Pharmaceuticals--etc., & bivouaking

[johndavidjr]

Sleeping pills. I found them useful at altitude in Mexico. Also somewhat useful in noisy Bugaboo Hut at night & also to wait out boring weather there (possibly an abuse, but also good to muster strength). I also use them for aircraft travel. Main complaint is they don't work as well as other meds (but no hangover). A French corporate chemist sed the pills cause short-term memory loss when taken chronically. U.S. 1963 Everest climbers relied on both uppers & downers supplied by Natl' Geographic Magazine (sortta).

Edited July 16, 2003 by johndavidjr

[JoshK]

what type of sleeping meds? standard over the counter such as diphenhydramine HCl (I think it's what is in bendryl too?) work by slowing you heart-rate and breathing. I've heard from some that it can be dangerous to take them at higher elevations. anybody know about this?

[wayne]

Beware sleeping pills at altitude!!

They slow your breathing and will make you sick. Most will make you groogy in the am. Sonata , by Wyeth-Ayerst is the pill to take it works in a 4 hr window and the stuff is out of your system after that. It doesnt slow you down as it works on your mind rather than slow your body. I havent found anything better and I have tried them all,

[gapertimmy]

I highly suggest you try the fantastic Rasta Bivy Kit™ from Alpine Kind Technologies. It has been field tested at altitude (see Muir Hut Study of 2001), and has dozens of stoaked customers... some comments after using the bivvy kit:

 

"Huhhhhh, fuckin plab"

- gapertimmy

 

"Yeah, I'll pee in your butt"

- Cpt. Caveman

 

"Honestly, I love clipping bolts"

- Dwayner

 

"YOU ARE JUST THUPER!!!! SO THUPER!"

- Richard Simmons

 

[wayne]

I cant believe I made the mistake of emailing this thread to pharmacutical professionals that I know. I had hopes there could be intelligent discussion and information exchange on a relevant topic. My mistake and I hope you are not offended>

[allthumbs]

[Dru]

if the bivi is too uncomfortable to sleep a little bit of fungus will at least keep you entertained all night

[johndavidjr]

I agree with Dru's basic views. Didn't consider breathing/heart rate thing, but they only seemed to work for a couple of hours, especially in Mexico, once you get used to them. I forget brand-- relatively new. Amused to think how the 1963 Everest group probably had the real good stuff & openly popped pills -- fully optimistic regarding drug use. Me too, I guess, but am thinking more now in terms of surgery though.

[JoshK]

wayne1112 said:

I cant believe I made the mistake of emailing this thread to pharmacutical professionals that I know. I had hopes there could be intelligent discussion and information exchange on a relevant topic. My mistake and I hope you are not offended>

 

Ugh, he got me too. For a minute there I thought it was a legit thread.

[wayne]

As far as the basic pharm thing, I am huge on Diamox too!

Halcion is good for sleep at low tudes . It will put you out for sure.

[johndavidjr]

standing around at the Grand-whatever hut on Orizaba chatting with guided group including young doctor-- a couple of other guys came down from high camp- one of them not looking too good-- so this young doctor was going on & on about various pills he & his wife had taken, or brought along, & one might give the hiker, but the doc didn't do anything as it appeared that for the hiker, getting to lower elevation was most important thing. I found it increasingly a factor from hut at 14,000 but of course it all depends on acclimatizing time. I turned around at about 16,000. Speaking of drugs, feeling of drunkeness was slightly amusing but kinda unnerving & definitely uncomfortable though no headache or nausea.