USMC Gulf War Vets... - Military Health Issues Message Board

gman1322 · 04-27-2009, 09:50 AM

Any USMC vets here that were issued the pyridostigmine bromide pills and were given a horse pill by SNCO's that had no name? I distinctly remember taking two pills and the unknown one was not given to us to hold and take on our own. I never saw any markings on the bottles that the mystery pill was taken from and given to us to take.

During the 90's when going thru the VA for the Gulf War registry, I was told by some old doctor fella that there was NO other pill and that pyridostigmine bromide was safe and not the cause of my issues. Obviously he was wrong about pyridostigmine bromide pills and he obviously wasn't there for the taking of the mystery pills that I am curious about.

After about a week of violent side effects, stomach pains, explosive diarrhea, we started faking the swallowing part and spitting them out after the mandatory visual verification was done by SNCO's. Symptoms went away within a day or two. Then, finally, the mandatory pill taking was cancelled.

I am curious if any vets here remember the second pill and if they knew what it was. My current ailments are about to take be back down the Gulf War Syndrome path with the VA.

Thank you.

Gary B.
USMC 1986-1991

tossthepickle · 04-30-2009, 07:33 AM

I am no Marine but I was in the Army and sent to Kuwait during Operation Desert Thunder (98- 2000). We too were given a nameless pill when we were forced to recieve our "anthrax" vaccine..... I do not even recall what the pill looked like and I do't recall any side effects at the time. I would like to know if maybe the one pill they gave us was a derivative of the pills they gave you.....

Bezerka1 · 04-30-2009, 05:21 PM

I served in 2nd MAR DIV in Desert Shield/Storm-0311. I remember what you are refering to. I believe what you are speaking of were first generation anthrax pills. From what I remember the PB pills were small white pills and what you're speaking of were large oval shaped tablets in a blister packs. It's been a long time so I could be mistaken.

ZR

gman1322 · 05-04-2009, 12:50 PM

Bezerka1;

This pill was given to us at the same time as the PB pill was.

Gin9909 · 06-13-2009, 01:50 AM

PB was issued as a nerve agent pretreatment to nearly all US troops, as well as 45,000 participants from the United Kingdom. Use of low doses (30 mg 3x daily) of PB, taken orally upon direction of unit commanders, confers significant protection to troops when used with the other post-attack treatment measures (atropine and 2-Pam chloride). ... http://www.pdhealth.mil/deployments/gulfwar/enviro_pb.asp

The symptoms you describe refer to the side effects of PB. I am guessing the other pill(s) you may have got is described as above. I included the website but I may be wrong. Btw, thank you so much for your service.