Being prepared for the most common of ailments is important. The best way to do this is to ensure that you keep the right medicines in your home at all times. We would like to give you our opinion of what you should have and which products would be suitable.
As always, we would advise that you read the directions for all medicated products that you buy or use, even if you may have used them in the past. If you have any questions about any of the medicines mentioned in this article then please feel free to contact us.
Another important thing to keep on top of is the expiry dated on everything in your medicine cabinet. Once a medicine is out of date you should not use it and take any remaining contents to your nearest pharmacy to be disposed of in the correct way.
Below are the important areas that we think that you should stock up on at all times.
Pain relief
Aspirin, Paracetemol and Ibuprofen are the most recognisable medicines for pain relief including most minor aches and pains, such as headaches and menstrual pain. Aspirin is not advised to be used by children under the age of 16.
Using these medicines can also be benificial if you are experiencing other syptoms, like colds, for redusing aches and temperatures.
These three medicines also help to reduce the inflammation in arthritis and sprains.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are used for dealing with allergies and insect bites. They are also the best medicine for dealing with most of the syptoms of Hayfever.
Antihistamines can come in the form of creams that you apply to the skin (topical antihistamine), or tablets that you swallow (oral antihistamine).
Antihistamine creams soothe insect stings and bites, and rashes and itching from stinging nettles.
Antihistamine tablets help to control hay fever symptoms, and calm minor allergic reactions to food. They can also help to calm itchiness during chickenpox (which can also be helped by using Virasoothe).
Some antihistamines may cause drowsiness. Ask your pharmacist about this: pharmacists may have antihistamines that don’t cause drowsiness.
Oral rehydration salts
When you are ill with a fever or have been vomitting, your body can lose a large amount of liquid. This in turn can lead to dehydration.
Rehydration salts are a good way of re-establishing the right balance of liquids and salts in your body even if you cannot return to your normal diet at the time of taking. However they will not fight the cause of the sickness in any way.
Anti-diarrhoea tablets
Diarrhoea can be brought on by a number of different causes including viruses or food poisoning. Anti-Diarrhoeal tablets can help you to control the symptoms on diarroea however they do not treat the causes of the problem.
The most common anti-diarrhoeal is loperamide (Imodium is the branded version). It works by slowing down the action of your gut.
Anti-Diarrhoeal Drugs should not be given to children under the age of 12. If a child is suffering from the symptoms then you should seek advise from your GP.
Indigestion treatment
Antacids are great for treating stomach aches, heartburn or trapped wind. The work by reducing the acidity in your stomach.
Antacids come as chewable tablets, or tablets that dissolve in water, or in liquid form.
First aid
As well as the medicines discussed above, keep a well-prepared first aid kit. This can help to treat minor cuts, sprains and bruises, and it can reduce the risk of cuts becoming infected. It should contain the following items:
- Bandages: these can support injured limbs, such as fractures or sprains. They also apply direct pressure to larger cuts before getting them treated in hospital.
- Plasters: a range of sizes, waterproof if possible.
- Thermometer: digital thermometers that you put in your mouth produce very accurate readings. A thermometer placed under the arm is a good way to read a baby’s temperature.
- Antiseptic: this can be used to clean cuts before they’re dressed (bandaged). Most can treat a range of conditions, including insect stings, ulcers and pimples. Alcohol-free antiseptic wipes are useful to clean cuts.
- Eyewash solution: this will help to wash out grit or dirt in the eyes.
- Sterile dressings: larger injuries should be covered with a sterile dressing to prevent infection until treatment can be given by a health professional.
- Medical tape: this is used to secure dressings. It can also be used to tape an injured finger to an uninjured one, creating a makeshift splint.
- Tweezers: for taking out splinters. If splinters are left in, they can cause discomfort and become infected.