Medicine Cabinet Essentials

From allergies and headaches to cold and flu, having the right medications and medical supplies on hand can mean a world of difference. If you're going through your medical cabinet, make sure you're stocked up on the essential over-the-counter medications.

Pain and Fever Relievers

• Acetaminophen can be used to treat minor to moderate pain caused by headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, toothaches and more.
• Ibuprofen is used to reduce fever and treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as minor injuries like sprains and strains, headaches, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps and more.
• Naproxen can be used to treat pain or inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, which is a type of arthritis in the joints and spine, tendinitis, gout, menstrual cramps or bursitis, a painful condition that impacts the cushioning in the joints
• Aspirin is commonly used as a pain and fever reducer and can be used for as a treatment for other more serious conditions.

You should always consult with your primary care about what to take and when, or what not to take together. Don't have a primary care provider? Visit EvergreenHealth Primary Care to find one that is right for you!

Congestion, Coughs and Colds

• Decongestants should be a part of pretty much everyone's medicine cabinet, to help clear away congestion when the inevitable cold, flu or other respiratory illness hits. You may also try remedies like nasal irrigation and nasal spray.
• Cough medicine: For a dry cough, look for one that contains the cough suppressant dextromethorphan. If it is a cough that is accompanied by mucus, find cough medicine with guaifenesin, an expectorant, to help loosen the mucus.

A cough or cold that lasts more than a week or is accompanied by a fever may be a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia and should be treated by a doctor. You should seek care from your primary care provider or visit an EvergreenHealth urgent care in your neighborhood for treatment options.

For Itchy Rashes, Bug Bites and Other Skin Irritations

• Aluminum-free baking soda can help reduce the pain and itching of bug bites and bee stings. Mix 1/4 of a cup of aluminum-free baking soda with 1 to 2 teaspoons of water together, and then apply the paste to the area that was stung.
• Antihistamine cream like Benadryl Itch Stopping Cream can help relieve intense itching, or you can try one that combines calamine and an antihistamine.
• A 1% cortisone cream or ointment may relieve a persistent itch that's not treated by the medications above.

If you're experiencing swollen glands, increased pain, swelling and pus in or around the bite, it may be an infection, and you should seek care from your primary care provider or visit an EvergreenHealth urgent care in your neighborhood for treatment options.

For first aid essentials, check out EvergreenHealth's Dr. Funke Wishko's guide on building a complete at-home first aid kit.