Re-hydration salts

Now that the summer is here the opportunities for dehydration are abundant. Having seen numerous cases last year, I thought I'd be prepared, like a good Boy Scout. If I was good. Or a scout.

I ordered some rehydration salts, to be told that they were out of stock. No problem; the hot weather abated for a few weeks. Before it returned my order had arrived, but in a different guise. I was expecting some of these:

Instead, I got these:

Yup - common or garden Dioralyte. I was a little surprised - I thought this was the expensive consumer version!

The originally advertised salts are now discontinued. I think these were a stop-gap between running out of the old type and removing them from sale. I'd ordered them at an awkward moment, and was sent these just to close the order.

The name suggests treatment for diarrhoea (well, side-effects thereof, which it is. But it treats the dehyration part of diarrhoea, which is the same as dehydration from exertion or hot weather.

The Alternatives

Superdrug Rehydration Sachets are available, and you can get a second pack at half price. [Offer now withdrawn?]

Also Boots have Rehydration Treatment sachets.

A Caveat

An important point to note is that both the Boots and Superdrug ones contain 'a source of phenylalanine', and must be avoided by PKN (phenylketonuria) sufferers - especially children.

That's the problem with pharmaceuticals made for supermarket shelves - too much effort is spent making them 'consumer-friendly' by adding sweeteners and other rubbish.

Of course, both shops also stock Dioralyte, and the ~pound difference is little impediment to using them in preference to going without.