Category Archives: Medications

Medication preparedness, stockpiling, rationing, and other considerations

Trials and Tribulations in Medical Prepping

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Frustated with preparing for end-of-life-as-we-know-it medical concerns?  Today a reader and health care provider shares her experience with trying to get her doctor to help her with medical prepping.    * * * I personally have been ethical and forthright with … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Stockpiling medical supplies, Stockpiling medications | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who makes the rules?

Posted on June 5, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

A common theme in the comments I receive is frustration over preparing for future medical events when one lacks the license to do so. Why makes the rules, anyway? Is is fair that only doctors can prescribe antibiotics?  Does the … Continue reading →

Posted in Medications, Perennial Favorites, Preparation, Prescription Medications, Public health | 2 Comments

Where to begin?

Posted on June 1, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Where to begin? As this blog develops, specific advice on relevant topics will be added on a regular basis.  If you have comments or questions on a particular aspect of health care, please enter them below.              In the meantime, start … Continue reading →

Posted in 101 Ways / Health Care, 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care, Ankle sprain, Arthritis, Back sprain, Blood pressure meds, Books, Bookshelf, Chronic diseases, Diabetes Mellitus Type II, Diseases, Immunization, Injuries, Lacerations, Medications, OTC Pain meds, Over-the-counter meds, Perennial Favorites, Preparation, Prescription Medications, Save Money, Slide show, Sprains, Stockpiling medical supplies, Stockpiling medications, Vaccination | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Herbal Medicine Debate

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

I was intrigued by a reader’s comments on herbal medicine and have replied to her comments below, in italics.  Which position do you take? * * * Ssurvy states: Relying overmuch on what science says about herbs is ridiculous. Science … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbal and complementary, Herbal medicine, High blood pressure, Medical archives, See medications - herbal | 7 Comments

Dangers of pill splitting?

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Craig asks:  A lot of data sheets I have seen for medicines in tablet form say something along the lines of “Do not halve the tablet. Dose equivalence when the tablet is divided has not been established.” How accurate is … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics, Antidepressants, Blood pressure meds, Medical archives, Medications, Perennial Favorites, Shelf life, Stockpiling medical supplies, Stockpiling medications, Thyroid preparations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Kidney stones and the end of the world

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

  A kidney stone:  don’t tell me it’s not the end of the world.  Sure, I’m better today, but yesterday I was dying.  At least it felt like it.  I hadn’t had pain like that since my son was born 17 … Continue reading →

Posted in Abdominal pain, Acetaminophen - Tylenol, Acute diseases, Bloody urine, Bonine - meclizine, Difficulty urinating, Dramamine - meclizine, Flank pain, Frequent urination, Ibuprofen, Ibuprofen, Kidney stone, Meclizine, Medical archives, Nausea, NSAIDs, OTC Nausea/vomiting meds, OTC NSAIDs, OTC Pain meds, Over-the-counter meds, Symptoms, Vomiting, Vomiting | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Should you worry about your blood pressure in 2012?

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

D. Brown asks:  From my study and research it looks like blood pressure can be treated with herbs and diet.  Am I correct in this understanding? Generally speaking, high blood pressure falls into two categories: the kind that may kill … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood pressure meds, Heart disease, High blood pressure, Medical archives | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nuclear fallout and harvesting thyroid tissue

Posted on April 23, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

A curious reader asks: Does your book address the possibility of a nuclear fallout situation?  I have Graves disease and very little functioning thyroid left.  How would nuclear fallout affect harvesting supplemental thyroid from exposed animals? The self-study course, HYPOTHYROIDISM … Continue reading →

Posted in Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Medical archives, Nuclear radiation exposure, Radiation - nuclear, Stockpiling medical supplies, Thyroid disease, Thyroid preparations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hitting the Wall: Legal, Ethical, and Logistical Barriers to Medical Preparedness

Posted on April 18, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The following post on medical preparedness is contributed by Pete Farmer,  who holds advanced degrees in research biology and history, and is also an RN and EMT. * * *  Image via Wikipedia   You’ve done your research, rolled-up your sleeves and … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical archives, Pete Farmer, Preparation, Stockpiling medications | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Herbal Medicine – Start with the Science

Posted on April 16, 2011 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Herbal medicine – fact or fiction? How does one separate the truth from the hype?  Most of what you find online is anecdotal evidence.  Can you trust someone who is trying to make a sale?  It’s one thing to believe … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Free downloads, Herbal and complementary, Herbal medicine, Medical archives, Medications, Perennial Favorites, See medications - herbal | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments