NHS England has introduced guidance regarding over the counter medication.
Please see below for examples of products we would ask you to buy:
Condition/item
- Probiotics – Probiotic sachets
- Vitamins and minerals – Vitamin B compound tablets, Vitamin C effervescent 1g tablets, Multivitamin preparations
- Acute sore throat – Lozengers or throat sprays
- Cold sores – Antiviral cold sore cream
- Conjunctivitis – Antimicrobial eye drops and eye ointment
- Coughs, colds and nasal congestion – Cough mixtures or linctus, Saline nose drops, Menthol vapour rubs, Cold and flu capsules or sachets
- Cradle cap – Emulsifying ointment, shampoos
- Haemorrhoids – Haemorrhoid creams, ointments and suppositories
- Infant colic – Simethicone suspensions, lactase drops
- Mild cystitis – Sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate granules
- Contact dermatitis – Emollients, steroid creams
- Dandruff – Antidandruff shampoos, antifungal shampoos
- Diarrhoea (adults) – Loperamide 2mg capsules, rehydration sachets
- Dry eyes/ sore (tired) eyes – Eye drops for sore tired eyes, hypromellose 0.3% eyedrops
- Earwax – Drops containing sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, olive oil or almond oil
- Excessive sweating (mild – moderate hyperhidrosis) – Aluminium chloride sprays, roll-ons, solutions
- Head lice – Creams or lotions for head lice
- Indigestion and heartburn – Antacid tablets or liquids,Ranitidine 150mg Tablets, OTC proton pump inhibitors e.g. omeprazole 10mg capsules, sodium alginate, calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate liquids
- Infrequent constipation – Bisacodyl tablets 5mg, ispaghula Husk granules, lactulose solution
- Infrequent migraines – Migraine tablets, painkillers, anti-sickness tablets
- Insect bites and stings – Steroid creams or creams for itching
- Mild acne – Benzoyl peroxide products, salicylic acid products
- Mild dry skin – Emollient creams, ointments and lotions
- Sunburns/ sun protection – After sun care, suncreams
- Mild to moderate hayfever/ seasonal rhinitis – Antihistamine tablets or liquids, steroid nasal sprays, sodium cromoglicate eye drops
- Minor conditions associated with pain, discomfort and/fever. (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain) – Paracetamol 500mg tablets,Ibuprofen 400mg tablets, NSAID topical creams or gels, paracetamol suspension
- Mouth ulcers – Antimicrobial mouthwash
- Nappy rash – Nappy rash creams
- Prevention of dental caries – Fluoride toothpastes, mouthwashes
- Ringworm/ athletes foot – Athletes foot cream, Anti fungal creams or sprays
- Teething/ mild toothache – Antiseptic pain relieving gel, clove oil, painkillers
- Threadworms – Mebendazole 100mg tablets
- Travel sickness – Travel sickness tablets
- Warts and verrucae – Creams, gels, skin paints and medicated plasters, containing salicylic acid, dimethyl ether propane cold spray