Some Things You Should Take

Here is some advice from Dr. Eileen Ringel.  I follow her list with my own.  Read BOTH!

Dear students,

Here are some thoughts about medications you should consider for our India trip. Please note that I’m not telling you to take these medications, but simply suggesting that you consider them as options in light of your own, personal health history. If you have specific questions regarding what medications to take with you, please get in touch with your own physician or medical practitioner ASAP. Remember, doctors, like the rest of us, get very busy and tend to take off time before the holidays.


MOST IMPORTANT: Regular prescription medicationBe sure you have adequate quantities of all of your regular, prescription medications for the entire month of the trip. Bring them in their original, labeled containers. The latter is particularly important for any medicine that is a controlled substance in the US.  Also, think ahead about any intermittent medical problems you may have and take along any medications you would need to treat them.

Traveler’s diarrhea:
Pepto Bismol (buy tablets)
Imodium
Possibly, an antibiotic, such as doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, or azithromycin. (Traveler’s diarrhea goes away on its own, but it may go away more quickly with an antibiotic. It depends how you feel about taking antibiotics.) If you want an antibiotic for the trip, call your personal physician, tell him/her that you’re going to India for a month, and ask that a prescription be phoned to a pharmacy for you. Some people are prone to thrush or yeast infections when they take antibiotics. If that is you, ask your physician for something for thrush or yeast infections as well.
 
ConstipationLaxative
Stool softener, like Colace
Prunes
 
HeartburnTUMS or other antacids tablets
Pepcid or Zantac (H2 agonists)
Prevacid or Prilosec (proton pump inhibitors)
 
Colds and ear inflammation:
Sudafed
Claritin or another non-sedating antihistamine
Decongestant nasal spray   
Motion sickness, for those prone to itDramamine
Scopolamine patch
Some people swear by wristbands. I have no experience with them.

Something for sleep:
Dramamine or another antihistamine, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
Prescription sleep aids are not my favorite medications but are available by prescription

Jet Lag
(See “something for sleep".)
Melatonin – there is some evidence that melatonin can help reset your biological clock. If you want to try it, take melatonin 3 mg two hours before you want to go to sleep.
Fever:
Acetaminophen

Pain:
Acetaminophen
Ibuprofen or naproxen



From Steven:
This is just a reminder to you all about things you should probably do or bring with you (without overpacking!):

1) A small flashlight.  There is very little ambient light around the Ashram at night so it is a good idea to have a flashlight when you are negotiating the hills and paved paths.  In the event of a power outage it is also a very good idea to have some extra light.

2) Baby wipes/pre-moistened towels.  This might seem like an odd item, but there will be times when a normal shower in the morning might not appeal to you (cold!).  This is a good alternative.  We are also trying to save water, so anytime you can use a disposal wipe that's a good thing.  Get them in some large and small packets: large for your Ashram use, small when we travel and you are in town.  Get some that are anti-bacterial (good for your hands) and some that are just meant to clean and not disinfect.

3) Some type of sleeping bag.

4) Clothing (including thermal) that can be layered.  I suggest cleaning your closets of all the stuff you rarely wear.  Take it to India, wear it, leave it.  We are not there to be fashion plates, so this would be a good time to get rid of some things and to get a bit of real use out of them.  Remember there are no clothes dryers, so light clothing that can be layered will do better when/if you need things washed.  Things take a LONG time to dry.  I suggest going to the cheapest place you can find and getting enough socks and underclothes for the trip.  Hopefully you could find them cheap enough that you don't mind just discarding the bunch when you leave.

5)  You should put together a small bag of medicines that you normally use and also see if you can get some antibiotics to take with you in case you get a bug of some sort.  Bring a thermometer.  Bring an anti-diarrheal.  Bring a laxative.  Bring sunblock!  We are high in the mountains, and though it is cool, the sun is intense.  Some saline nasal spray--though we are in a rural setting, there are lots of bonfires around and diesel trucks.  Giving yourself a good rinse now and then is not a bad idea.

6) Check with your bank about their transaction fees for using your ATM card abroad.  IN ORDER TO USE AN AMERICAN ATM CARD IN INDIA YOUR PIN NUMBER MUST BE 4 DIGITS LONG---ONLY 4 DIGITS.

7) Make copies of the blog pages that have important contact information on them.  Carry these copies with you at all times.

8) Please do not forget to bring your passports to Newark!!!

9)  it would not be a bad idea to exchange some dollars before we leave.  You could do this at various banks or at Newark before we leave.  You will need to get small bills, preferably nothing higher than 100 rupees.  Get familiar with the exchange rate.  For now, you can think of 500 rupees being about 10 dollars.