Mild aches and minor illnesses are common, especially in children. So having medications at home is vital in case of a mini-emergency or when you’re unable to go to the pharmacy. However, knowing what to have in your house can be challenging with the wide variety of over-the-counter medicines available. Luckily, this article has put together a list of over-the-counter medications you require to ensure you’re fully equipped for minor medical issues.
Before diving in, here are some essential tips for using over-the-counter medicines:
- Before taking any medications, it’s good to consult your pharmacist and follow the instructions and warnings labeled on the medicine.
- Regularly check the expiry dates of your medicines.
- Be aware of what you’re taking by checking the product’s ingredients.
- Choose a medicine with fewer ingredients.
- Keep all medicines away from children and store them in a cool, dry place.
Also, there are circumstances where you shouldn’t use over-the-counter medicine before talking to your doctor. These are:
- If you’re not sure why you’re sick
- If the symptoms are severe
- If you’re on prescription medicines or have a long-term illness
Read along to be informed on the best over-the-counter medicines to keep at home.
Table of Contents
1. Over-The-Counter Medicine For Pain (Pain Relievers)
Pain relievers, also called analgesics, are medicines that help reduce pains, such as painful periods, headaches, strains, colds, flu, arthritis, sore muscles, or other aches. There are two over-the-counter pain medicines; acetaminophen (Tylenol) and Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, and naproxen (Aleve) are a must-have. NSAIDs mainly help reduce pain, lower inflammation, and high temperature. NSAIDs are available in capsules, tablets, creams, gels, and injections. They can be found in drug stores and can also be bought online from the Wizard online pharmacy.
However, you shouldn’t take NSAIDs without your pharmacist’s inspection if:
- If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or digestive tract bleeding
- If you’re on other prescribed medications, especially blood thinners, such as clopidogrel, warfarin, apixaban, or dabigatran
- If you’re taking other prescribed NSAIDs
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also known as a non-aspirin pain reliever. They include Panadol and Paracetamol. It helps relieve headaches and fever, among other common pains and aches. However, it doesn’t relieve inflammation. Unlike other pain medicines, acetaminophen is safer for children as it has fewer side effects.
Nevertheless, there are precautions to consider when taking acetaminophen. These are:
- Adults shouldn’t take more than 3g of acetaminophen a day, as it can damage your liver
- People with liver disease shouldn’t exceed 2g of acetaminophen in a day. Consult your pharmacist for what’s safe for you.
- If you have underlying pain medicines, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using acetaminophen
2. Over-the-Counter Medicine For Allergies (Antihistamines)
Antihistamines are medicines that ease allergies, such as itching, hives (urticaria), watering eyes, sneezing, and a running nose. They also reduce swelling and pain from bee or wasp stings. Examples of over-the-counter antihistamines include Benadryl, Robitussin, Claritin, Allegra, Xyzal, and Zyrtec.
Antihistamines work by reducing or preventing the release of histamine. Histamine is a compound released by the body when the immune system attacks an allergen, causing an allergic reaction. Since antihistamines can cause drowsiness, they should be taken when going to bed.
3. Over-the-counter Medicine For Digestive Issues
Even with a healthy diet and drinking enough water, you’ll experience some gastrointestinal problems at some point. These problems can result from stress, infection, and side effects from medications. The most common digestive issue symptoms include heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. To ensure you’re ready to fight these symptoms whenever they arise, ensure you have some over-the-counter medicines for digestive problems within your reach.
- Medications such as cimetidine, famotidine, and nizatidine are appropriate to treat heartburn.
- Constipation is relieved by laxatives, such as Metamucil, Citrucel, mineral oil, and enemas.
- Over-the-counter products for diarrhea are Imodium, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol
- For nausea and vomiting problems, have Nauzene, Emetrol, and Pepto-Bismol
4. Over-the-counter Medicine For Cold And Flu
The type of cold and flu symptoms determine what kind of medicine to be used. For instance, decongestants can help reduce stiffness, acetaminophen and NSAIDs can relieve fever and pain, and antihistamines can help with coughing and sneezing.
- For body ache symptoms, choose pain relievers with ingredients such as aspirin, acetaminophen, naproxen, and ibuprofen.
- For a dry cough, use Dextromethorphan and Guaifenesin for a wet cough.
- For sneezing, running nose, and congestion, look for antihistamines with ingredients like Cetirizine, Desloratadine, Fexofenadine, Hydroxyzine, Diphenhydramine, and Loratadine.
The Bottom Line
The above-mentioned over-the-counter medicines are essential to relieve pains and other minor illnesses. However, before purchasing any medicine, it’s advisable to consult your doctor or pharmacist to determine if they’re safe for you or your loved one, depending on your medical history.