Information
March 2002
Pharmaceutical purchases for Canada's National Emergency Stockpile System (NESS)
The following pharmaceutical products were purchased to enhance the existing stock in
the National Emergency Stockpile System.
Antibiotics:
Doxycycline, and Cyprofloxin Amoxicillin and Pennicillin: (tablets and intravenous products)
These antibiotics are used to treat people who have been exposed to biological agents including
anthrax, plague and tularemia.
Doxycycline and Cyprofloxin have been approved for use in Canada and doctors have been
routinely been prescribing these antibiotics to treat a variety of infections.
Both products are equally effective. If the affected person has a known allergy to one
of the antibiotics, the other product would be used. While they have not yet been specifically
approved for use in treating anthrax, the United States government has approved them for
use in that country and both antibiotics have been proven to be effective against biological
agents.
Antidotes for Exposure to Chemicals or Gases:
Antidotes for chemicals and gases are being purchased in large-dose and autoinjector formats.
An autoinjector is similar to an "epi pen" commonly used by persons who have strong allergic
reactions to bee stings. Persons such as firefighters or policemen who are exposed to a
potential toxic gas or chemical can quickly inject themselves using an autoinjector.
The antidotes being purchased would be used by emergency responders to counteract exposure
to nerve agents, such as Sarin, either through inhalation or through exposure on the skin.
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