Stock your cabinet with over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, readily available in your nearby pharmacy. Follow this list and you will be ready for almost any minor injury the world can throw at you: fever or pain ailments; antifungal meds for infections; stomach and intestinal disorders; cough and flu meds, and anti-itch creams.
A Warning for OTC Drug Use
One must keep in mind that just because a medication is available OTC doesn’t mean it is safe to use without reading the dosing instructions and following it closely.
OTCs can have significant side effects – they can interfere with prescription drug absorption or efficacy. So care must be taken. One common example is that Warfarin users shouldn’t take OTC ibuprofen because of the risk of bleeding ulcers. If you have any concerns at all about the safety of drug interactions, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
Pain and Fever Medications
There are three major drug categories to treat pain and fever: acetaminophen; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, and aspirin. If using any of the three for sprained joints, use RICE first, then take the appropriate pain reliever. RICE stands for Rest; Ice; Compression and Elevation for sprained joints. RICE makes the pain and anti-inflammatory drugs more effective.