Being prepared can be a life-saver when it comes to a home pharmacy, both figuratively and literally. For treating minor aches and pains, there are a variety of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help ease symptoms and provide comfort. Meanwhile, emergency topical ointments can help provide relief from skin rashes, keep cuts clean and infection-free, and treat conditions that cause diarrhea before dehydration may require professional medical intervention.

Here are a list of medications that you should always have on hand – in sickness and in health.

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one of the most common OTC medications for fever, aches and pains. This drug is often handled better by those who have sensitivity to other anti-inflammatory medications, including ibuprofen and aspirin. It is an almost all-purpose medication that can help ease the discomfort of a toothache or backache, or can help bring down a high fever in someone who is battling a flu bug. This drug can have interactions with other medications and it is possible, especially in children and infants, to overdose. So read drug labels and dosing instructions carefully, and limit your intake to recommended doses to avoid liver complications.

Aspirin

If you suspect that you’re having a heart attack, there are two things that you need to do immediately: call 911, and get aspirin into your system as quickly as possible. Aspirin may help limit permanent heart damage by inhibiting platelets and minimizing blood clot growth. As soon as you’ve called 911, you should chew a 325 mg aspirin while waiting for an ambulance to arrive, making the presence of this drug in your medicine cabinet a true lifesaver.