The Master Medical Shopping List

I first ran this list two years ago, about a month before the government shut us down for COVID.  It has been the second most commonly read article on the blog.  I thought it might be a good idea to review our medical supplies and make sure we've got what we need.  Supply chain disruptions are affecting supplies of medicines every bit as much as they are food, and medicine is often a more critical need.  Of all things, cold medicines have been hard to find in some areas.  

Unfortunately, shortages are not limited to cold medications.  The FDA's current list of shortages includes bacteriostatic water and saline for injection.  Folks, these are needed for so many injectable drugs used in hospitals.  If you don't have these solutions, you can't perform a lot of surgeries.  Many hospitals are close to having to shut down, a fact that my husband confirmed for us locally when speaking with a doctor acquaintance of his.  If you are lacking any of these supplies, the time has come to stop procrastinating.

This list is just a guideline; no one can predict what any given family will actually use in a year.  Hopefully none of it, right?  Tailor the list to your family and your budget, your known medical conditions, and your climate.  When it comes to antibiotics, consider whether you can get by with less--are you willing to use herbal medicine?  If so, you can probably reduce the quantities somewhat.  If you are really careful people, you may not need so many Band-Aids.  Maybe you just don't get headaches or colds.  Those things could be reduced or eliminated from the list.

As this is a list I just cranked out, I'm sure several items are missing.  I'll add them in as I remember them or as readers prompt me in the comments below.  This list is only for the pharmaceuticals, because most of them come from China, as well as the common medical supplies and tools, which also primarily come from China.  The herbs and improvisational supplies will have their own lists later.

I've already written blog posts about most of these items.  Some are in the queue.  A few have yet to be written.   If you have questions about anything, type the term into the search box on the upper right and hopefully you'll find something that offers an answer.  If not, ask away in the comments below.

The Master Medical Shopping List

Clean water and hygiene

Calcium hypochlorite (68-73%), 1 pound

Chlorine bleach, 2-3 gallons

Coffee filters, 300

Bath and hand soap, 25-30 bars per person

Hand sanitizer, 32 ounces per person

Skin preps and washes

Rubbing alcohol, 70%, 16-oz bottles, 4

Chlorhexidine (Hibiclens), 16-oz bottle, 1

Hydrogen peroxide, 16 oz bottle, 1

Povidone iodine (Betadine), 16-oz bottle, 1

Benzalkonium chloride wipes, 40
Alcohol prep pads, 3 boxes 

Tincture of benzoin, crushable vials, 10

Tincture of iodine, 2-oz bottles, 2

Sterile saline vials, 15 ml, 24

Vitamins

Multi-vitamins for all, especially B9 for women of child-bearing age, B12 for anyone on stomach medications or over the age of 60, D for those in northern latitudes without a lot of sun in winter
Prenatal vitamins

OTC Medications

Medications for managing your own chronic conditions

Primatene Mist, 1 bottle

Pain relievers

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), 300

Aspirin, 300

Naprosyn (Aleve), 300

Acetaminophen (Tylenol), 300

Excedrin/Vanquish, 50

Caffeine (Jet Alert), 90

Meloxicam, 30

Children’s chewables

Acetaminophen, 24

Ibuprofen, 24

Baby aspirin, 100

Benadryl, 24

Anti-histamines

Cetirizine (Zyrtec), 40

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), tablets and capsules, 600
Famotidine (Pepcid), 50

Ranitidine (Zantac), 50  (As most are aware by now, ranitidine is no longer available due to being linked to causing cancer.  While frequent use is probably not a good idea, ranitidine could still be administered to treat a severe allergic reaction if nothing else were available.)

Antacids

Tums, 300

Alka-Seltzer, 100

Omeprazole, 3 courses of treatment

Anesthetics

Lidocaine, HCL powder, 500 grams

Pain relieving patches, 40

Tattoo numbing cream, 5%, 1 jar
Cold Spray, 1 can

Epinephrine, vial, 1

Antibiotics

Amoxicillin, 500 mg, 100

Augmentin, 500 mg, 100

Azithromycin, 250-500 mg, 30

Cephalexin, 500 mg, 100

Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg, 100

Doxycycline, 100 mg, 100

Erythromycin, 400-500 mg, 100

Levofloxacin, 750 mg, 40

Metronidazole, 500 mg, 100

Moxifloxacin, 400 mg, 20

Penicillin, 500 mg, 100

Tetracycline, 100 mg, 100

SMZ-TMP, DS, 100

Anti-nausea

Meclizine, 100
Sea-Bands, 1-2 pairs

Anti-diarrheal

Loperamide (Imodium), 100

Stool softener
Docusate sodium, 100

Topical creams
Hydrocortisone, 2 tubes
Hemorrhoid
Capsaicin
Silver sulfadiazine
Zinc oxide
Vaseline (16 ounces)
 

Anti-fungals

Fluconazole, 100 mg, 30

Clotrimazole (Lotrimin), 1 tube

Tolnaftate (Tinactin), 1 tube

Terbinafine (Lamisil), 1 tube

Anthelminths (dewormers)

Mebendazole, 30 tablets

Cold and cough relievers

Sudafed, 100

Guaifenesin, 100

Afrin, 2 bottles
Vicks VapoRub, 1 jar

Urogenital
Urinalysis strips, 1 bottle
Phenazopyridine, 24
Pregnancy test kits (number depends on number of females of child-bearing age, at least two per person)

Personal protection gear

Nitrile gloves, 1 box per adult in the right size

Sterile gloves, 10 pairs

N95 masks, 30

Procedure (earloop, surgical) masks, 50

RZ mask, primary caregiver, 1 per family

Tapes and Wraps

Sterilization tape, 1 roll

Transpore, 6 rolls

Nexcare, 1-2 rolls

Paper tape, 2 rolls

Cloth tape, 2-3” wide, 3 rolls

Duct tape, 2” wide roll, 1

Ducklings, ½” wide rolls, 1-2

Vet-wrap, 6

Ace bandages, 2”, 3”, 4”, one of each

Dressings

Band-Aids, 300, assorted sizes

Band-Aids, 2x4”, 50

Triple antibiotic ointment, 1-oz tube, 2

Triple antibiotic ointment, 1-use packets, 20

Gauze, sterile, 2x2", 25

Gauze, sterile, 3x3", 25

Gauze, sterile, 4x4", 25

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 2", 5

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 3", 5

Gauze rolls, non-sterile, 4", 5

Telfa, non-stick dressing, 3x4", 20

Q-tips, 200
Baby scrub brush, 1-2

Wound closure

Steri-Strips, assorted sizes, 50

Monofilament sutures, reverse cutting, sterile, half circle or 3/8”, sizes 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4 each

Vet-bond, 2-3 bottles

Skin stapler and staple remover, 1

Quikclot or Celox, gauze, granules

Expendable Supplies

Scalpel blades, #10, 6

Scalpel blades, #11, 12

Scalpel blades, #12, 6

Scalpel blades, #15, 6

Chemical cold packs, 24

Activated charcoal, 1 pound
Epsom salts, 2 pounds

Permethrin, 6 quarts

RID or Nix, 4 treatments

Enema bags and tubing, 4
Disposable razors, 12

Reusable Supplies

Tourniquets, 2

Triangle bandages, 12

SAM splints, 36” long, 2
Safety pins, assorted sizes, 12
Mylar blanket, 1-2  

Instruments

Forceps/tweezers (Uncle Bill’s, Tweezerman), 1

Bandage scissors, 1
Blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer), 1

Klever Kutter, 4
Trauma shears, 1

Glass dropper, 2

Glass thermometer, 2

Bulb syringe, 2
Pulse oximeter, 1
Otoscope, 1
Penlight, 1
Headlamp, 1 
Pill splitter, 1 
Magnifying glass

Minor surgery kit 

Folding zippered pouch, 1

Scalpel handle, #3, 1

Needle driver, 1

Scissors, Metzenbaum, curved, 5.5", 1

Forceps, tissue, Adson 1x2, 1

Forceps, Debakey, 6", 1

Forceps, curved mosquito, 4

Forceps, Kelly, straight, 2

Probe, straight, 1

Forceps, Allis 2x3, 1

Towel clamps, small, 4

Blue towels, sterile, 4

Syringe, glass 5ml, 2

Hypodermic needles, assortment, 12

Dental items
Dental wax
Oragel
Dental mirror
Temporary dental cement
Clove oil
Dental instruments--Nabor's, Michigan, and explorer probes
Extraction forceps 

Links to related posts:
(that would be about half the blog today)
Family Medical Kit
Advanced Medical Kit 

FDA Drug Shortages List