p---ooops !!! NO fun ! That is why I keep recommending this stuff http://www.crucell.com/Products/Dukoral. I have been using it now for about 8 years and have never in that time had a problem with "the revenge "in Mexico or Central America. It does indeed work against travellers diarrhea. For folks with very sensitive systems it may still allow some tummy rumbles but it prevents the raging illness that would otherwise present. It is too late for you now Bob, but do try it before the next trip. It has to be taken at least 6 days before risk exposure.(unpaid testimonial!)
Did a Google on this and that seems to be the case. Sold in Canada, however. I didn't see where or if Dukoral can be purchased in Mexico, but by then it's probably too late any way. Someone on one of the forums said that Cipro could be purchased in Mexico. Advice here is worth slightly more than what you pay for it (i.e. nothing) but when I get antibiotics in Mexico they always give me Amoxicilin. There used to be some sort of moratorium with the US that specifically prohibited bringing Cipro back into the USA, but that may have expired (it was pretty obscure 2-3 years ago and I can't find it now). Mexico City passed a law about a year ago that prohibited antibiotic sales without a prescription and a pharmacist that I talked to in Progreso a year ago told me they expect that to be nationwide someday, but for now you can still buy antibiotics at the border pharmacies.
I've never tried a border pharmacy but last Sept I couldn't get antibiotics in Palenque without a perscription. I was surprised because I had always heard you could get whatever you needed at a Mexican pharmacy.
Bummer. I think that you still can antibiotics in Progreso and Nuevo Laredo, but you know how that goes. The dodge in Tijuana for some drugs used to be that the pharmacy had someone on site who would stand there writing prescriptions. The next time I'd ask the clerk/technician if he knew where you could get a prescription and go from there. Pharmacies around the border are plentiful and competitive. They will find a way to sell it to you.
Last day I was home Jan 15 you could still buy Cipro, Amoxicililin, & other Antibiotics + all the E.D. Pills... & pain killers. That was in Mazatlan....
Did I hear someone say "Thank God you can still buy the E.D. stuff?" Supposedly the Tijuana cops used to stop the whore mongers going to the Zona Norte and bust them if they had Viagra without a prescription. Don't know if that is an urban legend, dumb people paying the Stupid Gringo Tax, or a local ordinance (just like the USA some towns have local laws that surprise folks in other parts of Mexico). Moral of the story: If in doubt, buy your ED meds by the pill, pop them in your mouth at the farmicia, and proudly walk down the street with a stiff one in your shorts.
I get a prescription of Cipro from my physician anytime I travel south of the border. Diarrhea in your sleep is no fun.....
Most pharmacies abide by the new law about sales of antibiotics. However, about 50% of the pharmacies have a doctor on site who will see you for about $30 pesos ($2.50 US or so) and happily write you a script after a little chat about what you need it for and that you are responsible in self-medication etc... That is a charade, they just want to get your money but want you to think you are getting your money's worth.
Dukoral is not an antibiotic though. It is an oral vaccine which gives a body resistance to the bad bacteria .I thought it would be readily available in all modern civilized progressive countries( )and I did not know it was not available in the USA .:huh Too bad . Many folks talk about lomotil and ciprio for Mexico but wandering around the pharmacy counters of stores like Chedaui , Aurrera, Soriana and Simi pharmacies I have not yet found any of these on shelves for over the counter medications sales for TD (= travellers diarrhea). Actually have spoken to some folks from the US who said they preferred not to use any of these types of medicines on the premise that they were un-natural and unhealthy and that they would rather let their body handle and "c leanse" the situation naturally if they should run unto the problem . Good luck! Q uite cleansing to have it running down into your riding boots, eh? TD is not just a question of having a "loose bm" and needing to go to the toilet a few times more often. If you get the real thing you will be in absolute misery with explosive uncontrollable diarrhea at the most inconvenient times , full body chills,sweats, aches , nausea and general misery .You will feel in no shape to be riding. And you will be dehydrating rapidly. The alternative I would choose if no Dukoral was to be had before the trip would be to carry loperamide hydrochloride caplets (aka by brand name Imodium and store brand generic of the same chemical) . This stuff works well after you get a case of the trots but you will be sick for a day until it kicks in. Now loperamide HCl is ,I think , a strong antibiotic. It kills off all the bacteria in your gut so I think it should be avoided if one has alrady taken Dukoral . Long ago I had a TD ( not ED !!!) event in El SAlvador and wound up taking a single dose of some kind of medication which seemed to do the trick .It was sold at a local market stall and it could have beeen a veterinary strength item ,forgot the name .You can see a lot of medicine sold that way at mercados, vendors selling actual brand pills and tablets in individual blister packs of one or two . Maybe they got old past due date stuff from the US?? . The best advice as always is to observe good hygiene, wash hands often especially before eating or picking your teeth.Watch what you eat and where you eat .Peel it , wash it ,cook it or forget it.
Dukoral is a Swedish vaccine meant to treat cholera primarily and it just so happens to be effective against TD also. A little bit pricey at $40 a pop and the first time you need 2 doses taken between 1 and 6 weeks apart with the 2nd being a week before your "trip". Single booster doses may work if your last dose was less than 5 years. This basically contains dead Cholera and Cholera toxins which is why it also works for TD. Cholera toxins are very similar to E.Coli toxins. This can make you sick with the very symptoms you are trying to avoid. Not approved for use in the US. Shanchol is another vaccine for Cholera prevention. Single dose and easier to take and the cost in India is under $10, it's just started coming into use by WHO and the UN. Produced in India my understanding is it was financed by the Gates foundation. Due to the lack of Cholera in the US I don't believe there would be much hurry to get this drug thru trials and into the market here. Both of these only give you maybe 60% to 80% protection and there are other things that can and will make you sick so.........
Maybe they got old past due date stuff from the US?? . Or maybe they got it from Canada. I'd be real careful about what and where I buy pharmaceuticals in Mexico and Central America. There's a lot of counterfeit stuff out there. At the best it may not work, at the worst there may be effects or side effects you don't really want, at which point you've got a worse problem than you started with. The only reason I bring this up in this way is I sold pharmaceuticals for 32 years and I'm pretty aware of potential problems. YMMV
he did not leave microsoft for no reason he knows theres more money to be made in Vaccines, lets test them on the poor at so much a dose.
I usually take Dukoral but last September on a bike trip in Africa I got a full blown case of diarrhea. Like you described elsewhere, sweats, chills and the runs for three days. It was a chore riding the motorcycle. Cipro knocked it out. This time was only day. Maybe I got antibodies from Africa PS I seem to recall reading Dukoral was only 60% or so effective
