With winter approaching and flu season here, now is the time make sure your medicine cabinet is ready for you and your family. Common winter illnesses, such as colds, sinusitis, flu or earache, can often be managed by over-the-counter medicines (including paracetamol and ibuprofen).
Keeping a few essential items in your medicine cabinet means you can manage minor illnesses quickly without needing to see your GP or seek urgent medical advice.
Here are the recommended items to keep on hand:
- Paracetamol and/or ibuprofen for pain or fever relief
- Cold and flu remedies – decongestants can relieve a blocked nose
- Throat sweets – to soothe a sore throat
- Antihistamines – to relieve symptoms from allergies
- Indigestion tablets
- Vapour rub – to ease nasal congestion and soothe a cough
- Plasters and antiseptic cream for minor cuts
- A thermometer to monitor body temperature
Don’t forget that you don’t have to purchase brand name medicines. Supermarket or pharmacy own-brand medicines work in exactly the same way (and are often cheaper).
Make sure you check the expiry date on your medications. Do not use medicines that are past their expiry date. Dispose of them safely at your local pharmacy.
To manage winter illness symptoms at home, you should keep warm, get lots of rest, drink plenty of fluids, have at least one hot meal a day to keep your energy levels up and use over-the-counter medicines to help give relief.
For more information, speak to your local pharmacist; find yours at: www.nhs.uk/find-a-pharmacy.
