There's never a better time than right now to tackle your home's medicine cabinet. An updated and well-stocked medicine chest is imperative to your family's health and safety.
No need to store an entire pharmacy. Just keep enough supplies on hand so you don't have to dash to a drugstore or urgent care in the middle of the night.
Kim Allen, pharmacy manager for Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, suggests a yearly inventory of household medications and first-aid remedies. And the first step should be to move prescription and over-the-counter drugs from the bathroom to a cooler, drier location.
"The bathroom is the worst place you can keep medicines. The kitchen isn't a very good (location), either," says Allen, who recommends keeping medicines in a closet in a locked box, particularly if there are children in the household. "Anywhere there's heat or steam can make the medicine break down more quickly."
Then, check out the expiration dates and remove all expired drugs.
"After the expiration date, there's no guarantee of the medicine's efficacy or potency, which can diminish over time," Allen says.
Always keep medications in their original containers with the labeling information in full view. And never mix different medications in one bottle since they may interact chemically or you might take the wrong one.
If you can't recall what a medication is for or no longer take it for a certain ailment, toss it. But, don't flush it. The American Pharmacists Association says it's OK to throw most meds in the trash, but only after you've taken a couple of extra steps. Crush pills or dissolve them in water and dilute liquid medications, too. To prevent anyone else from taking the drugs, mix them with kitty litter, coffee grounds or other unappealing materials. Place the yucky mess in a sealed plastic bag and discard.
Check with your doctor about which of these items are appropriate for your family's medicine chest.
FIRST-AID SUPPLIES
- Self-adhesive bandages of various sizes
- Gauze bandage pads and tape for deeper wounds
- Antiseptic/anesthetic spray and aloe vera gel for burns and sunburns
- Antibacterial ointments such as Neosporin for wound care
- Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol or Bactine to cleanse and disinfect wounds
- ACE bandage for possible sprains
- Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Pain/fever relief
- Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, for mild pain and fever that won't upset your stomach. Children and teenagers should not use aspirin because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a lethal disease that mostly strikes youngsters and has been associated with the use of aspirin.
- Ibuprofen, such as Advil or Motrin, or naproxen sodium (Aleve) for general pain or inflammation.
- Thermometer
GASTROINTESTINAL AIDS
- Anti-diarrheals, such as Imodium A-D
- Mild laxative or fiber product for constipation
- Liquid antacid containing aluminum and magnesium, such as Maalox Plus or Mylanta, for heartburn and indigestion. Acid reducer tablets, such as Zantac or Pepcid. Or a proton pump inhibitor, such as Prilosec.
ALLERGY/COLD RELIEF
- Antihistamine, such as Chlor-Trimeton or Claritin, for runny nose or sneezing
- Itch-relief ointment, such as Benadryl cream, for bug bites and allergy rashes
- Nasal decongestant, such as Sudafed, for stuffy nose
- Medicated lozenges, such as Cepacol or Sucrets, to ease throat irritation
MISCELLANEOUS
- Sterile eye wash (and cup) for eye irritations
- Tweezers to pull out splinters
- Medicine dropper or calibrated spoon for administering medicines
- Saline spray and drops for irrigating and moisturizing nose and eyes
- Petroleum jelly, for chapped lips and skin
CHILDREN
- Infant fever and pain reliever, such as Infants' Tylenol or Children's Motrin
- Rehydration fluids, such as Pedialyte, for kids with diarrhea
- Infant gas pain relief, such as Mylicon drops
- Ear thermometer
For children 6 years and older, use adult medications (except for aspirin and aspirin-containing drugs) but in reduced dosages. Read the label carefully for correct dosage.
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