Top Over-The-Counter Remedies

Dr. Holly Phillips Looks At Pharmacists' Picks According To Recent Survey

(CBS)  In a survey by the American Pharmacists Association, over 1,000 pharmacists picked the most effective over-the-counter remedies for everything that ails you.

Early Show contributor and WCBS-TV's medical reporter Dr. Holly Phillips shared some of the most effective picks with Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith.

"This is great information because we don't need to give everything prescription now," Philips said. "You can go right out to the drugstore and get stuff over-the-counter."

Number one on the adult antihistamines list is Claritin, which used to be prescription-only.

According to Phillips, Claritin blocks the chemical in the body that causes all of those symptoms of seasonal allergies -- that itchy and runny nose that we get in the spring.

The best remedy for poison ivy or poison oak is Cortisone-10.

"Cortisone is a topical steroid," Phillips said. "It's great on cutting down on inflammation and itching. But you should use it sparingly and never on the face and avoid it on children. Many people are sensitive to it."

Tylenol is ranked as the number one adult headache reliever.

Phillips said the benefit of Tylenol is that it is safe in most adults, unlike some of the other pain relievers, such as over-the-counter, Advil or Motrin. It is also linked less to stomach upset.

Although Tylenol is a good choice for most people, Phillips pointed out, "If you have liver problems, you should avoid it."

Prilosec OTC, once prescription-only, can come to the rescue for heartburn and small ulcers in the stomach.

"It actually blocks the release of acid from the stomach wall. And that's how it works," Phillips said.

Emetrol is the top pick for upset stomach or nausea.

"It's interesting. It is a high-sugar medication. And what it does is it stops those spasms of the stomach," Phillips said. "It really calms down the stomach muscles and treats nausea that way. It's also safe in pregnancy."

As a mother of a 12-week-old, Phillips highly recommends Desitin to prevent diaper rash.

"I've been seeing more Desitin than I would ever like to," she said. "This is a zinc oxide cream and prevents diaper rash by creating a barrier to keep out moisture. So, it's a very good product."