Rifaximin: We did take it as a preventative - friends who do business in India raved about it and our doctors talked us into it.
Did it work? Yes, but we rarely get sick.
Side effects? None, but VERY costly.

Cipro: Didn't bring it this time
Pepto, Immodium, Neosporin, Bandaids, Small Wipes, Sudafed/cough formula/Bendryl cream/Advil/Alleve: We always take these, but have never had to use them in Asia, other than Advil.
ZPack: Always travel with this for insurance
Sleep meds: Yes

What have I missed? TAMIFLU! Essential this time of year, not easy to get there. Mr. Crosscheck had to take it when we returned because he picked up a flu/fever on the plane from Seoul to LA.

You don't want to take Cipro at the first sign of gastric problems. Take it only if you have symptoms of a bacterial GI infection. Cipro is no longer effective against the most common GI "bugs" in Thailand or Nepal - Azthromyacin (the Z-pak) is now recommended for those countries.

oops - hit post too soon.

Cipro is no longer effective in those country because of over-use. Check on the status of Cipro's effectiveness in India.

No, but I have taken Dukarol (which provides some protection against cholera and traveller's diarrhea). However, it's not available in the US. (You can get it without a prescription in Canada.) Not that this is proof of its effectiveness, but we didn't get sick during about 3 overseas trips with elevated risk of getting sick (e.g., Mexico, Morocco - where we were hiking and eating some dodgy food, etc) and did get rather sick in Egypt when we didn't take Dukarol.

we take nothing other than anti-malarials when travelling as preventatives. we feel this may only mask a problem. we wait until there is a problem and then we attack the problem directly with meds from our travel doctors back home which we bring with us.

we do of course keep all of our shots up to date

I carry Imodium and whatever antibiotic my doctor recommends. I take the Imodium if I have to travel with signs of intestinal problems, and the antibiotic if I have obvious intestinal problems. But I have found that local remedies can work just as well as antibiotics. However, I rarely get sick when traveling.

Like Bob, I only take anti-malarials (Malarone) as preventatives, and only on CDC advice. The fewer meds the better.

I take immodium at the first sign of diarreha (sp!).

I figure if it doesn't stop things in 24 hours or so, i'll either use the z-pack I bring with me, or If I'm in a good hotel, I have my hotel get me a doctor. I figure they know what the typical local bugs are, and will medicate accordingly. Even at an Oberoi in India, a doctor visit is only $20 or so.

I use the anti- malarial Doxycycline when in areas that call for it. It's an antibiotic, and seems to protect me from routine bacterial stuff as well.

I haven't checked yet since the trip is still almost 3 months off....but is the Golden Triangle in the malaria zone?

So far, when we have needed malaria meds, our Dr has given us Doxycycline also....says it helps with the bacterial stuff too. But then he gives us a Zpack and cipro just in case. There must be something there, since on two long trips (~2 months each) to 3rd world countries where we needed malaria protection...neither of us got sick.

How bad will mosquitoes be in the GT area in early April....I am a positive magnet for them!

Go here: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/

Thanks for all the replies. Not planning to take malaria prevention meds. I understand Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi not malaria area, expecially in February.
I like idea of using local md and have done so in many countries. My gastro doc here recommended cipro for travel intestinal problems, but in India other med might be better. I hope I don't need it but if it happens, I will have hotel bring in the md. I will never forget the night in Hanoi after eating (a very small amount) of the greenish chicken in Hong Kong.

From the CDC web site:

"Areas of India with Malaria: All areas throughout the country, including cities of Bombay (Mumbai) and Delhi, except none in areas >2,000 m (6,561 ft) in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Sikkim."

For those of you who have gone to the GT....did you take malaria meds??? Taking Doxycycline or Malarone not a problem for us, but I don't want to take them if not needed. But, better safe than sorry. Did not think about this until this thread.

Just spoke to my brother who is md and has been to India several times. Take Malarone! OK, will do.
Plus, definately bring Tamiflu!
Fodor's Forums are so helpful!!