BaseCamp Rx

BaseCamp Rx

Explore topics about pharmacology, drugs, vaccines, and other therapeutics pertinent to wilderness and travel medicine, written by a pharmacist. Equip yourself with the knowledge about what to get before you go on an adventure or work trip, and what to pack in your medical kit in case of an accident, medical issue, or toxic exposure.

Column Editor: Nancy Pietroski, PharmD, NR-EMT, FAWM, CTH

Suzetrigine (Journavx®) for Moderate to Severe Pain

Ashley Jackson, PharmDAimee Mishler, PharmD, BCEMP, FAWM
April 20, 2026

Suzetrigine, a novel non-opioid analgesic, offers a promising option for managing moderate to severe pain in wilderness settings, balancing efficacy and safety while avoiding opioid-related risks.

BaseCamp Rx: Tylenol, Too?

Nancy Pietroski, PharmD, NR-EMT, FAWM, CTH
January 20, 2026

Tylenol (acetaminophen) is the world’s most-used analgesic and antipyretic but new research and controversies raise fresh questions. We explore its history, dosing, risks, recalls, and why it still matters in wilderness medicine.

Bye-Bye Benadryl?

Nancy Pietroski, PharmD, NR-EMT, FAWM, CTH
November 3, 2025

Benadryl has been a medicine-cabinet staple for 80 years but is it time for retirement?

Avoiding the Burn: Caring for Skin in the Wild

Aimee Mishler, PharmD, BCEMPAshley Jackson, PharmD
August 18, 2025

In an austere environment, individuals must consider the effects of low humidity, high exposure to UV light, increased wind, cold temperatures, and low oxygen on the skin.

Adrenaline and Its Many Forms

Ashley Jackson, PharmDAimee Mishler, PharmD, BCEMP
April 15, 2025

In wilderness medicine, epinephrine’s most common use is for anaphylaxis and other severe immediate hypersensitivities.

Countering the Unthinkable, Unpredictable, and Often Unpreventable

Nancy Pietroski, PharmD, NREMT, FAWM, CTH
January 24, 2025

When an emergency is caused by a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threat, wilderness medicine providers can help

The Bite that Keeps Giving

Aimee Mishler, PharmD, BCEMPAshley Jackson, PharmD
October 21, 2024

A tick bite can transmit multiple pathogens; the article outlines diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies to help wilderness clinicians manage persistent or evolving tick-borne illnesses.

Is the “Green Whistle” Coming to a Trailhead Near You?

Aimee Mishler, PharmD, BCEMPAshley Jackson, PharmD
July 31, 2024

With a promising efficacy and safety profile coupled with an extensive history of use throughout the pre-hospital community worldwide, a crossover of use by the wilderness medicine community is plausible