) EYE CARE EMERGENCY KIT

Jeanette Isabelle

That's a pretty thorough list! Thanks.

Is the children's Benadryl for you or do you have children in the family? If not for children then I'd include adult Benadryl.
If you have children include some children's pain relief such as children's Motrin or such. There was some kind of a shortage on children's pain meds recently so keeping some pre-stocked is a big help.

Also I'd stock some other pain relief besides just acetaminophen. Add in Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and maybe Naproxen (Aleve).
A quick example I found https://www.hss.edu/pediatrics-difference-between-tylenol-advil-aleve.asp
Anti inflamatory can be usefulin some situations.
Some Pedialyte, or drop drop or even Gatorade can be handy.

The dental grab and go kit looks a bit overkill to me. A small bottle of dental pain relief and a temporary filling pack will suffice unless your preparing for post end of the world

Thanks for the reply. It's for me. As I said, I include liquid medication because I can't swallow pills.


I have aspirin and acetaminophen listed. Do I need a third option as well?


I have aspirin listed. What anti-inflammatory medication are you considering?


I don't have it listed because I don't consider it a drug, but I have packs of POWER ADE.


The world's end is why I have the Dental Grab N Go.

Ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve) are anti inflammatory (I don't believe Asprin is) and sometimes they work better for pain, or when you have a long term pain such as after surgery doctors might have you alternate between ibuprofen and aspirin.

For non-end of the world something like
https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/red-cross-toothache-complete-medication-kit/ID=prod1769-product and https://www.cvs.com/shop/cvs-health-temporary-lost-filling-loose-cap-repair-prodid-695108

You can buy pretty much anywhere, walgreens and cvs were just the first hits I found when looking for a picture.

I had a filling pop out on a Friday night so I had to get through the weekend until Monday,so a dot of the pain relief, then the temp filling to fill the hole until you can get to a dentist helps.

Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory medication. Nevertheless, taking your suggestion to heart, I will get ibuprofen in addition to aspirin and acetaminophen. Naproxen, on the other hand, does not have a liquid or chewable form.

Does anyone besides Eugene have a recommendation or a suggestion for something not listed?

Jeanette Isabelle

I guess I maybe have more input because I've done the taking care of meds for our family for a while.
I keep a stock of dayquil, nyquil, Mucinex, Zertec as well.
My allergy doctor has me use Zertec instead of Benedryl and the doctor office at work usually says to use Mucinex when I go in with cold/flu symptoms.
Rx stuff:
Our son has multiple diagnosis and has been on a lot of medications so while you can't stock like OTC I do however track the rx meds each family member has taken in a spreadsheet. Each new doctor always asks medical history and will often ask if we have tried x or y medicine. So I simply record the meds, rx# and date prescribed and a brief reason so we can quickly answer the doctor answers.

Also the durable stuff.
We have thermometer, blood pressure cuff, one of those finger blood oxygen readers.
It would also be worth while doing a CPR class and have some of those CPR shields.

I have DayQuil and NyQuil listed. I can add Zertec, but does Mucinex come in either a chewable or liquid form?


I have all that except for the pulse oximeter in my medical bag.

Jeanette Isabelle

Inspired by what you wrote, I researched the different allergy medications. If I dealt with allergies all the time, I would need something different, but Benadryl is better for those with occasional allergy symptoms.

Jeanette Isabelle

Will try to address several of the issues raised:
Physicians no longer use/recommend oral benadryl much: too short lasting, needlessly sedating.

Much longer lasting, and much more potent (est. 10X more) antihistamines are cetirizine (Zyrtec), and levocetirizine (Xyzal).
Both are also MUCH less sedating than Bendadryl, especially levocetirizine.

Both are more expensive than generic Benadryl, but both are available as liquids, both are OTC.

Cetirizine and levocetirizine work well on an occasional basis.

Aspirin becomes anti-inflammatory if you take 3-4 tabs every 4 hr or so for at least 6 doses. It may be the most hazardous to the stomach of the options discussed, and tinnitus, ringing of the ears is an issue at this big a dose. Aspirin also is one of the quickest medicines to break down in storage: one of several where the manufacturers "expiration date" has some relation to reality.

There is little data as to whether the expiration data on the two above liquid meds is real or not: an advantage of the tablet versions is that, except for aspirin, they seem to last for decades.

Yes, Mucinex (guaifenesin) is available as a liquid.

Naproxen tablets, and others, can be put into a plastic bag, like a ziplock, crushed into powder with a hammer, then dissolved into the beverage of choice.

Great info!

That's two votes for Zertec. I'll get that in addition to the liquid Benadryl I already have.


One thing I know about aspirin is that it's expired when it smells like vinegar.


I'll focus more on tablets when it's an option.


I have a pill crusher that I use every morning. It's nearly bombproof, made of thick plastic, and I have two spares just in case.

In addition to what drug to add, is the count of what I have listed or a product that one of you has recommended enough?

If it's a product I've only used once or have not used since I was a child, such as Caladryl, Loperamide (Imodium A-D), Milk of Magnesia, the lice kit, Vicks VaporRub, and Visine, I only include one count. If it's a drug I regularly use, such as once a day, I can calculate how much I will use and stock up for a year, such as Omeprazole. For the products I use semi-regularly, there is no predictable pattern for me to calculate how much I will need. For those items, I have or will get four of each.

Given all that, do you see an area where I need to change? How do you determine how much of something to stock when you don't know how much you will need?

Jeanette Isabelle

Maybe it is there and I missed seeing it: Vaselene
It is multipurpose stuff.

Also, a pair of tweezers

In my own kit :
# Hot/cold compress for my knee and finger joints (the reuseabe type, you can throw it in the fridge or warm it on a tea kettle)

# Knee wrap, for my knee, just in case

Everyone of us has different health issues, but I do believe the majority of us in this forum maybe in an age group that can benefit from adding a walking cane, just in case. My knee is better these days, but I have a spare cane in the car trunk, just in case.

Oh, almost forgot :
eye moisturizing drops, or gel.

By eyedrops, do you mean Visine?


Thanks. I have tweezers in my medical bag and EDC FAK.


For now, I don't have any hot or ice packs. However, not listed, I do have an electric heating pad.


Are you talking about an ace bandage, which I have in my medical bag, or something else?

Jeanette Isabelle

Famdoc: Do the two other anti-histamines you mentioned, to use instead of Benadryl, have the same useful anti anaphylaxis properties?

I was about to lose my mind on your numbers, but then re-read and saw that you're sort of having a cache at home.

First, what's your education/training level in the medical field?

That's a lot of biohazard bags. You probably don't need them, for 2 reasons: 1, you probably throw 'biohazards' away for 5-7 days every month, in the regular trash; and 2, where are you going to properly dispose of them in a SHFT/end of the world event? But, they're cheap, so enjoy.

I see lubricating jelly under airway, but no airways. What do you plan to do with jelly?

I'd recommend tourniquets and combat gauze(or similar) in your wound care plans.

Consider SAM splints under 'immobilization.'

Dayquil is liquid mucinex. Nyquil, Robitussin, all the 'cough syrups' are basically mucinex with a cough medicine (dextromethorphan, the -DM) and/or 'runny nose medicine' pseudophedrine (the -D) added.

Aspirin, Ibuprofen and naproxen are all anti-inflammatories. I'm not partial to any, but Ibu and Naprox aren't used for cardiac/stroke events.

Visine is bad long term. Just go with regular non-medicated eye drops if you can.

Do you have diabetics to worry about? If not, I'd not bother with a glucometer. What do you plan to do with the scalpel?

Good call on dental and eye kits.

Do you know how to suture? If so, I'd recommend more and different suture materials. And consider dermabond and steri-strips.

What's the point of the travel syringe kit?

*************
Acropolis, antihistamines aren't the treatment for anaphylaxis. Epinephrine is. Antihistamines help with the itching and some peripheral symptoms, and yes, any can be used (though zyrtec probably has the best skin penetration). Famotidine is also an OTC antihistamine; even though it uses a different H-receptor, it's still often included in the cocktail if someone is having an issue.

Thank you for your well-thought-out reply. I've taken classes (including nursing and trauma), self-study, and in-the-field first aid.


Fifty is how many came in the box. That box is for refilling my medical bag.


I have the nasal airways in my medical bag. The box of lubricating jelly is for refilling.


I have them in my medical bag.


That's helpful to know. A little redundancy never hurts.


What would you recommend?


I have low blood sugar.


Another member of this forum strongly recommended it.


I have the suture and syringe kits if someone can do the procedures but needs more supplies. I'm considering getting Vetbond.

I posted the list before in another thread, but here again are the updated contents of my medical bag:

MEDICAL INFORMATION / TRIAGE
(1) Wilderness & Travel Medicine
(1) Tactical Combat Casualty Reference Card
(4) Tactical Combat Casualty Care Card
(1) Fresnel Lens

PERSONAL PROTECTION
(1) Biohazard Waste Bag
(1) Rescue Mask, Soft Case
(6) Personal Antimicrobial Wipe
(2) Emergency/Survival Blanket
(2) Respirator Mask
(6) Bear Claw Glove Kit
(1) Crews Safety Glass - BearKat

BLEEDING
(2) Combat Application Tourniquet, Rescue Orange
(1) QuikClot 3" x 4 yds Bleeding Control Dressing, Z-Fold
(2) Trauma Bandage, 4"
(4) Compressed Gauze

AIRWAY
(2) Bolin Chest Seal
(1) Hyfin Vent Chest Seal Twin Pack
(2) Nasopharyngeal Airway w/ Lube, 28 Fr
(2) ARS Decompression Needle, 10 g x 3.25"
(1) Oral Airway Set
(1) Pocket BVM
(2) SAM ThoraSite

WOUND / BLISTER / BURN
(3) Burn Jel, 3.5 g
(1) 30 Band-Aid, 6 Knuckle, 6 Moleskin
(1) Durapore Tape, 1"
(1) Stretch Gauze, 3" x 12 yds.
(1) Wound Closure Strips, 0.25" x 4"
(2) Non-Adherent Dressing, 3" x 4"
(5) Sterile Gauze Pad, 3" x 3"
(6) Povidone-Iodine Prep Pad

IMMOBILIZATION
(1) Elastic Bandage Wrap, 3" x 4.5 yds.
(1) Splint, Orange, 4.25" x 36"
(2) Cravat Triangular Bandage

MEDICATION
(1) Eye Wash, 4 oz.
(6) Aspirin, 2/pk (Analgesic)
(6) Diamode, 1/pk (Anti-diarrheal)
(6) Diotame, 2/pk (Stomach)
(6) Diphen, 1/pk (Antihistamine)
(6) Hydrocortisone 1% Creme, 1.5 g
(6) Ibuprofen, 2/pk (Anti-inflammatory)
(6) Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 0.9 g
(2) Hydration Powder
(2) Glucose, 15 g
(1) Insect Bite Treatment

INSTRUMENTS
(1) Catheter Tip, 18G
(1) Digital Thermometer
(1) EMT Shears, 7.25"
(1) Irrigation Syringe, 20 mL, Luer Lock Tip
(1) Permanent Marker, Extra-Fine Point
(1) Scalpel, Sterile, #11
(1) Tweezers
(3) Safety Pins, 2"
(1) Blood Pressure Kit
(1) Disposable Penlight
(1) Stethoscope, Sprague
(1) Flat Duct Tape, 1.89" x 2 yds.
(1) Hemostat, Kelly Forceps Straight, 5.5"
(1) SYNC 200

OTHER
(1) TMM-DE, Dental Module

Sorry for the late reply, I've been away: MDindiana said it well: benadryl is NOT the drug of choice for anaphylaxis: injectable epinephrine is the mainstay, such as an Epipen - Which is expensive. Individual vials of epi. and syringes are cheaper, but harder to come by. A willing physician may be willing to prescribe either for someone without a clear personal diagosis of anaphylaxis/severe allergic reactions.
Having said that I've never had opportunity to need it in 40 years of office practice, nor outside the office; so I haven't kept it in my car kit. "Expiration" dates on it are probably "real" as well, being a liquid: I think about 2 years after purchase. So spending perhaps a over a hundred dollars every two years to replace an epipen is a factor to consider.
If the need exists however, and all you have is an expired epipen, it would be better to use it than do nothing IMHO.

I have two questions for the medical experts

1 - Herbal medicines are as much OTC as can get.
Do you recommend to include them ???

2 - I am lost about the (dental kit) : Already, haircutting for soneself is hard enough, I can't imagine myself looking at my own tooth to try fixing the toothache
Any thoughts ??

I reviewed this thread and added Zyrtec and Ibuprophen to my shopping list. Have I overlooked anything?

Jeanette Isabelle

Sorry for the late reply.
I lack expertise to comment on herbal remedies: There are a number of references available, and centuries of use behind using them.

The OTC dental kits are quite good for relief of pain if a filling comes out and pain results. They are really aimed at relief of pain, not as a temporary, let along permanent, repair.

I updated the Gold Bond and liquid Acetaminophen amount to four each and added chewable Zyrtec and chewable Ibuprofen. I plan to get more Zyrtec and Ibuprofen.

Jeanette Isabelle