Pain Killers for High Altitude

What pain killers are the safest bet for high altitude? I'd like to
pack something strong for my trip to Denali (in case of a severe
injury), but I don't want to take something that could increase the risk
of edema (in case the injury keeps me stranded at high altitude).

What pain killers are the safest bet for high altitude? I'd like to
pack something strong for my trip to Denali (in case of a severe
injury), but I don't want to take something that could increase the risk
of edema (in case the injury keeps me stranded at high altitude). Are
there any that I should avoid?

In article <druabu$pb8$1@news-int.gatech.edu>,
John Sindell <johnnyq@gehennom.net> wrote:

> What pain killers are the safest bet for high altitude? I'd like to
> pack something strong for my trip to Denali (in case of a severe
> injury), but I don't want to take something that could increase the risk
> of edema (in case the injury keeps me stranded at high altitude).

The biggest concern would be the potential respiratory depressant
effect of pain meds such as the narcotic analgesics, worsening the
hypoxia as the potential mechanism for HAPE or HACE. Of course if you
have a busted leg, you're going to want something, so you're kinda
stuck.

Dll <me@> wrote:
> What exactly is it you are planning for?

I plan on staying safe and healthy, but I want to be prepared for
dealing with pain if something bad were to happen. Normally, I would
just ask the doc to give me something strong, but here I want to make
sure I account for the altitude variable.

I carry oxycontin. If I or a partner is hurt bad enough to consider
taking it, one of the things to think about is whether the pain is
severe enough to prohibit travel. If you could move, and could move to
lower climes, then that'd be reason to take it and not worry as much
about its effects with regard to altitude.

I wonder about the effects of say, morphine in combo with nifedipine.
Sue? Can't recall any special warning about combining those two...

Safest bet for altitude is to give yourself a schedule which allows for
acclimatization, then its not as big a concern if you get hurt and need
pain meds.

-Brian in SLC

In article <ds8158$4e5$1@news-int.gatech.edu>,
John Sindell <johnnyq@gehennom.net> wrote:

> Al Black <al-black@telus.net> wrote:
> > Ah there's the rub, so many bad things can happen and there's so many
> > flavours of pain you may experience while mountaineering that there's no
> > one prescription.
>
> Of course not, but I thought I'd ask in case someone like Sue has some
> sort of "don't even think about taking X at altitude" advice.

not that I'm aware of...

In article <1139248642.414212.326530@o13g2000cwo. .com>,
"Brian in SLC" <beadyseem> wrote:

> I carry oxycontin. If I or a partner is hurt bad enough to consider
> taking it, one of the things to think about is whether the pain is
> severe enough to prohibit travel. If you could move, and could move to
> lower climes, then that'd be reason to take it and not worry as much
> about its effects with regard to altitude.
>
> I wonder about the effects of say, morphine in combo with nifedipine.
> Sue? Can't recall any special warning about combining those two...
man you guys are walking pharmacies. Not that I recall either...although
morphine is a respiratory depressant...
>
> Safest bet for altitude is to give yourself a schedule which allows for
> acclimatization, then its not as big a concern if you get hurt and need
> pain meds.
>
good advice.
> -Brian in SLC