Health

Evaluating and Restocking Your Family Medicine Cabinet

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 31, 2002 / 8:43 AM EST / CBS

Taking stock of your medicine chest--a family's first line of defense against life's little medical problems. Dr. Emily Senay talks to us about the "must have" basics for the ideal medicine cabinet.

A well-stocked bathroom medicine cabinet is essential for getting us through life's minor medical problems. There are some basic over-the-counter medicines that should be in everyone's cabinet. Dr. Emily Senay takes us through a list of remedies and products to treat cuts, rashes, fevers, headaches, coughs and colds and more. She'll also address expiration dates and child safety.

Maintaining a safe, up-to-date, medicine cabinet starts with the three "R"s: review, remove and restock. Most experts agree, consumers should clean out their medicine cabinets at least once a year.

Expiration Dates

Check all expiration dates. All medicines have a shelf life that can be shortened if the product is improperly stored. Throw away any medications that have an expired use date, that you no longer use or that are no longer in their original containers. To discard medicines safely, flush them down the toilet.

Drug Interactions

Before taking any medication, you should read the label for important information to avoid potential side effects, especially if you're taking several medications at the same time. If you currently take prescription medications, always ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking another medication, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins or herbal remedies.

Storage

Store all medications as instructed on the label. Keep medications in their original containers; which are usually tinted to protect against light exposure. Most medications should not be stored in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat and moisture can cause medication to become less effective.

What Should Be in a Family Medicine Cabinet?

First-Aid--include adhesive bandages, gauze pads, and adhesive tape, for covering wounds. Antiseptic for cleaning cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. Anti-bacterial ointment (Neosporin, etc.), helps prevent infection in scrapes and cuts.

Fever Reducer/Pain Relief--Aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), or ibuprofen (Advil), useful in reducing fever and inflammation and the pain of muscle aches, bruises, and sprains.

Decongestant/Cough Suppressant--for coughs and colds. It's almost flu season, so check the expiration dates. And unless noted, these are for adults only. In kids they can cause side effects like sleepinss, hyperactivity and increased heart rate.

Hydrocortisone--Hydrocortisone cream (Cortaid), good for relieving minor itches and rashes and inflammation from insect bites, minor burns, and other injuries.

Antihistamine--good for allergic skin reactions and itching.

Antacid/Antidiarrheal--Generally only for adults, some of these can be harmful to children. Antacids for heartburn, good for those nights you can't believe you ate the whole thing. Diarrhea is the second most commonly reported illness after respiratory infections.

Syrup of Ipecac--Syrup of ipecac, used to induce vomiting in certain cases of accidental poisoning (always check with poison control center before using).

Thermometer for accurate diagnosis of fever. Tweezers, good for removing splinters and other foreign objects from wounds.