One of the questions I get from readers most frequently is guidance regarding which antibiotics would be useful to store for survival settings. I’ll start by saying that my writings are meant for circumstances where there is no functioning medical system. Many years ago, I put forth aquarium antibiotics as a survival option. At that time, they were identical to human antibiotics down to the numbers and letters on the capsules, just repackaged for the aquarium hobby. Today, however, the FDA forbids their use. The generic antibiotics I’d want in my survival medicine cabinet haven’t changed, however; which should you have in your survival storage?
I’ll mention several of the most important ones here, with the generic and brand names as well as some comments as to their uses:
For those who aren’t allergic to penicillin, I think either amoxicillin(Amoxil), or cephalexin(Keflex), both members of the beta-lactam family, would be good drugs to have around, especially for soft-tissue and bacterial upper respiratory infections. Dosing is relatively simple and, in most cases, safe for pregnant and pediatric patients. There is also amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin), which is effective against some infections that are resistant to amoxicillin alone.
Secondly, I would have doxycycline (Doryx), which handles a lot of different infections of the respiratory and intestinal tracts. This antibiotic is okay to take if you’re allergic to penicillin drugs, although it isn’t considered acceptable for use during pregnancy. There are those who claim doxycycline becomes toxic when expired; I would note that the Department of Defense’s Shelf Life Extension Program has, in the past, authorized its use well beyond the expiration dates.
Metronidazole(Flagyl) is a drug which I consider very useful, especially for intestinal infections from bacteria and certain parasites, like Giardia, seen in intestinal and pelvic infections, among others. It is also used in those with serious infections, for example, early appendicitis, combined with another antibiotic for situations where surgery isn’t an option. Although Metronidazole is acceptable in those allergic to penicillin, it’s not okay for pregnant or breastfeeding mothers.
Azithromycin is known to be generally safe in pregnancy as well as those with penicillin allergies. It can deal with many cases of respiratory infection, dysentery, tonsillitis, sinusitis, and more. An additional benefit is that many have taken it before in its popular “Z-Pak” form.
The Sulfa drug combination sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim DS) is an excellent choice for many infections, especially urinary ones. If that is a common problem for family members, you might consider this drug. It has also been used for skin infections, some sinusitis, MRSA, ear infections, and others. Sulfa-Drugs are acceptable in the penicillin-allergic but not in the pregnant woman or breastfeeding mother.
Clindamycin(Cleocin) would also be on my list. It has been used to treat everything from acne to anthrax, but is helpful for pneumonias, pelvic infections, uterine infections after childbirth, soft-tissue infections, and is even effective against MRSA. It is, unlike doxycycline and metronidazole, acceptable for use during pregnancy and in people allergic to penicillin (of course, you could be allergic to clindamycin, or any other antibiotic, itself). In rare cases, use of clindamycin could induce an intestinal inflammation known as colitis, which could be serious.
Then there’s Ivermectin (Stromectrol), in its human form and not the paste used for horses. It’s certainly an option in the age of COVID.
You may notice the above list doesn’t include Ciprofloxacin (Cipro), an important antibiotic which is effective against many infections. I feel that the side-effects of the drug, including damage causing weakness in the muscles and tendons, disqualifying it for most. It’s still an option for some.
In our book “Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman’s Guide”, we describe the various antibiotic families in detail. The drugs above each belong to a different family. If you could accumulate some of each over time, it would give you the best chance of having a medicine on hand that would have activity against almost any bacterial infection.
There are various ways to obtain the antibiotics I mention above. The main disadvantage of buying from medical companies that sell antibiotic “kits” (Ozio, Wellness, Jase) is that you are often limited in the quantity of the drugs in question you can purchase and the frequency of purchases. For the medic in charge of a survival group with many members, this can be problematic. Others look for veterinary-equivalent antibiotics, which I’ve written about extensively in the past. Now banned for use in humans by the FDA, an AI search will still identify certain online retailers that still offer them. Do your own research and come to your own conclusions.
It’s important for you to know that every single medication I mentioned has its share of side-effects and reasons why they might be dangerous in some people, like those with kidney or liver disease. You should also learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of various infections so you know what you’re treating. Indeed, antibiotics aren’t useful at all if you’ve misdiagnosed a viral infection as bacterial.
It’s also important to realize that antibiotics are not candy; they should be used judiciously and rarely in survival settings. These drugs will be scarce commodities and irreplaceable in a societal collapse. Accumulate a good supply and utilize them wisely. To accomplish that goal requires not just monetary funds, but a fund of knowledge and good judgment. If you’re successful, you might save the life of someone who otherwise might not survive in times of trouble.
Joe Alton MD
Read the full article here