What’s In My Medicine Cabinet? - The Stomach Edition
What’s In My Boat’s Medicine Cabinet -Digestives & Gut Health
I’ve decided to open up my medicine cabinet to the world (or at least to those of you who are here and are actually interested) and let you peek at what’s inside. This will be a multi-post series where I’ll break down by category what I typically like to have on board. I feel more comfortable having treatments at my fingertips rather than trying to figure out how to get a hold of something while we’re cruising. Plus it feels good to be able to help a fellow cruiser or guest when they start grumbling that they don’t feel so hot right now. I’ll be sticking to over-the-counter (OTC) medications only because these are readily available and in most cases affordable. When taking any OTC medication you should always read the precautions on the back and talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about any drug interactions. Just because it’s available to purchase without a prescription does not mean it is without the potential for side effects nor can it be taken by everyone.
This month we’ll talk about over-the-counter digestive medications and digestive health. I’ll break it down into some common problems and list what I keep on hand just in case. I should also mention that I buy generics anytime I can. I feel that they work just as well (in fact, some generics are made by the same companies that manufacture the brand products) and they will almost always cost less. First up, everybody’s late night nemesis…heartburn!
Heartburn Relief
Having heartburn is really a miserable time. I’ve noticed spikes in my indigestion and heartburn especially when I’m off cruising. Your eating and drinking habits can change pretty drastically when traveling. You may find yourself consuming alcohol more frequently because sundowners on the beach with your buddy boats have become an almost daily thing. You’re eating more canned and preserved foods as fresh items become less available. You may even be eating out more frequently or sharing meals cooked by someone else from time to time. Either way, your GI tract is not happy with all these changes and causes you to breathe fire when you lay down at night as punishment. I try to keep several different heartburn medications on board to tackle this nuisance.
Tums – This is my most frequent go-to for those pop up episodes of heartburn. It helps to neutralize acid that has crept up onto your esophagus. These are safe for use in adults and children 12 and older and are generally safe to use in pregnancy as well. The dosing will be on the back label based on what strength you are buying and if you’re pregnant.
Pepcid (famotidine) – famotidine is great for preventing heartburn in situations where you know you are going to have a triggering food or drink. For me that’s red sauce…gives me heartburn every time! You can take it up to an hour before eating for prevention, up to twice daily and it’s approved for adults and children 12 and older.
Omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) – I don’t often keep these on board but they are good for those more persistent or more frequent episodes of heartburn that don’t seem to be quelled by Tums alone. If you suffer from heartburn more frequently, which is defined as 2 or more episodes a week, you may want to consider carrying one of them. They aren’t immediate relief like Tums or Pepcid because they work by reducing acid production in the lining of your stomach which can take 1-4 days for full effect. The benefits of these are you only have to take them once a day. These products are for adults 18 and older only and should only be taken during pregnancy on advice from your doctor. You should only take these for up to 14 days at a time. If you need them for longer, schedule an appointment with your doctor for further evaluation.
Nausea & Upset Stomach
Everyone hates an upset belly. Getting to the root cause of your troubles can help you to solve and prevent it from happening over and over again. Whether it’s because of a triggering food, a change in eating or drinking habits, or motion sickness, here are two items I like to keep on board at all times.
Dramamine – Even though my husband and I are lucky and don’t typically suffer from seasickness or motion sickness, it’s never completely out of the realm of possibilities so I always have Dramamine or some other anti-nausea medication on board. It has, however, really come in handy when having guests visit and I’ve passed out quite a few tablets to them. Not only is Dramamine good for seasickness but if you suffer from any kind of motion sickness, like car travel or flying, it can be beneficial.
Pepto Bismal or Kaopectate – Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea…remember this jingle from the Pepto commercials? Well if not, this is the spectrum of ailments Pepto Bismal or Kaopectate can treat. It’s good for just general sour stomach issues that may be caused by something you ate and didn’t sit well. Pepto makes both an adult version and one for kids and should not be given to anyone with an aspirin allergy. It can interact with several different medications so it’s best to check the full list so you know before you travel with it.
Ginger lozenges/candies - If you prefer to use something more all natural for your upset belly, try sucking on some ginger candies. An mild upset stomach doesn’t always require treatment and ginger has been know to help calm
Diarrhea
Having diarrhea in a marine head is an absolute nightmare! Diarrhea occurs when the normal slow pace of the cells and bacteria in your intestines become inflamed, infected ,or unbalanced causing them to speed up. The result is loose, watery stools. Diarrhea is unpleasant so don’t be caught out on the high seas without some Imodium in your medicine cabinet.
Imodium (loperamide)- Recommended for adults and children 6 and older, Imodium comes in a tablet or liquid form. If you are going to use in children, always buy the children’s formulation. Dosing can be found on the back of the packaging. Do not take Imodium if you are experiencing a high fever, bloody stools or are immunocompromised.
Pepto-Bismal can also be used for diarrhea but I prefer Imodium.
Laxatives & Fiber Products
Constipation is also another common ailment you may encounter because of travel. Changes in your diet not only cause diarrhea but they can back you up too. Constipation is defined as stools that are less often than normal, usually less than 3 times a week. Some symptoms include hard or difficult to pass stool, feeling like you didn’t get everything out, belly bloating, and straining to go. Increasing water intake, adding fiber rich foods to your diet and exercising can all help but when I go astray on my water drinking I can rely on some of the following products to help get things going. There are several different categories of products designed to make you go so I’ll leave the in-depth conversation for a later date. I’ll just list a few products that I like to carry on board.
Docusate or Docusate with Senna (these are the generic names) – This is my primary go to when the going gets tough (Ha!). Docusate is a stool softner which means it doesn’t make you go, it just makes it easier to go. I take this at the first feelings of constipation. When combined with senna, which is a plant-derived gentle laxative, this product can help to soften stool as well as produce a bowel movement.
Miralax – This is typically used for more frequent constipation. It works by helping your intestines retain water making going to the bathroom easier. It’s also what I would call a gentle laxative, meaning it works over several hours or days. Miralax now comes in individual packets which are great for storage on a boat.
Pedia-lax –Now that I’m a mom, this will definitely find its way into our medicine cabinet in the future. My little one is a bit too young, but if you have kids on board aged 2 and older I’d advise carrying either the Pedia-lax glycerine suppositories or the oral formulations. When you’re traveling, a child’s routine can go out the window which means eating strange foods at all hours and not drinking enough water. Constipation is a real possibility. Always follow the dosing instructions on the products and always talk to your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns at all.
Metamucil or Fiber Gummies – I admit that I’m not always the best at eating enough fiber and when I feel that I’ve been slacking, I know I can always bump up my intake with a fiber supplement. I like when I can take a gummy vitamin but if you are a diabetic you should be careful of any extra sugar intake. Metamucil, on the other hand, has actually been shown to help regulate blood sugar by lowering its absorption from your digestive tract. There are lots of fiber products on the market, some more natural than others, so you can definitely find a formulation that suits your needs and lifestyle.
Bisacodyl (generic name) or Fleet enema – I typically do not carry these on board but you may want to if you feel you want to have something available that will cause a more immediate bowel movement or if you have had to use them in the past . Both of these products work quickly which also means that they can cause cramping as they are working on your bowels.
Overall Digestive Health
What is gut health and why is it so important? Everything you eat is broken down in your digestive tract, absorbed, and then taken to the rest of your body. Millions of good bacteria and immune cells reside there and help to regulate this process and prevent infections from bacteria and viruses. The gut also plays a part in the communication of the brain and hormone regulation. Keeping your gut and all those good bacteria happy is a big component of your entire body’s overall health. When your gut biome balance is off many people will experience bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain and discomfort. Outside of eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, we can aid the health of those little bacteria by taking a probiotic.
Probiotics – Probiotics are available for both kids and adults and come in a variety of forms. You can take a capsule, a liquid, chew a gummy, eat it in your yogurt, or drink it. There are so many companies making probiotics these days and they will each have different concentrations and types of bacteria. They are typically measured in colony forming units or CFU’s. A good general starting point is to take a product with at least 1 billion CFU’s. You may have to do some trial and error to find one that works for your specific needs so if you don’t feel any improvement after a few weeks, try switching to a different brand.
Over-prepared? Maybe…but by no means do you have to carry everything with you exactly as I do. If you’d rather save your money and pick up products as you need them you can absolutely do it that way too. Medications all have an expiration date and eventually you may have to get rid of some things or replace any that have gone past their prime. Stocking up can save you time and discomfort when a problem arises but it can be more costly than grabbing what you need, when you need it. It’s all a trade-off and you should prepare your boat however you see fit and according to your budget.