Medicines and essential products to keep at home

Painkillers (analgesics) and fever fighters (antipyretic) are among the most-used daily medicines. They quickly relieve fever, headache, muscle pain or the discomforts of common infections. They’re good for treating very common conditions and deserve a special place in our home kit. .

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen

Both are available in solid or liquid forms, to meet your family’s needs.

How to calculate the dose for children?
Doses on the boxes are based on average age, but a more precise calculation is based on a child’s weight. There are many reliable resources available online to help you do the calculation. Be careful not to exceed the maximum recommended dose. Do not heistate to asl your pharmacist for help in calculating the right dose for you.

When someone gets cut in the kitchen or falls off a bike, you often need immediate care to prevent microbial infections. It’s important to disinfect the wound as soon as possible, then put on a protective bandage [3].

For small daily accidents, it can be helpful to keep several basic items handy for cleaning and protecting wounds and promoting good healing:

• 0.9% sterile saline solution for cleaning wounds
  • Available in pharmacies or make it at home, following this home recipe scrupulously with rigorous attention to the proportions.
  • Selection of adhesive bandages
• Sterile pads and rolls of gauze with medical adhesive tape
• Hydrocolloid dressings for blister
• Topical antibiotic cream (e.g., polymyxin B + bacitracin)

Gastro discomfort is common, especially in children, and may start suddenly. Managing it quickly can prevent dehydration and relieve discomfort.

Recommended solutions :

1. Oral rehydration solution (ORS)
   ORS helps prevent dehydration in cases of diarrhea or vomiting. It’s available in packets which need to be reconstituted (offering a longer storage time) or as a ready-to-use liquid solution. There’s also a homemade recipe using water, orange juice and salt. However, it’s important to abide by the proportions of sugar, salt and water, as well as by the dosage, based on the child’s age and weight. t.
2. Gentle laxative, such as polyethylene glycol (often called Lax-A-Day®)
   To relieve occasional constipation, it can be helpful to increase the amount of liquids in the digestive tract. This product should be taken at least 30 minutes before or after any other medications [4].

NB: In cases of repeated vomiting or signs of dehydration, such as dry mouth, tearless crying or scant urine, consult a healthcare provider promptly [5].

Small rashes, itching and insect bites are common. Here are a few essentials to keep at home to relieve the discomfort.

• A neutral, unscented moisturizing cream, to prevent irritations
• Topical hydrocortisone 0.5% or 1% to relieve itching, mild eczema and insect bites
• Aloe gel to sooth minor burns or sunburn
• Insect repellent [6]:
  • Products which contain active ingredients such as DEET, icaridin (picaridin) or IR3535 are effective, but use the right concentration for a child’s age:
    • <2 years: avoid DEET or choose a formulation with a very low concentration, 10% at most. It’s better not to use anything without medical advice.
    • 2–12 years: DEET 10%–30% or alternatives like icaridin 20%.
    • Only apply them on exposed areas, avoiding the hands, eyes and mouth.

Reacting promptly to an allergy (even a mild one) means that discomfort is limited and the situation doesn’t get any worse.

Cetirizine (Reactine®), loratadine (Claritin®) or desloratadine (Aerius®)

Second-generation antihistamines can help relieve the symptoms of seasonal rhinitis or hives. They cause less drowsiness but are also less powerful.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)

First-generation antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine, have long been used to relieve allergic reactions. However, they are known to cause drowsiness and other adverse side effects. That’s why the medical community recommends second-generation antihistamines, which are safer and better tolerated [7]. As a result, diphenhydramine should only be used on recommendation from a healthcare provider, especially in cases of severe allergic symptoms where seeing a doctor is crucial.

Epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen®)

An auto-injector is indispensable for cases of severe (anaphylactic) allergy. It’s crucial to have at least one EpiPen with you, and one at home. Ideally, keep two together in the same place if you’re more than 15 minutes from an emergency centre.

• Lubricant eye drops: They often have a very short shelf life. It’s better to buy them as you need them, except in cases of confirmed chronic, recurrent problems.
• Disinfectants with alcohol: Usually too powerful, they can irritate the skin and slow healing.
• Cough syrups: Even though their sugar content acts as a preservative, they can rarely be stored for more than 2 months after opening. Since cold season comes around again every winter, your cough syrup may no longer be good next year [8].
• Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is no longer recommended for treating fever or pain, since there are more effective alternatives with fewer adverse effects. Aspirin has an anti-platelet effect, which may increase the risk of bleeding, even at low doses [9]!

NB: Don’t use the phrase “baby aspirin” because it can be misleading, implying that there’s a form of Aspirin specifically for children. In actual fact, Aspirin is contraindicated in all young ones because of the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition.

1. Check expiration dates regularly and take any expired products to your pharmacy, rather than throwing them in the garbage. It’s safer, plus better for the environment. There are too many medications in the St. Lawrence River, causing the ecosystem to be out of balance [10].
2. Store items out of the reach of children. A closed box or locked cabinet is recommended.
3. Store products in their original packaging to prevent confusion and to be able to read instructions as needed.
4. Don’t store things in the bathroom. Humidity and temperature variations shorten the shelf life. Choose a cool, dry, dark place.
5. Adapt what you have to your family circumstances. For example, a family with young children will prioritize rehydration solutions and syrups, while an older person may benefit from monitoring devices such as a blood pressure machine.
6. Keep an up-to-date list of your medications and allergies.
7. A nasal spray Naloxone kit will block or reverse an opioid overdose such as morphine, oxycodone, heroin and fentanyl. Free kits are now available in pharmacies [11].

The date indicated by the manufacturer represents the date until which they guarantee the medicine’s effectiveness, provided it is stored in its original, sealed packaging. Once the container has been opened or if a pharmacist transfers the tablets to another bottle, the shelf life may be shorter.

The main risk of an expired medicine is loss of effectiveness, which can delay healing. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist for advice.

Having a well-organized medicine cabinet doesn’t mean accumulating dozens of boxes of medicines. What’s important is keeping a small selection of items suitable for your and your family’s needs. That way you can react quickly to those unexpected things that happen every day, while keeping waste to a minimum and taking care of the environment.

Remember: Your pharmacist is your best ally for advice on choosing and using these products safely.