• Between 1991-2010, every year on average, almost 1900 people returned to the UK with malaria.
• In 2010 over 70% of malaria cases in UK travellers were caused by the potentially fatal Plasmodium falciparum.
• Essential travel health advice can be accessed right up to the time of travel – it is never too late to seek advice.
• When planning your trip, make an appointment with your GP surgery, travel clinic or pharmacy six to eight weeks before travelling.
• Malaria is avoidable, but it can be fatal if left untreated. It only takes one bit from an infected mosquito to contract malaria.
• There are a number of antimalarials available, including Malarone, Paludrine and Avloclor. Speak to a GP or pharmacist about what is best for you.
• You may not know immediately that you have contracted malaria as the symptoms can take weeks or months to appear.
• Symptoms of malaria are similar to flu symptoms and include: a high temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or above, sweats and chills, generally feeling unwell, muscle pains, headaches, cough and diarrhoea.

Tips For Travelling in a Malaria Hotspot

Before you travel:

• Make an appointment with your GP, travel clinic or pharmacy to discuss malaria protection for your trip. You should really aim to do this 6-8 weeks before you plan on travelling/
• Make sure you itinerary is clear because you may only need antimalarials for part of your trip.
• Different antimalarials are recommended for different parts of the world due to drug resistance. Your GP or pharmacist can advise you on which is the most suitable for your trip and also for you individually.

During your trip:

• Purchase and use any medication that has been recommended for your trip. Also purchase mosquito nets and insect repellents. You should use insect repellents with 10-50% DEET applied to the skin over your sunblock. You can also spray it on your clothes to offer extra protection.
• Cover up your arms and legs and limit the amount of time that you spend outside at times when mosquitoes are most active, like between dusk and dawn. Sleeping under a mosquito net impregnated with permethrin can help provide you with protection.

After your trip:

• Make sure that you complete your course of antimalarials to receive full protection. Keep taking them once you return for the full length of time that they were prescribed for.
• Initial symptoms of malaria can be mild and difficult to recognise. It is often mistaken for flu. If you start to develop any flu-like symptoms after you return home then seek medical advice immediately and inform them that you have recently returned from a malaria-risk zone.

Our unique system allows you to order your prescription in the fewest clicks possible with easy instructions and no confusing jargon!

Best of all, all NHS prescription orders qualify for free delivery!

To order your NHS prescription all you need to do is follow the 3 steps below.

Once you have received your prescription from your GP, all you have to do is let us know whether you pay for your prescription or if you have an exemption. If you pay just tell us how many different items are on the prescription. If you don’t pay just tell us the reason for your exemption. It’s as easy as that!

Then just send us your prescription in the post and we will send out your medication straight to any address that you would like.

Benadryl Allergy Relief is a medicine which is used to relieve the symptoms of hay fever and other allergic conditions such as pet or dust allergies. The capsules contain acrivastine which is an antihistamine that helps relieve allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose and watery eyes.

It can also be used to treat the symptoms of urticaria, also known as hives, where the skin looks blotchy with white raised wheals (bumps) surrounded by redness.

Benadryl Allergy Relief capsules are available in 12 Capsule packs and 24 capsule packs.

Who can use Benadryl Allergy Relief?

This medicine is for use in adults under 65 years old and children aged 12 years and over.

This medicine is suitable for most adults under 65 years old and children aged 12 years and over but a few people should not use it. If you are in any doubt, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Benadryl Allergy Relief can have side-effects, like all medicines, although these are rare and are usually mild.

What is in Benadryl Allergy Relief?

The active ingredient in Benadryl Allergy Relief is 8mg Acrivastine in each capsule. Other ingredients include Lactose, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, gelatin, colouring (El 71) and purified water.

Does Benadryl Work?

Benadryl has a long history of being a trusted hayfever and allergy medicine with a proven track record. Acrivastine is not currently available as a generic capsule over-the-counter which means that it must be purchased as the branded product, Benadryl.

Feeling fuller for longer also reduces your snacking, helping you to stick to your diet plans. Obesimed decreases the absorption rate of food keeping it in your stomach for longer. This makes prolongs the satisfaction you get from your meals.

Obesimed has also been shown in studies to reduce cholesterol by encouraging the production of bile acids and it has also been shown to reduce blood glucose levels.

For anyone looking to lose weight from a few stones to a few pounds, Obesimed is the perfect accompaniment to a calorie controlled diet.

The other contributing factors include staying indoors all the working day, consistent use of sunscreen rather than allowing 20-30mins of allowed exposure and children playing computer games indoors instead of playing outside.

The over use of sunscreen is becoming a real problem with more fair skinned individuals, who need to protect themselves from the sun as they are more at risk from burning. The suggested solution for more fair skinned people is the use of supplements, such as Vitabiotics Ultra D3. It has also been suggested that fair skinned people have difficulty synthesising Vitamin D from sunlight .

Vitamin D promotes calcium absorption in the gut and is also key in bone growth and remodelling. A deficiency in Vitamin D can lead to bones becoming thin, brittle or misshapen. These lead to conditions such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D is also required for both cell growth and immune function. Although a main source is sunlight on the skin, there are also a number of foods that are rich in Vitamin D such as liver, egg yolk and oily fish e.g. salmon, tuna and mackerel. As mentioned previously, there are also a number of supplements available from your pharmacy, both over the counter and via prescription. Many of these supplements also contain calcium to combat the lack of calcium absorption that is a result of Vitamin D deficiency.

The easiest way to find out if you’re suffering with insufficient Vitamin D levels is to visit your GP and ask for a Vitamin D test. If you are suffering with or want to avoid Vitamin D deficiency this winter consider the above changes to diet and lifestyle or the use of a vitamin supplement such as Adcal D3.

Do-Do ChestEze Tablets are used to relieve bronchial coughs, congestion and wheezing, to ease breathing, and also to clear the chest of mucus (chesty catarrh) in colds and similar illnesses.

Before taking Do-Do ChestEze

Do not take Do-Do ChestEze Tablets if you have:

• an allergy (hypersensitivity) to any of the ingredients of Do-Do ChestEze Tablets
• enlargement of the prostate gland,
• an overactive thyroid,
• high blood pressure,
• heart disease.

Also, do not take Do-Do ChestEze Tablets if you are:

• taking or have recently taken, anti-depressants called MAO inhibitors.
• pregnant or could be pregnant.

Do not give Do-Do ChestEze Tablets to children between the ages of 2 and 12 years of age unless told to by your doctor. Do not give to children under two years of age.

Take special care with Do-Do ChestEze Tablets if you have:

• asthma (consult your doctor before using this product),
• diabetes,
• glaucoma,
• liver disease,
• fever,
• epilepsy.

Also consult your doctor if you are breast-feeding before taking these tablets.

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription. Do not take with any other cough and cold medicine. Consult your doctor before you take Do-Do ChestEze Tablets if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• antidepressants (e.g. monoamine-oxidase inhibitors / MAOIs),
• antibiotics,
• anti-asthmatics,
• oral contraceptives,
• stomach medicines,
• water tablets,
• steroids,
• medicines to treat high blood pressure or heart disease,
• gout,
• breast cancer,
• Cushing’s disease (an endocrine disorder caused by excessive levels of the Cortisol hormone)
• epilepsy,
• St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum – a herbal treatment for depression). This should not be taken at the same time as this medicine. If you already take St. John’s Wort consult your doctor before stopping the St. John’s Wort preparation.

If you are going to have an influenza vaccination tell your doctor that you are, or have been, taking these tablets.
If you have been told by your doctor that you need to take lower than the usual dose of some medicines please consult your doctor before taking Do-Do ChestEze Tablets. Do not take Do-Do ChestEze Tablets if you are or could be pregnant.
If you are breast-feeding consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking these tablets.
Lactose is an ingredient in these tablets. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this product.

• Standard Paracetamol 500mg tablets and Ibuprofen 400mg tablets both offer effective pain relief and the Paracetamol also helps to lower high temperatures.
• For congestion there are a wide range of products available. Sudafed 60mg tablets are a good starting point to relieve your congestion woes. Sudafed also provide a range of combination medicines such as Sudafed blocked nose and headache capsules. Many of these combination items do contain paracetamol so care should be taken not to take additional paracetamol products.
• All that excess mucus unfortuneately leads in many cases to a chesty cough. Benylin do a wide range of cough remedies. Benylin Mucus Cough comes in both a drowsy and non-drowsy formulation. The night time version does contain an added decongestant so an additional one is not required.
• Last but not least the sore throat. Beechams Max Strength Sore Throat Relief contain an anti-bacterial and an anaesthetic.

This list only covers a small minority of the cold and flu products on offer this season. For a wider range visit the cold and flu section on our website.

Research by Dendron, the maker of Otex Ear Drops, has shown that first time sufferers tend to contact their GP, sometimes with associated ear infections, but that on subsequent occasions sufferers usually self treat wil over the counter products.

Otex Ear Drops are clinically proven to reduce the need for syringing, contains urea hydrogen which slowly reacts with moisture in the ear wax, softening it and causing it to break up into small flakes. The process sometimes makes a gentle fizzing noise – so users can actually hear Otex working. The flakes then disperse from the ear on their own in the natural way.

Ottex comes in an easy squeeze plastic bottle with an integral dispensing nozzle which makes applying it simple and reduces mess. You can also try Otex Express Ear Drops.

A spokesperson for Olbas said “Olbas Oil is the number one decongestant oil in the UK and it is a trusted, natural familt brand with over 30 years’ heritage. The Olbas portfolio is incredibly versatile – it provides something for everyone, whether that be a product for use ‘on the go’ (inhaler), something for use at home (Oil), something specifically designed for children (Olbas for Children) or something to help keeping breathing easy through the night. This certainly contributes to its on going popularity.

At Pharmacy First we sell a number of Olbas products that can help with you colds and flu this winter.

• Eliminates head lice and nits
• Comes in a bottle with an easy applicator tip and a fine-tooth steel comb
• Works in 15 minutes
• Suitable for adults, children over 6 months and pregnant or breastfeeding mums
• Is proven to be more than 99% effective in eliminating head lice and nits
• Contains no insecticides so there’s no risk of resistance
• Kills even insecticide-resistant lice strains
• Contains no cyclomethicone
• Has a neutral scent and is colourless
• Has very high consumer compliance: In a survey all the people tested said they would recommend the treatment to others

Heartburn can be caused by acid escaping from the stomach when overeating. Alcohol and smoking, pressure on the stomach valve, coffee and tea and rich or fatty foods can cause excess acid to escape through the valve at the top of the stomach and rise into the oesophagus.

Simple antacids can be a good first line treatment. They tend to provide fast relief but are short acting. H2 antagonists such as Zantac 75 tablets contain ranitidine for the prevention and relief of heartburn and indigestion providing quick and long lasting relief for up to 12 hours. It provides an effective choice for fast-acting relief that can last all day or all night, and it can also be taken before a meal which is expected to cause symptoms, to prevent heartburn and indigestion associated with consumption of food and drink.

Skin irritation and itchiness can be caused by a wide variety of factors. Most of the time we pass it off as a minor irritation, but it can become a real distraction. Over the summer in particular, customers should be able to holiday and enjoy themselves without having to worry about itchy skin. Fortunately, relief is at hand in the form of Eurax.

Common skin conditions that Eurax can help include:

Insect bites and stings

Insect bites and stings often cause one or more red bumps that are usually itchy and sometimes painful. They are not usually dangerous, except for people who are allergic to bee or wasp stings, for example. The bites usually clear up within a few days. However, scratching can make them worse and increase the risk of infection.

Nettle rash or hives (also known as urticaria)

Nettle rash affects 1 in 5 people at some point,1 causing raised red itchy swellings on the skin.The raised marks in the rash are called weals. Although the rash may fade after a few hours, other patches may appear, even on a different part of the body. Many things can cause acute urticaria (urticaria that lasts less than six weeks), including allergens (such as food or latex), irritants (such as nettles), medicines or physical factors,
such as exercise or heat. Although in about half of cases no cause can be found.

Heat rash

Heat rash appears as small reddish blisters or spots on areas of skin that have been exposed to sunlight. It is commonly seen in children and young women and tends to be recurrent.

Sunburn

Sunburn can make skin feel sore, especially when it’s touched or comes into contact with clothes. It may start to peel and become dry, flaky and very itchy after a few days.

Itchy dermatitis and dry eczema

Eczema affects 1 in 5 children and 1 in 12 adults, according to the National Eczema Society (NES). It varies from person to person and in its mild form the skin is dry, scaly, red and itchy. Itching can be a distressing symptom, especially in young children. Scratching can lead to open wounds, which increases the risk of infection. Because it is prone to drying out and is easily damaged, skin with eczema is more liable to become
red and inflamed on contact with substances that are known to irritate or cause an allergic reaction.

Allergic rash

Allergic rash often appears where skin has been in contact with an allergen, but can spread. Often there is no apparent cause. If a cause is identified, it is usually an allergic reaction to triggers such as foods, insect bites, stinging nettles or contact with animals.

Chickenpox

Chickenpox is common in children under the age of 10 years, but can occur at any age. And it can be contracted more than once, although that does not happen very often – about 1 in 8 people catch it more than once. It is caused by a virus called the varicella-zoster virus and is passed from person to person through coughs and sneezes of those who are infected. Chickenpox rash starts as crops of itchy flat red spots which may develop into fluid-filled blisters that can ooze and crust over. Some children have just a few spots but others can be completely covered all over their body. The spots are most likely to appear on the face, ears and scalp, under the arms, on the chest and stomach and on the arms and legs.The rash can be very itchy and it is particularly important not to scratch to prevent possible scarring.

Personal itching

Personal itching can be very uncomfortable and cause embarrassment: it may be triggered by chemical irritants such as nickel or washing powders.

Eurax is available as a non-greasy, non-staining cream or lotion. It can provide relief from itching and irritation, helping to break the itch-scratch-itch cycle that causes so much distress, especially in young children.

• Keep fingernails short to prevent damage while scratching. Young children can wear cotton mittens to stop them scratching in their sleep.

• Wear gloves – they keep hands protected from cold in winter and reduce exposure to irritating chemicals, such as when cleaning.

• Try to wear cotton or other soft fabrics. Avoid rough, scratchy fibres such as wool and tight clothing that can rub the skin. Wash clothes in detergents without perfumes or colours.

• Protect the skin from the sun – UV light damages it, causing: wrinkles; dry, rough skin; liver spots; and even skin cancer. For children you can try the Sunsense Toddler Milk.

• Learn to identify eczema triggers and try to avoid them.

• Keep room humidity as high as possible. Avoid hot, dry atmospheres and extremes of temperature and humidity.

• Drink plenty of water – hydrating from the inside helps stop skin drying out.

• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet – vitamins A and C are particularly important for healthy skin or other specialist skin supplements.

• Quit smoking – smoking accelerates skin ageing and increases wrinkles.

How Do WindSetlers Gel Caps Work?

WindSetlers contain an ingredient called Simeticone, which breaks down the tiny bubbles of gas that cause the bloated feeling and unpleasant noises associated with trapped wind. Once the smaller bubbles are broken down, they combine into fewer, larger bubbles which are then more easily (and discreetly) expelled or absorbed in the intestine

Are WindSetlers Gel Caps Sugar Free?

Yes, WindSetlers are sugar free.

Can WindSetlers Gel Caps Be Swallowed Whole?

Yes, WindSetlers Gel Caps are very small and easy to swallow. Unlike some remedies, there is no need to chew WindSetlers.

Can Children Use WindSetlers?

Yes. Adults, the elderly and children may take one or two capsules 3 or 4 times daily, or as required for relief.

Are WindSetlers Gel Caps Suitable For Vegetarians?

No. WindSetlers Gel Caps contain gelatin.

It has been stated that gastro-intestinal problems affect men and women of all ages but tend to be more common in women. Mi­nor problems are easily treatable and simple adjustments in lifestyle are often recommended. Heartburn and indigestion are two terms used to describe discomfort and pain in the upper gastro-intestinal (GI) Tract which are commonly associated with food. Many people do not properly understand the differences between heartburn and indigestion.

Heartburn normally occurs when the lower oesophageal muscle is not functioning properly so the stomach acid escapes and moves up the oesophagus. When the acid comes in contact with the delicate lining of the oesophagus, it causes irritation, discomfort and pain. This sensation is known as heartburn.

There are many causes of heartburn, such as being overweight. In this case more pressure is put on to the stomach, which forces contents up the oesophagus. Other causes such as the foods we eat and drink, especially fatty foods, alcohol and chocolate, seem to be linked to causing heartburn. It is a good fact to know also that heartburn is a common symptom in pregnant woman especially in the first tri­mester where hormone levels affect the lower oesophageal sphincter.

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen (tummy). Indigestion occurs when there is too much acid in the stomach, when this stomach acid comes into contact with the sensitive, protec­tive lining (mucosa) of the digestive system. The stomach acid breaks down the mucosa, leading to irritation and inflammation (redness and swelling). This causes the symptoms of indigestion.

In most cases, indigestion is related to eating, although it can be caused by other factors, such as an infection or taking certain medications. The symptoms between heartburn and indigestion normally overlap, however, heartburn is normally regarded with pain in the centre of the chest, while indigestion is generally regarded as pain and discomfort in the stomach area and is normally accompanied by symptoms of bloatedness, nausea and vomiting.

Treatments that can be purchased to treat these symptoms include antacids such as Asilone, Rennie, which by neutralising the stomach, should be taken after meals and before bed time. Of the Alginates, the most popular is Gaviscon, which forms a lining which stops stomach contents irritating the oesophagus. Some Alginate products also contain antacids, such as Gaviscon double action.

H2-receptor antagonist products include Zantac 75 which is very effec­tive if alginates and antacids do not seem to help control the symptoms. The H2-receptor antagonists stop your stomach from creating acid and work very well. They provide a 12-hour action. Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole are another group of medicines which help to stop acid from being released into the stomach. These work in a slightly different way to H2 receptor antagonists but have the same overall effect.

People can prevent symptoms by eat­ing small portions, not eating late at night or before going to bed and avoiding foods that cause discomfort, in particular rich, spicy or fatty foods. If you are overweight, losing weight should help to reduce symptoms.

Constipation is another common ailment. Many people feel uncomfortable talking about constipation and sometimes feel uncomfortable if their normal pattern of opening their bowels has been disrupted. Constipation occurs when the contents of the large intestine move slowly and more water than normal is absorbed from the faecal matter.

It can also cause your stools to be unusu­ally hard, lumpy, large or small. The severity of constipation can vary greatly. Many people only experience constipation for a short period of time with no lasting effects on their health.

Constipation occurs when people do not have enough fibre in their diet or do not drink enough. Liquids add fluid to stools which makes them softer and pass easier but some drugs cause constipation as a side effect, an example of which are pain-killers that contain codeine.

Treatments of constipation

Bulk-forming laxatives in­clude Methylcellulose, sterculia and ispaghula husk, such as Fybogel Hi-Fibre. These products contain natural fibres and help to retain fluid in the stools, encouraging the intestine to work faster. Bulk-forming laxatives work within a 24-36 hour time frame and are safe to take long-term.

Osmotic laxatives, for ex­ample Lactulose, are prime medicines which help keep fluid in the bowl and faeces and make them easier to pass. This is the gentle option and often recommended in children and pregnant women. Faecal softners, such as Dulcoease and Glycerin suppositories, work by lubricating the faeces and making them easier to pass. Stimulant laxatives include Dulcolax tablets, Ex-Lax, which contains senna, and Califig.

These work by stimulating the nerve-endings in the walls of the large intestine (colon) and rectum. This causes the muscles in the intestinal wall to contract more often and with increased force. When these muscles contract (a process known as peristalsis), this moves the contents of the intestine through the colon to the rectum so that the bowel can be emptied. This relieves constipation.

Some of the best tips you can give patients is too eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and to drink plenty of fluid throughout the day.

Diarrhoea, like constipation, is a topic that many people are reluctant to discuss, but it is a common problem faced by many and often occurs at the most inconvenient time, such as on holiday or at work.

Diarrhoea is passing loose or watery faeces more than three times a day. It affects almost everyone from time to time and is usually noth­ing to worry about.

A common cause in both children and adults is gastroenteritis, an infection of the bowel. Gastroenteritis maybe caused by a virus, such as a norovirus or rotavirus bacteria, which is often found in contaminated food.

Diarrhoea occurs when the lining of the large intestine becomes inflamed and prevents sufficient fluid from being removed from the food in the intestine. This makes the stools much looser or liquid like when they excreted from the body.

A problem that diarrhoea can cause, es­pecially in the young and the elderly, is the potential risk of dehydration – young children and the elderly are most at risk from this. The signs and symptoms of diarrhoea are normally easy to spot and are obvious; these include frequent, loose or watery stools, abdominal cramping, sometimes associated with bloating. Other symptoms can also be noticed such as fever, nausea and or vomiting.

Fluid replacement treatments

Children and the elderly are more likely to become dehydrated. People suffering from dehydration are advised to take frequent sips of water even if they are vomiting. They should also rest until symptoms improve. Rehydration therapy, such as Dioralyte which is available in different flavoured sachets for reconstitution in water, helps to replace lost fluids and salts and reduces the chances of dehydration.

Anti-diarrhoeal (drugs) such as loperamide (Imodium) and morphine salts (Diocalm) work very well as they help to slow down the passage of food through the intestine, allowing for more fluids to be absorbed. These products work very well and can be used in combination with rehydration salts. Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is useful for bacterial diarrhoea because they are designed to attack the bacteria and provide a protective coating over the stomach.