Between the short showers and heat during the day, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a lot, if not most, of us have started to feel under the weather. Despite carving out time and energy to stay fit, eat healthy and get enough rest, it’s inevitable that at some point in the coming season we’re going to get sick. For those of you who have yet to put together a first aid kit for your home and for your office, now is the perfect time.
Here are 8 important meds that you should stock up on:
8. For tummy troubles
Loperamide or Imodium are time-tested medicines for diarrhea. For constipation, stock up on Dulcolax, which will trigger muscle contractions in the intestines. You could also try Colace (generic name docusate), which allows for strain-free bowel movements by adding water to the stool. Maxcid will also relieve heartburn and gastric hyperacidity.
7. For rashes, bites, and allergies
It’s always a good idea to have a tube of hydrocortisone topical ointment or a bottle of calamine lotion in your first aid kit. In case you get a skin irritation or a bug bite, the hydrocortisone will help heal the skin and the calamine will help the itching and swelling.
6. For cleaning wounds
Betadine and agua oxigenada (hydrogen peroxide) are more than sufficient to clean wounds. Don’t forget to keep bandages on hand as well!
5. For allergic reactions
Your first aid kit should always have antihistamines like Claritin or Aerius. Allergies, especially to food, have been known to manifest even later in life. Better safe than sorry!
4. For pain relief
Ponstan is a must for your first aid kit, especially for headaches and bodyaches. Biogesic is also an option, as well as Tylenol, depending on what works best for you. Aspirin is also a must, but you must make sure never to give it to children, especially infants.
3. For cough and colds
Bioflu, Neozep, Mucosolvan, and Decolgen mostly serve the same purpose when down with a cold. Muconase is also a good nasal spray to have on hand to clear up nasal drip.
2. For fevers
In the event of a fever, ibuprofen is an absolute necessity. As an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), it’s safer to take than other drugs that serve the same purpose.
1. For emergency allergic reactions
Anaphylaxis is a scary thing, especially in children and adults who are unaware what their allergies are. Because the most common allergies that trigger anaphylaxis come from food, it’s highly recommended that you take an allergy test to determine them. Unfortunately, Epi-Pens (which are now required by law in all schools in the US) aren’t available in the Philippines, and only select drug stores carry hizon aminoph ampules (which you will need a sterile needle and syringe to inject). Benadryl can be a safety precaution if you can’t get your hands on an epinephrine auto-injector.
What are the must have medicines in your first aid kit? Share them with us in the comments below!
