poosaysmeh

I have heard obviously it is good to bring some Imodium and I have heard that perhaps bringing some Pro-Biotic pills is a good idea. Any other suggestions on how to stay healthy while traveling?

Sorry for the poopy topic - pun intended.

atravelynn

Cipro is a poopular addition to the medicine kit and I always take it. (couldn't resist) I've used it rarely in Africa.

I find a few Pepto Bismals or the Walgreens brand help with mild diarrhea and slight nausea.

Other suggestions would be frequent hand washings with some mini bottles of that hand gel.

Calo

I was just at the travel clinic in preparation for my upcoming trip and was told that Tums or Pepto Bismal just before meals creates an undesirable environment for bacteria. I also take the <i>&quot;poopular&quot;</i> (too funny, Lynn)Cipro along just in case.

atravelynn

That's interesting about Tums. I might take Tums on a daily basis but a daily preventative dose of Pepto would cause me to be constipated so I wouldn't take it every day.

Kavey

As Lynn, I always have immodium plus cipro for the severe, persistent cases.

Wingi

Kavey,

Can you get cipro over-the-counter in UK or do you have to get your GP to write a prescription?

divine54

cook it, peel it or leave it - first!
hand wash prior to every meal. only bottled water also for tooth brush. plus some immodium.
that's our precautions.

aby

i have a very sensitive stomach (the only sensitive part of my being)
i do carry Immodium-like stuff
i cannot recall using it in the last few hundred nights spent in africa...

Once in Zanzibar (a good lodge) i've encountered a real food-poisoning situation. i was within the good company of over 100 poisoned guests... it took more than immodium to fux that

aby

P_M

Thanks for the tip on Tums, I'll taking Tums to Peru!!

raelond

My husband and I both had stomach issues on our trip to Tanzania in March. Cipro proved to be invaluable and I wouldn't leave home without it!

poosaysmeh

So is Cipro something you take if you get sick or as a precautionary drug? Is it over the counter?

What about Pro Biotics?

Kavey

It's prescription. I have means of getting my hands on it.

ovenbird

In addition to Purell for those bush breaks, we always bring pepto, immodium and cipro and take them in that order if we start to have a problem. I've used cipro only once in Africa when I had a bad problem.

On our first trip to Kenya in 2002, we were told the water was relatively safe but had a high magnesium content. So folks who drank lots of coffee or tea might have a problem (similar to high doses of milk of magnesia!)

We also bring something for the opposite problem.

Elizabeth_S

Re Pepto Bismol - take the tablets as otherwise prolonged use of the liquid turns your tongue black! (we take one in the morning and one at night at the suggestion of our travel clinic)

Also in Canada there is a prescription called DUKORAL - an oral vaccine for e Coli - we take it every year.

We usually carry Immodium and Cipro - this year for Egypt we also carried Lomotil as well, although I read here in several posts that if you have problems in Egypt speak with the hotel or your guide and they will get you a local OTC that works much faster than anything we bring with us - we didn't need it - anybody know the name of that drug?

massagediva

That fantastic otc product is called Drotazide.I just returned from Egypt(also Jordan and Israel.)
On the morning of our hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings,I awoke to stomach cramps and diarrhea,what a nightmare!There was a doc in our group who had just bought this wonder drug.One pill,and I was right as rain!!!!Better living through chemistry.

atravelynn

&quot;<i>we always bring pepto, immodium and cipro and take them in that order&quot;</i>

Ovenbird, I like your escalation of attack. That's just what I do.

My doctor will give me a Cipro perscription without a visit once a year for travel. Cipro should be taken after a problem develops. Hopefully you don't need it. Like Ovenbird, only once did I take it and it did the trick.

Kavey

Yeah we don't resort to cipro unless we have to. Once in Africa where both of us reacted to same thing, more regularly in India (mainly me) and rarely elsewhere.