Modern antibiotics are lifesavers. Without them, a simple cold can quickly turn into a deadly pneumonia, an infection in a small cut can mean the loss of a limb, and many ordinary childhood problems turn deadly. In fact, they have worked so well that we often turn to them as our first line of defense whenever an illness pops up.
But what if they were no longer available. In a crisis situation, the supply might be quickly used up, just when they are needed the most. I’ve chosen to stockpile a few different antibiotics for just this reason and I want to show you how you can do the same.
Buying Antibiotics to Stockpile
There are several ways to build up an antibiotic stockpile. The most expensive way to gather a stockpile is to ask your doctor for prescriptions of the antibiotics you will need. Most doctors will be reluctant to write these prescriptions, so this may not be as easy as it sounds. But if you know your doctor well and he or she is sympathetic, this will work.
You could also order your antibiotics from another country where a prescription is not needed. This method also has some risks since you don’t know the quality or authenticity of the medicines you receive. It is also illegal.
The method I chose is to purchase pet medicines that are the equivalent of human prescriptions and are available online for a reasonable price. I thoroughly research the maker and the quality of their products before purchase and make sure I know what dosages are appropriate for human use. Let me stress here that it is always preferable to consult a doctor before using any medicine, especially antibiotics. I am stockpiling these antibiotics for use when modern medical care is not available.
Related: Just Like Doxycycline: The Antibiotic That Grows in Your Backyard
Choosing Antibiotics
My goal for this project was to choose a range of antibiotics that would cover most any bacterial infection that comes up. I chose to stockpile 4 different antibiotics plus an antibiotic ointment for external use on cuts and skin infections. I will probably expand this stockpile in the future. Here are the antibiotics that I chose:
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is the pink bubblegum flavored liquid that used to be prescribed for every childhood infection. Doctors are wary of prescribing it too often now because of resistant bacteria. It is a penicillin antibiotic that treats many different types of bacterial diseases including: bronchitis, pneumonia, tonsillitis, ear infections, sinus infections, urinary tract infections, E. Coli, salmonella infections and some STDs including gonorrhea and chlamydia. Standard dosage is 250 mg every 8 hours or 500 mg every 12 hours, depending on the illness and severity.
I purchased Fish Mox, the amoxicillin equivalent made by Thomas Labs. 30 tablets, each 250 mg, cost me $9.99. These tablets are marked as not for human consumption, but their formulation is identical to the amoxicillin that is made for human use. Ideally, I will stockpile several bottles of Fish Mox, since each 30 tablet bottle is enough for 1 treatment.
Related: The Only Meds That You Need To Stockpile for SHTF
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic in the fluoroquinolone class. It works by stopping the multiplication of bacteria, preventing the spread of the disease and promoting healing as the existing bacteria die off. I choose to stockpile Ciprofloxacin because I have seen it work miracles when other antibiotics have failed and it covers a wide range of infections, including some that might be expected in a SHTF situation.
Ciprofloxacin treats infections in the skin, lungs, bones, joints, and urinary tract. It treats infectious diarrheas caused by E. Coli, Campulocater jejuni, Shingella, septicemic plague caused by Y. pestis, tuberculosis, anthrax, and typhoid fever.
For my stockpile, I chose Ciprofloxacin Fish Flox Forte made by Thomas Labs A bottle of 30 x 500 mg tablets cost me 38.99 on sale. For most infections the usual dosage is 250 to 750 mg every 12 hours.
Metronidazone
Metronidazone is the generic name for Flagyl, an antibiotic that is effective against anaerobic bacteria. It is used to treat diseases of the abdomen such as peritonitis, liver abscesses, and abscesses of the ovaries and Fallopian tubes. It is also effective against Giardia lamblia and amoeba, two intestinal parasites that are common in contaminated water, as well as trichomonas which causes vaginal infections.
I purchased 100 tablets of Fish Zole made by Thomas Labs which contains 250 mg of metronidazole per tablet for $58.25. The recommended dosage ranges from 250 to 750 mg, three to four times daily, depending on the illness being treated.
Cephalexin
Fish Flex is the Thomas Labs equivalent for Cephalexin. I purchased 100 tablets of 250 mg each.
Cephalexin is a cephalosporin type antibiotic that treats gram-positive bacteria. It has many of the same uses as the penicillin class antibiotics, but it can be taken by most people that are allergic to penicillin. It is very effective at treating skin and soft tissue infections such as boils, carbuncles, and deep tissue infections. It is regularly prescribed to treat bladder infections, upper respiratory infections, bone infections, kidney infections, ear infections, pharyngitis, prostatitis and to prevent bacterial endocarditis during some dental procedures.
20% Ichthammol Ointment
I also stockpile an external ointment known as drawing salve or black drawing salve. I began using it long ago on skin infections and have seen it work wonders. It prevents infections when used promptly, even in deep cuts and I have seen it cure infections that had become established and were not responding to antibiotics.
Ichthammol is ammonium bituminosulfonate, a sulfur compound that has anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and fungicidal properties. It treats and promotes healing in skin infections and skin diseases such as psoriasis, rosacea, and acne.
A small 1-ounce tube of 20% Ichthammol for human use is currently $10.98, but I purchase the large 14 ounce tub for use with horses and pets for $14.99, a big savings.
Erythromycin
Many preppers choose to include erythromycin in their stockpile. I considered it and decided against it for several reasons. Amoxicillin and Cephalexin treat most of the same diseases that erythromycin is used for and erythromycin has a short shelf life. It degrades into a potentially poisonous substance that can be dangerous. Most antibiotics have long shelf-lifes that extend far beyond the expiration date. It is available in a powder form for fish use, but I was not happy with the information available on the formulation. Many preppers do use it, so do your own research if you decide this is an important antibiotic for your family stockpile.
Purchasing Pet Medicines
You want to be very careful when purchasing pet medicines. I researched the makers of antibiotic products thoroughly and chose to go with products from Thomas Labs because their products are USP certified quality antibiotics which helps me feel confident about the safety of the product. Their products also come in convenient tablet or capsule doses so there is no guesswork on doses and no need to make my own capsules.
One bottle each of the 4 antibiotics I chose cost me a total of $140, including sales taxes, a reasonable expense for the protection they provide. I recommend a minimum of 1 bottle of each, per person in your household, and extras are always a good idea.
This is not a long-term solution. You should also have a variety of natural remedies at home. I have a backyard garden that has all the medicinal plants I need. These pills are just in case I need a stronger dose. I haven’t had to use this stockpile yet as I managed to treat my ailments with plant-based tinctures and infusions.
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Note that Cipro has some long term side effects, including degeneration of tendons. I trust vet meds. It’s one thing to put granny in a bad way with bad meds and it’s entirely different to harm a $2 million race horse.
Good point. Sad, but true.
Veterinary Fluoroquinolones
Yes, they Flox our pets too!:
Advocin, Advocid (danofloxacin) Baytril (enrofloxacin) Dicural, Vetequinon (difloxacin) Floxasol, Saraflox, Sarafin (sarafloxacin) Ibaflin (ibafloxacin) Marbocy, Zeniquin (marbofloxacin) Orbax, Victas (orbifloxacin)
I do think my wife had more value than the $2 million race horse. 🙁
No disrespect intended. I am sorry for your loss. I was merely trying to point out that the same care is given to manufacture of vet meds as human meds…. often by the same company and same production line.
You should seriously consider adding tetracycline to your list, because there are a number of serious rickettsial diseases such as Rocky Mount spotted fever and some other similar such illnesses for which your list of antibiotics would prove inadequate. I have no idea if there is the “pet form” of this, but it is still worth trying to find this antibiotic.
Hi Iguana, Tetracycline is certainly very useful; however, it is one of the medications that must be used by its stated expiration date since it degrades and becomes toxic to the liver when it is stored for a longer period of time. So, you would have to be very careful not to use any expired Tetracycline.
If I vacuum sealed tetracycline in a bag with an oxygen absorber, wouldn’t that make it store longer? Isn’t the oxygen and humidity a big part of how long it keeps or why it degrades??
Tetracycline becomes toxic as it ages
I’ve had bad reactions to T. Almost died, this is one I’ll pass. Another item would be Collidal Silver. Low dose pumps any other antibiotic, or use it plain.
Until the drug-resistant strains we’ve come to realize, we used to buy Amoxil and Erythromycin from a pet supply in aquarium / tropical fish store. I came to worry about the purity of the pet supply drug compared to the pharmacy, ‘made for humans’ brands. Is there a big difference and is this something to be concerned with in using the pet store version
A drug salesman from a large drug manufacturing Co. told me the difference in human and animal antibiotics was the label on the container.
No difference in most cases. USP is USP. Side by side, you will see the same color capsule and same coding. Thete are a couple good articles on the web…check Dr. Bones
Here’s a link you might find useful on the topic of pet meds. Also, Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy provide a wealth of useful information on survival medicine … I highly recommend signing up for the emails and purchasing the books. Check: https://www.doomandbloom.net/tag/fish-antibiotics/
I would like to know where to buy those items.
Check Pet Smart or go to an online vet supply…there are several.
I checked one source and they wanted a prescription from a vet.
I use Thomas Labs online.
Thank you!
After some of my own research conducted independently, I have come to a very similar list as the one presented in this article.
The only thing missing is azithromax (Z-pak). Unfortunately, it is difficult to obtain this legally without a prescription.
https://entirelypetspharmacy.com/azithromycin-tabs-250mg-z-pack–3×6-tabs.html
I just checked a site you posted and it stated “prescription required” under the antibiotic Minocycline and azithromycin…
thank you for all the great info over the years, especially the medicinal plants,trees and herbs to use .i trust your knowledge and the lost ways 1and 2 are excellent resources of what we have lost through the years.
There are many research papers about how dangerous it is to use fish-antibiotics due to the incorrect dosing, and sheer guessing-games you’d be playing with your lives when you use the wrong antibiotic for the illness.
I’d be all for stocking up on life-saving antibiotics – IF – I also had at least one or two medical professionals in my bunker. Otherwise, you could be creating bigger problems for you and your family. I’d stick to all-natural, eastern medicine and holistic choices if I didn’t have an experienced doctor and nurse in my SHTF survival group.
Treat the symptoms, and let the body do its thing to fight back naturally. Elderberry, Nutmeg, Tumeric, Ginger… these are all very helpful natural ways to boost your body’s ability to fight infections and viruses.
I like the way you think!
Thomas Labs is the same U.S. lab company that makes the antibiotic pills for humans. They are the same pills. The numerical code imprinted on a particular antibiotic designated for fish, will be the very same numerical code imprinted on the human version, that can be looked up in any prescription drug book for nurses – as it is the very same pill. I wouldn’t trust anything made outside of the U.S. or anything that is in powder form designated for fish. I only use the pill form, from Thomas Labs. The ‘Not for human consumption’ is for liability and no need for prescription legalities, only.
Cipro is a second generation Fluoroquinolone made by Bayer. Ciprofloxacin is the generic.
I am sympathetic to a point. But bear in mind, in a SHTF situation, you may not have the luxury of letting you body rid itself of the bacteria that killed millions over the course of history. Get hold of a current Nursing Drug Handbook. Self help is one of the critical areas that should be studied before an event. Not preaching, just suggesting that knowledge is power.
I know far more about the damage caused by fluoroquinolones then I ever wanted to not just by my wife but by hundreds of thousands of other people that have been damaged by the things like Cipro. Don’t just take my word for it do a search for yourself you do not want to take these in any situation.
So beyond the expiration date, in your estimation what is the shelf-life of these antibiotics?
Again, check the military/FDA SLEP …Service Life Extension Program. The gov spends untold millions thtpwing out perfectly good mefs…hence the SLEP study.
Thanks! never heard about this.
We stock colloidal silver, Turmeric, Garlic, and tea tree oil. Oil of Oregano in capsules leak in storage so we have a few. Silver Wings makes silver, Aloe Vera gel with Tea Tree oil I use for external injuries. It has 200 PPM colloidal silver infused in it.
No No No!!!! Don’t not EVER take anything in the Flouquinolone class such as Cipro!
Levaquine, in the same class, was a significant contributor to my wife’s suicide.
As recently as July 10th the FDA issued yet more warnings. Many are life altering and permanent.
See kpaddock DOT com/fq for links to the warnings.
Also I’m up to 39 people that said their Cerebrospinal Fluid leak started after taking Ciprofloxacin or Levaquine etc. These drugs will be removed from market someday. The manufactur of Levaquine has already stopped manufacturing iy. Sadly the generic is still being made.
I’m sorry for your loss. I understand. I took flagyl once and had a drink…the next day I had no mind! I was wanting to drive off of the bridge….no reason. I had no idea. Luckily I had a friend who talked to me and made me realize I needed to go to his house where he watched me til I got past it. Who would know that? NOW they put warnings on the bottle but it says to avoid alcohol. That’s all. Not that you could lose your mind!! Again I’m sorry you had this happen to you and some meds really do this. There is no way to know unless it happens to you or someone who tells you. Luckily for me I’m allergic to cipro so I wouldn’t do it but I could have…. Thank you for sharing.
suicidal ideation is also one of the side effects of Neurontin / Gabapentin often improperly is prescribed for treating chronic pain.
I could not care less of one in a million odds of developing suicidal thoughts if Cipro saves me from a 100% chance of death from infection.
Not sure where you got those off. Reality does not support them. Nor does the FDA.
Not sure where you got those off. Reality does not support them. Nor does the FDA.
On July 10th the FDA published yet more warnings. These on hypoglycemia and the possibility of permanent psychosis caused by fluoroquinolones.
Dude your wife must of already been very depressed and you don’t want to blame her so you blame a damn antibiotic. It was her choice period not due to a med, not even drugs like LSD cause suicide and it totally changes your view of everything. These drugs literally are made to cure infection which in a lot of cases would of killed you. Stop looking for something trivial to blame for your loss
Hey Hoss …. you sound like an x-spurt … you know, x, an unknown quantity and spurt, a drip under pressure. Kind of obvious that you have your nose out of joint for some reason. May I suggest you do a bit more research on fluoroquinolones before you run your keyboard?
Well, u can go to Mexico and get antibiotic cheap! With out a script. There is a place called Moler City and it’s full of Amercan educated dentists. Just go to the drug store with your list and pay for them. (I wish I lived closer to Mexico)
Also, if you want to go the natural way. Try Doterra essential oil. Contact me if you are interested in learning more cb.wellnesscoach@yahoo.com
Essential oils are no substitute for antibiotics. You should read some medical history to get a picture of just how bad things were in pre-antibiotic times. A cut, an animal bite, an infected boil – all of those could kill you. Once an infection took hold there was nothing you could do except hope your body killed it before it killed you. With antibiotics, assuming the clowns who take them for three days every time they get a cold don’t mess it up for us by creating more resistant strains, you can knock most bacterial infections right down. Essential oils just don’t do that. They might have their uses, but they are not a replacement for antibiotics. Nothing is.
I’ve always wondered in doxycycline becomes toxic like tetracycline after expiration. They are closely related.
I won’t use any antibiotics beyond one year after expiration because you don’t know how much of their potentacy they’ve lost and you could be contributing to antibiotic resistance.
I took doxycycline that was past expiration. Far past expiration. Spent the next 2 days puking my guts out.
Sounds like you had a virus or gastro infection
If it was the Flu, Doxy would have no effect on getting rid of it. A stomach bug or flu itself could cause vomiting…
They can sometimes cause stomach upset. I took antibiotics (I think it was doxycycline) and had projectile vomit. Called my dr and stopped it.
what r y’all gonna do when u run out? or if y’all get a superbug that that junk won’t cure? there’re 2 books y’all might consider adding 2 your resources by stephen harrod buhner- natural antibiotics n natural antivirals- grow your own n learn 2 make your own medicine!
From what I have seen online, you have to have a prescription from a vet before you can buy any of these. Is that correct?
Not so
I took a month worth of Cipro when I got Car Scratch Fever as a teenager. Yes it’s really exists…anyhoo, the whole time I was taking it, I had the most violent dreams, graphic violence. I still remember them 33 years later. I was not suicidal, however, I was NOT myself. Had no idea it could have been the antibiotics.
Cat scratch fever. I mean
Antibiotics expire, become less effective or noneffectivecand even toxic with age. I guess we could purchase these vetmeds periodically to make sure we have a good batch when SHTF.
So do these pet meds have the same side effects on the pets? Or are these side effects a result because they are engineered for our pets? Just curious, I am very ignorant when it comes to these things.
Animal (particularly predator species) internal organs often process substances differently from those of humans.
Chocolate and aspirin poison canines. Shouldn’t be giving them to felines either.
On a third hand, polyethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisons all mammals and birds.
I’ve given my dogs plenty of human meds. My husband and I have taken plenty of canine meds. Mostly antibiotics and Tramodol, which doesn’t work as well as an Advil. My GP got alarmed, but he’s ok.
Sorry. Keep hitting the down button instead of reply. Be very careful giving human meds to your dogs. Check with your vet first. Some are fine but others are highly toxic. We have 2 dogs
One got one of my antihistamines. I called animal poison control. Turns out that particular antihistamine (chlorpheniramine) is a neurotoxin in dogs. I did get him to throw up and he was fine, but my point is: NOT all human meds are safe for our pets.
tarrahisarah222@gmail.com
Went to the Thomas labs site and they had nothing listed for fish antibiotics nothing for fish at all. Have you heard of any problems? I went to Chewy’s site and they didn’t have any Thomas Labs. Thanks so much for all the grate information
Heart patients should not take Cipro or Flagyl. This is why I (heart patient for the past 21 years) would not hesitate to find a pet form of bactrim or another sulfa.
Regarding pet meds, look up Ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug which has been very safe for humans and animals for 40 years. It has been recently found to perform excellently against the Chinese virus. I found the most information on You Tube, but make sure it is the latest date, because the acceptance for this virus has been evolving very quickly. Aside from maybe the vaccines, I think it is the best drug available.
I’m not convinced the “vaccine” is going to work. Anything injected into the body that causes an auto immune response is not welcome in my house. As for Ivermectine, it’s an effective wormer/anti parasitic and has saved countless children in Africa.
The choice of Ichthammol Ointment. If you are looking for a drawing salve that ready works, try Amish Origins. Amish Origins Draw Salve ingredients are: Olive oil, bees wax, chickweed, comfrey, plantain, oil of camphor, wintergreen oil, eucalyptus oil, pine oil, lavender oil.
Or if you are creative you can make your own. Here is how.
Amish black salve recipe
Ingredients
• 3 Tablespoons comfrey root and chickweed (or substitute plantain) infused olive oil
• 2 Tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 Tablespoons Beeswax
• 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
• 2 Tablespoons Activated Charcoal Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Kaolin Clay or Bentonite Clay
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 20 drops (or more) Lavender Oil
• 20 drops (or more) Tea Tree Oil
• 20 drops (or more) Pine Needle Oil
• 20 drops (or more) Eucalyptus Oil
• 20 drops (or more) Wintergreen Oil
Instructions:
• Wash 8 – 2 ounce glass salve jars and set out on parchment paper, keeping the lid off but close by.
• Mix together the activated charcoal and bentonite clay in a bowl and set aside.
• In a double boiler melt your beeswax and to that add the coconut oil and mix together thoroughly until both are melted. Stir continuously. Add honey.
• Slowly add the charcoal and clay mixture and stir well.
• Remove the mix from the heat and then add the essential oils.
• Pour into the jars and allow them to cool 20 minutes before putting the lids on.
How to use: Generously apply to afflicted areas and cover with a bandage or leave to the air. It may take several hours to days to extract something complicated like a splinter, be sure and apply more salve as needed. For external use only.
This remedy is non-staining and safe for individuals of all ages, including children.
For a softer salve add less beeswax and more for a harder salve.
Calvetsupply.com ships everything I order with no prescription. All these antibiotics and more. Super fast delivery too.
It’s a difficult decision to stockpile antibiotics, but one that could save your life.
I’m not a doctor. I’m not a nurse. I don’t work in the medical field at all. But I have been stockpiling antibiotics for years now, and it’s saved my life on more than one occasion – both from illness and from injury.
The first time was when I was living in Asia and had a bad case of food poisoning that landed me in the hospital for five days. The doctors were able to diagnose what was wrong with me quickly enough, but they didn’t have any of the medications that I needed to get better – so they prescribed me an antibiotic that would help my symptoms until they could get it shipped in from America or Europe (which would take about two weeks).