Medicine cabinet essentials

These over-the-counter remedies help you respond immediately to an illness or minor accident at home.

For more serious symptoms, contact your family doctor, go to the nearest hospital or call 911.

Drugs decompose quicker when exposed to moisture and heat, so don’t store them in a bathroom and keep them away from direct light. You should also keep all medications out of the reach of curious little hands, and always check with your health practitioner before administering medication to a child.

At least once a year go through your medicine cabinet and remove medications that are old (have changed colour, smell or taste), that you no longer take or are past their expiration date.

Do not flush medication down the toilet, pour down the sink or throw in the garbage. Most pharmacies and municipalities offer environmentally-friendly drug disposal programs.

You should keep the following medications on hand:

- Acetaminophen (pain reliever/treats fever)
- Acetylsalicylic acid: a.k.a. Aspirin (anti-inflammatory/pain reliever/treats fever)
- Antihistamine (treats allergies)
- Calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide (treats heartburn)
- Children’s vitamins and adult multivitamins
- Cough suppressant syrup (not suitable for children under 6 years of age)
- Decongestant: pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine (treats colds and flu, but is not suitable for children under 6 years of age)
- Dimenhydrinate (prevents nausea/motion sickness)

Also keep these on hand:

- Ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory/pain reliever/treats fever)
- Laxative
- Loperamide (treats diarrhea)
- Nasal saline spray
- Oral electrolytes (replace fluids and minerals lost after vomiting and diarrhea)
- Throat lozenges

These topical ointments are must-haves:

- Aloe vera gel (moisturizes/treats sunburn)
- Antibiotic ointment (treats cuts/rashes/bacteria-fighter)
- Calamine lotion (treats insect bites/rashes/sunburn)
- Clotrimazole (anti-fungal)
- Eye drops
- Hand sanitizing liquid
- Hydrocortisone cream (treats insect bites/stings)
- Hydrogen peroxide (antiseptic)

In terms of topical treatments, these should also be kept around at all times:

- Insect repellant
- Rubbing alcohol
- Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher (do not use on babies under 6 months old)
- Vitamin E (moisturizes/fades scars)
- Zinc oxide ointment

These are important dressings to keep in your medicine cabinet:

- Adhesive bandage tape
- Butterfly closure bandages
- Compression bandages
- Cotton balls
- Cotton pads
- Cotton swabs
- Gauze
- Metal bandage clips
- Waterproof adhesive bandages