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Drugs for the Medicine Cupboard
Minor illness is common, especially in young children. Symptoms often begin when pharmacies are closed. Here is a suggestion of some medicines that are useful to keep in the home for occasional use. The following can be bought at the pharmacy without a prescription.
Paracetamol
This comes in tablet form for adults and older children and as a syrup for young children and babies. Soluble preparations are available. If you have young children this is the most important medicine to keep in at all times. Paracetamol relieves pain and brings down high temperatures.
Aspirin
This comes in tablet and soluble form. Like paracetamol, aspirin also relieves pain and reduces high temperatures. It has an additional benefit of reducing inflammation, so is more useful for helping muscular aches and sprains. Aspirin is particularly useful for treating the symptoms of a sore throat. Two 300mg aspirin tablets should be dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Gargling with the solution over 5-10 minutes helps reduce the discomfort of the sore throat. You may swallow the solution to reduce temperature and ease the pain further. For some people, aspirin may not be advisable. These include people with duodenal or stomach ulcers. Some people with asthma may find aspirin makes their breathing worse. In such people, the aspirin can be spat out after gargling. Aspirin should not be given to children under 12.
Other anti-inflammatory painkillers
These are pain killers but also reduce inflammation. The commonest is Ibuprofen (Nurofen). These have similar effects to aspirin but are slightly stronger. They are helpful for muscular aches and sprains and are often used to relieve menstrual period pains. Like aspirin they should not be used if you have had a peptic ulcer and should be used with caution if you have asthma.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergies. For example: rashes (hives), itch, redness and swelling, sneezing, watering eyes and a running nose. Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness, for example chlorpheniramine (piriton). These may be useful for taking at night. There are several newer preparations which cause less drowsiness and are more useful during the day. It may be worth having some of both types.
Antacids
These are helpful for relieving the symptoms of indigestion (stomach discomfort after eating) and heartburn. There are a variety of antacids available. For example, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium trisililicate, aluminium or magnesium hydroxide. They work by neutralising the acid content of the stomach. More powerful drugs that reduce acid in the stomach are also available at pharmacies, for example, cimetidine.
Hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion
Steroid drugs reduce inflammation Hydrocortisone is a mild steroid cream. It is useful for reducing the swelling and pain of sun burn, bee and wasp stings and other inflammation of the skin. Calamine lotion is soothing and cooling for inflamed or itchy skin.
Other useful items
It's worth keeping a variety of plasters, a crepe bandage, a triangular bandage, some tubigrip and some antiseptic cream to treat minor cuts, grazes and sprains.