medicine_cabinet
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Most of us make sure we always have a good supply of our prescription drugs. But what over-the-counter medicines should we all keep in our medicine chests to treat common ailments? Here is what the experts say:
• 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.
• Activated charcoal, available at pharmacies in pill form, for accidental poisonings.
• A basic eyewash with an eye cup for flushing foreign objects out of the eye.