February 28, 2007

Know what medicines to keep on hand

Most of us make sure we always have a good supply of our prescription drugs. But what over-the-counter medicines should all of us keep in our medicine chests to treat common ailments?

  • Acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat pain and reduce fever.
  • An antacid for acid reflux and heartburn. Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation.
  • A general antibiotic cream, such as Neosporin or neomycin, to treat cuts.
  • An antihistamine, such as Benadryl, to treat allergic reactions and for colds and runny noses. Insect bites and bee stings can produce mild reactions, such as itching. An antihistamine can help relieve the symptoms. Those who react severely to bee stings and insect bites need to talk to their doctors about more potent drugs to treat their reactions.
  • Activated charcoal, available at pharmacies in pill form, for accidental poisonings. Experts no longer recommend using syrup of ipecac to induce vomiting when someone eats or drinks a toxic substance. Some substances cause more harm if they are regurgitated.
  • A basic eye wash with an eye cup for flushing foreign objects out of the eye.
By Janice Gaston
Source: www.journalnow.com

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