Strep throat and meds

maestranba · 02-13-2008

My son was diagnosed with strep throat today, three days before we leave for Mexico. I know he'll be better (to stay home w/ his nonna) but I'm afraid I'll catch it. My throat feels scratchy already! Is it psychosomatic? Probably!

My question is whether I'll be able to get over the counter antibiotics in case it does develop while we're there. I rarely take antibiotics so I'm not too concerned about the immunity thing, but it would be nice if I could just go into a farmacia and get some amoxicyllan (sp.) if needed. If I can't, I might just have to visit the doctor here on Friday to be tested.

Thanks,
Nancy (not wanting to be sick for vacation!!!)

Skiptown · 02-13-2008

Call your Dr and ask for something like cipro to take with you. That way you will have it if needed. Any good Dr. will do this for you if you explain where you are going.

FrankRN · 02-13-2008

I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. But I do work in the ER and see hundreds of cases of Strep each year.

You can get Zithromax (or Azithromax) in any local pharmacy w/o a prescription. There will be five tablets in the bottle. Take 2 tablets on day one and one additional tablet each day for the following four days. Zithromax is more effective than Penicillin (84% cure rate) and much more convenient than multpile doses of e-mycin for 10 days. This is for adults of course. Pediatricians still tend towards E-mycin for kids because we worry about causing strep to become resistant to cephalasporins at some point down the road.

Before deciding to start treatment on yourself, your son should have had a POSITIVE rapid strep and you should be exhibiting signs of strep. Begin treatment as soon as you notice onset of symptoms.

Mrsfuzzmo · 02-13-2008

To answer your question, yes you can get Amoxicilliln OTC in most mexican pharmacias. A good portion of my family are pharmacists and we all go and stock up to bring home with us. A bottle of 100 will run you about $20.

playawannabe · 02-13-2008

OIL OF OREGANO! Get some, take it, gargle with it, I put it in a bit of juice and shoot it like tequila. It's kinda like Buckley's... it tastes HORRIBLE but it works!

BamaLina · 02-14-2008

Oh no - I hope you don't get it! We are coming this weekend too, and yesterday when I picked my son up I found out that there are two cases of flu in his class!!! I was in major panic, LOL. I started feeling sick on the way home, feeling my head etc so I know what you mean. So far my son is feeling fine - I have been washing my hands a lot. Great info about the meds otc.

maestranba · 02-14-2008

Thanks for all the info, folks! My throat feels fine today. I think it was definitely all in my mind. But at least I know I can get meds there if I need them!

jonesy girl · 02-17-2008

I totally second this posting. This stuff is amazing - the after taste is something you get used to. I have a glass of agua on hand and chase my drops with it. The way it has been described to me (by holistic health practitioners) it's like a natural antibiotic.

The idea of taking a prescription in hand is also great. I talk to my doctor before and she is totally on board with precautionary prescriptions. You never know when you will get sick. And being sick on vacation sucks.

Hope it goes well for you - have a great time!

FrankRN · 02-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrsfuzzmo

To answer your question, yes you can get Amoxicilliln OTC in most mexican pharmacias. A good portion of my family are pharmacists and we all go and stock up to bring home with us. A bottle of 100 will run you about $20.

Just out of curiosity, why would a family full of pharmacists risk sneaking past customs bringing prescription meds into the USA??? Do you save THAT much money as opposed to what must be a great employee discount?

Hey, I'm just asking ....

FrankRN · 02-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by playawannabe

OIL OF OREGANO! Get some, take it, gargle with it, I put it in a bit of juice and shoot it like tequila. It's kinda like Buckley's... it tastes HORRIBLE but it works!

Most people don't realize that the newer classes of antibiotics are all made from oregano mixed with either Tequila or Capt. Morgans coconut rum ....

Mrsfuzzmo · 02-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by FrankRN

Just out of curiosity, why would a family full of pharmacists risk sneaking past customs bringing prescription meds into the USA??? Do you save THAT much money as opposed to what must be a great employee discount?

Hey, I'm just asking ....

A: They aren't illegal to bring back into the US. It's not illegal to carry antibiotics into the US, maybe narcotics, but that's a whole different ball game. We always claim what we have on our customs forms.
B: It saves time running to the Doc when I have a sore throat.

It's not a money thing, more of a convenience thing.

02-13-2008	#1 (permalink)
maestranba añejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,102	Strep throat and meds My son was diagnosed with strep throat today, three days before we leave for Mexico. I know he'll be better (to stay home w/ his nonna) but I'm afraid I'll catch it. My throat feels scratchy already! Is it psychosomatic? Probably! My question is whether I'll be able to get over the counter antibiotics in case it does develop while we're there. I rarely take antibiotics so I'm not too concerned about the immunity thing, but it would be nice if I could just go into a farmacia and get some amoxicyllan (sp.) if needed. If I can't, I might just have to visit the doctor here on Friday to be tested. Thanks, Nancy (not wanting to be sick for vacation!!!)

02-13-2008	#3 (permalink)
FrankRN añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Boston, MA USA Posts: 2,127	I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. But I do work in the ER and see hundreds of cases of Strep each year. You can get Zithromax (or Azithromax) in any local pharmacy w/o a prescription. There will be five tablets in the bottle. Take 2 tablets on day one and one additional tablet each day for the following four days. Zithromax is more effective than Penicillin (84% cure rate) and much more convenient than multpile doses of e-mycin for 10 days. This is for adults of course. Pediatricians still tend towards E-mycin for kids because we worry about causing strep to become resistant to cephalasporins at some point down the road. Before deciding to start treatment on yourself, your son should have had a POSITIVE rapid strep and you should be exhibiting signs of strep. Begin treatment as soon as you notice onset of symptoms. Last edited by FrankRN; 02-13-2008 at 08:31 PM..

02-13-2008	#2 (permalink)
Skiptown añejo Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Where the Columbia and Snake Meet Posts: 4,558	Call your Dr and ask for something like cipro to take with you. That way you will have it if needed. Any good Dr. will do this for you if you explain where you are going.

02-13-2008	#4 (permalink)
Mrsfuzzmo life=playa Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Fredonia, WI Posts: 670	To answer your question, yes you can get Amoxicilliln OTC in most mexican pharmacias. A good portion of my family are pharmacists and we all go and stock up to bring home with us. A bottle of 100 will run you about $20.

02-13-2008	#5 (permalink)
playawannabe añejo Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Northern BC Posts: 1,908	OIL OF OREGANO! Get some, take it, gargle with it, I put it in a bit of juice and shoot it like tequila. It's kinda like Buckley's... it tastes HORRIBLE but it works!

02-14-2008	#6 (permalink)
BamaLina ruined Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 86	Oh no - I hope you don't get it! We are coming this weekend too, and yesterday when I picked my son up I found out that there are two cases of flu in his class!!! I was in major panic, LOL. I started feeling sick on the way home, feeling my head etc so I know what you mean. So far my son is feeling fine - I have been washing my hands a lot. Great info about the meds otc.

02-14-2008	#7 (permalink)
maestranba añejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,102	Thanks for all the info, folks! My throat feels fine today. I think it was definitely all in my mind. But at least I know I can get meds there if I need them!

02-17-2008	#8 (permalink)
jonesy girl lost on fifth Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 23	I totally second this posting. This stuff is amazing - the after taste is something you get used to. I have a glass of agua on hand and chase my drops with it. The way it has been described to me (by holistic health practitioners) it's like a natural antibiotic. The idea of taking a prescription in hand is also great. I talk to my doctor before and she is totally on board with precautionary prescriptions. You never know when you will get sick. And being sick on vacation sucks. Hope it goes well for you - have a great time!

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