Medical

PREVENTION  IS  BETTER  THAN  CURE

Health Check Up : 

• Full body medical check up 

• Dental check up (dental work is very expensive in USA, better to get it done in India)

• Eye check up (get a new prescription, and carry an extra pair specs for emergencies)

• Specific check up for existing ailments

• Scan and keep a copy of your medical history with you

Medicines :

Get prescriptions & medicines for all common ailments (the technical name of the medicine along with Indian/USA brand name). Medicines are expensive in USA. Here is a list of medicines used most commonly. You can take this to your doctor and get only those that the doctor recommends along with the prescription. It’s important that you carry the prescription along with the drugs when you carry.

• Crocin (Paracetamol 500 mg tablets)

• For fever, body ache, and headache.

• One tablet three times a day as necessary.

• Above 60 kg please use 650 mg (Thermol/Dolo).

• For fevers, mild pain relief Actifed tablets –A costlier but much better alternative is Alerid (Cetrizine) or Neoloridin(loridine)less sedation and next to no side effects

• Azithromycin (Aziwin 500 mg tablets)

• For bacterial cold, respiratory infection 

• Most common symptom being dark yellow colored mucus, fever, etc.

• NOT for ordinary cold (white mucus, watery secretions)

• Sporidex (500mg capsules) 

• One tablet twice a day when necessary as advised (please don’t use on your own. This stuff needs a prescription to be used properly ... meant only for persistent troublesome infections)

• Avomine (tablets) 

• For air/motion sickness. 

• One tablet as necessary (causes drowsiness).

• Lomotil/Andial (tablets)

• For diarrhea.

• But remember the best treatment for diarrhea is plenty of fluids, some good rest and bland food.

• Omeprazole (20 mg)

• For gastritis. 

• Can be taken once or twice a day.

• Digene tablets (20 mg)

• For stomach discomfort. 

• Three times a day.

• Spasmoproxyvon (capsules) 

• For abdominal colic pain, backache, menstrual pain etc. 

• One tablet every 6 hours or as necessary.

• Domstal (tablets) 

• For vomiting.

• Has to be taken atleast 30mins before food.

• Electral (powder) 

• One teaspoonful mixed with drinks to make up for the loss of electrolytes after vomiting & diarrhoea

• Novalgin 

• For headache & bodyache. 

• One tablet as necessary.

• Brufen (600mg tablets) 

• For arthirtic joint pain. 

• One tablet three times a day after food.

• Avil (tablets)

• for allergy (use cetrizine/loridin for less sedation)

• One tablet as necessary.

• Relaxyl (ointment) 

• To be applied as pain balm.

• Band Aid assorted

• Soframycin (ointment)

• Nimesulide (tablets)

• For the severest of headaches and pains. (banned in the US)

• 100mg upto 3 times a day

• Ciplox (capsules 500 mg)

• Twice a day. For Infective diarrheas

• Vitamin B-complex (capsules)

• First Aid Kit It’s a good idea to put together a little first-aid kit. Will come in handy.

• Amrutanjan/Tiger-Balm

• Ear-Buds

Insurance : 

The Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) does not cover most of the costs of dental treatment. You will be required to bear a lot of the expenditure all by yourself.

Immunization : 

Talk to your doctor and get any immunization that may be necessary done. Generally there are some vaccines like Hepatitis B, which require 3 doses once each month. So do it early. These vaccines are very costly in US and you certainly do not want to start spending money the moment you land in US.