Medicine cabinet

Even a minor illness and ailments such as colds, headaches and diarrhoea can disrupt your life. Be prepared for most common ailments by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home.

General advice

Your local pharmacist can help
Make sure you order your repeat prescription
Know when your GP surgery will be open
Antibiotics are not always the answer

Remember:

Always follow the direction on medicine packets and information leaflets
Never exceed the stated dose
Always keep medicines out of sight and reach of children
Keep your medicines in a high and lockable cupboard in a cool, dry place

Here are some of the medicines that we recommend that you should keep in your medicine cabinet. You should also keep a well-prepared first aid kit as this can help to treat minor cuts, sprains and bruises and can reduce the risk of cuts becoming infected.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen

Effective at relieving most minor aches and pains such as headaches, period pain, inflammation in arthritis and sprains.

Oral rehydration salts (such as Dioralyte®)

Fever, diarrhoea and vomiting make us lose water and essential minerals, and can lead to dehydration. If you have these symptoms and can’t continue your normal diet, oral rehydration salts can help to restore your body’s natural balance of minerals and fluid and relieve discomfort and tiredness. They don’t fight the underlying cause of your illness, such as a virus or bacteria.

Antacids (comes in chewable tablets, or tablets that dissolve in water, or in liquid form)

We normally over indulge during the festive period and this can cause stomach ache, heartburn or trapped wind. A simple antacid will reduce stomach acidity and bring relief.

Bandages

These can support injured limbs, such as fractures or sprains and can also be used to apply direct pressure to larger cuts before being treated in hospital.

Plasters

A range of sizes, waterproof if possible. You should clean and dry the wound before you apply the plaster.

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. Most can treat a range of conditions, including insect stings. 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.

NHS Choices: Your medicine cabinet

Medicine Chest Online

How your pharmacy can help?

Is your medicine cabinet fit for winter?

Thousands of pounds worth of drugs could be saved to help others and the NHS in Suffolk – and local doctors and nurses are appealing for your help.

About £56million of prescription drugs and treatments are prescribed by family doctors and nurses in Ipswich and east Suffolk every year. An estimated 168,000 people receive regular medication using a repeat prescription – about half of the 390,000 population. Read more about our Tick, check and hand it back campaign