MEDICINES FOR THE ZOMBIE APOCOLYPSE
The 5 – 5 – 5 Plan
Or
Pills For Dummies
Almost all of us have experienced the same overwhelming feeling of panic as we started out prepping. The
sheer size and scope of what is needed to know, own and stock can send even the strongest of us into the fetal
position, sucking our thumb and crying for mommy. I was fortunate enough when I started to stumble across a
great group of seasoned preppers who made my beginnings so much easier. The greatest advice I ever got as I
started down this path consists of two key points – start slow and basic, and utilize other like-minded people and
their knowledge base as you go. Now that I have reached a point where I consider myself having graduated
from beginner to advanced beginner (I have so much more to do and learn), I felt it was time to give back in the
one way I could – using my area of expertise to help and instruct others.
As a veterinarian, my pre zombie apocalypse skills are limited, but as a medical professional, my grasp of
medicines and their uses will transfer quite nicely into the human prepping realm. This paper’s goal is to
outline for you basic medicine information sources, preferred forms of medications for preppers,
recommendations for medicines that I believe are essential for preppers to stock, and finally discussions of
acquisition of these medicines both pre and post zombie apocalypse. I hope that you will find this both
interesting and helpful in your preparations.
INFORMATION SOURCE:
For those who have no or limited medical background, simple information on medications can be difficult
enough to find and understand. However, as you put your library together, I must strongly recommend that you
also include in it a copy of the Physician’s Desk Reference (PDR). This is an essential source of medicine
information. This book lists all human medications and the variations, and is divided into easy to follow
sections (Manufacturer, product category, picture reference, product name and generic name). I recommend
that you get the large hardback copy. These can be purchased off of Ebay or Amazon quiet easily and cheaply.
A book a few years old can be obtained for less than $10. Don’t worry too much about getting the newest
version out – remember, you will mostly be dealing with very basic drugs and not too interested in the newest
drugs out there, those with specific targeted problems that you will likely not need to face. Even a 20 year old
copy would still cover the basic medications that a prepper would most likely need to be aware of very well.
WHICH MEDICINE FORM?
Medicines usually come in three forms – tablet/capsules (oral), liquid (oral) and injectable. Without going
into great detail, always stock the tablet or capsule form of any medication. The shelf life will be the longest
and they will be the lightest and simplest forms to stock and carry. For those of you reliant on injectable
medications for your health (diabetics, for example), the sad reality is that in the event of a catastrophic
breakdown of society, you will probably only have a 6 month supply of medications available. There will be a
large percentage of the population that will die in these scenarios simply due to the lack of available
medications.
THE 5 – 5 – 5 PLAN
With apologies to Herman Cain for blatantly ripping off his idea, I came up with a simple layman’s guide for
medications that I feel are imperative for all preppers to stock. This list was not just my idea – I consulted with
other veterinarians and human doctors to get a general consensus as to which medications would be the most
likely to be needed (I employed the old “if you were stranded on a deserted island. . .” question – and oldie but
a goodie!!). Simply put, I asked them if they were to be the medical administrator for a diverse group of adults
and children, and had only 5 over the counter (OTC) medicines, 5 antibiotics and 5 non-antibiotic prescription
mediations to choose, which would they carry? The following list mirrors the suggestions I received.
** IMPORTANT CAVEAT!!** These choices are made on what veterinarians call the “Herd Health”
mentality – which medications will most likely do the best for the herd as a whole, not taking into consideration
any one individual or a specific need of one individual. If you are on specific medications, it would be advised
that you stock at least a two to three month supply of that medication as a back-up at all times. In the case of a
short term society breakdown, this will more than likely get you through the immediate crisis. Problems that
will last for a longer time period may prove difficult or fatal for those dependent on specific medications.
OTC MEDICATIONS
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Aspirin/Ibuprofen: Pain/swelling associated with increased activities
Benadryl: Allergies, rashes, mild sedation
Famotidine/Pepcid AC: Heartburn/pain associated with diet changes
Ex-Lax: Constipation associated with diet changes
Pepto-Bismol: Diarrhea associated with diet changes
NOTE: Remember, tablet forms are the best, especially when dealing with the last two. Liquids or
chocolate forms will not stand up to travel/heat very well
ANTIBIOTICS
Amoxicillin/Augmentin (veterinary name – Clavamox)
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Aerobic Bacteria (ear infections, respiratory infections, skin infections, pneumonia)
Augmentin better in adults, good for deep infected wounds, UTI, respiratory
Metabolized by liver and kidney
AD EFF – severe allergies to penicillins exist in people – rash, anaphylactic shock. Know your
status before taking if at all possible
Dosage – amoxi in children – 80-90 mg/kg/day (divided in 2 to 3 doses) for 7 to 10 days.
Augmentin adults – 250-500 mg every 8 to 12 hours for 7 to 10 days
Cephalexin/Keflex
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Aerobic bacteria (ear infections, wounds, pneumonia)
Good choice if allergic to Penicillins
Metabolized by liver/kidney
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AD EFF – skin rash/hypersensitivity, diarrhea, seizures
Dosage: Adults – 1000 mg divided into two or four dosages
Child – 12.5-25 mg/kg every 12 hrs
Ciprofloxacin/Cipro
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Aerobic bacteria (ear infections, respiratory infections, abdominal infections, anthrax)
Do not use if pregnant or in children if at all possible
Metabolized by liver and kidney
AD EFF – limited to nausea/diarrhea, rash, very rare
Dosage – 250 to 750 mg twice a day from 5 days to 6 weeks
Doxycycline
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Aerobic bacteria (tick borne diseases, anthrax, plague)
Kills symbiotic bacteria in some nematodes, making it a dewormer as well
Only used in children if no other option
Metabolized mostly by kidneys
AD EFF – photosensitivity, rash. Taking with milk or food decreased effectiveness
Dosages – adult: 100 mg twice a day for 10 to 60 days
Metronidazole/Flagyl
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Anaerobic bacteria and protozoa (gut problems, deep tissue wounds)
IBD with Cipro
Metabolized by liver
AD EFF: nausea, diarrhea, metallic taste in mouth (rare); high dose/long dose – blood
production problems, neurological disease
Dosage: 500 mg 2-3 times a day for 10 to 14 days (adult)
Child: 15-30 mg/kg/day divided into 3 doses for 7 to 14 days, not to exceed 1-2 gm/day
NON ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
Ondansetron/Zofran
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Oral anti-nausea medication
Also used to control addiction (alcohol, opioids), IBD symptom treatment
AD EFF – Constipation, dizziness, headaches (rare)
Dosage – 8 mg by mouth three times a day (adult)
4 mg by mouth three times a day (child)
Prednisone
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Potent anti-inflammatory medication
Used in treatments for asthma, COPD, arthritis, IBD, allergies, migraines, chemotherapy
ADD EFF – high blood sugar, insomnia, fluid retention, increased thirst and urination, behavior
changes
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Dosages – wide range of dosages based on age and disease. Length of dosing also based on age
and disease.
Tramadol/Ultram
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Oral analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain
Metabolized by the liver
AD EFF – nausea, sweating, itching and constipation
Dosage – 25 mg by mouth three times a day up to a maximum of 400 mg/day
Not recommended in children
Percocet/Vicodin/Morphine
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Potent short term analgesic – combination of narcotic and anti-inflammatory
Highly controlled substance, difficult to acquire
AD EFF – potent addiction potential, severe mental depression/sedation, decrease in gut activity,
nausea, dry mouth, decreased appetite
Dosage – 1 to 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours as needed for pain (adults)
Sudafed
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Used to treat symptoms of common cold, sinusitis and nasal congestion. Can help in shocky
patients.
Due to use in making Crystal Meth, amounts restricted to purchase
AD EFF – elevated heart rate, dizziness, high blood pressure, restlessness
Dosage – 2 tablets every 4 to 6 hours (adult)
1 tablet every 4 to 6 hours (child)
MEDICATION ACQUISITION
For most preppers, this will be the hardest aspect related to this very valuable item(s). Of course, the over
the counter medications will not be a problem, and you should keep at least a 6 month supply on hand of any
and all of the recommended OTC meds, along with any others you deem necessary for you and your situation.
However, prescription medications will be much harder to come by for the average person.
In preparing for the zombie apocalypse, cultivating a relationship with a medical professional would be your
best option. Doctors or persons in the medical field would have a much more likely ability to procure
medicines. However, do realize that it is illegal for them to sell or prescribe medications to people who are not
in immediate need of these items. A much more likely scenario would be to include a doctor or medical
professional in your prepping group. Their ability and willingness to ‘offer assistance’ will be based on their
own personal morals and ethics.
Post-apocalyptic acquisition of medications will be even trickier. Although I cannot give you advice on
where and how to get medications in this situation, I will caution you on places you should probably stay away
from. Pharmacies and grocery stores will be a no-go. Everyone and their brother who is not prepared will be
heading to these stores for immediate supplies, meaning the chance of violence and harm will be very great.
Avoid these at all costs. Likewise, hospitals will be either overrun by gangs or, more likely, being controlled by
armed groups. My best suggestion is to think outside of the box when looking for items in this category. By
their very nature, preppers tend to think ahead and reason out likely scenarios for survival in hard times. This is
a very important area on which to plan ahead.