We know you are doing good on toilet paper rolls and cereals; but how about your first aid kit? If there is hardly anything other than a roll of Disney princesses band aid and tweezers you most commonly engage for plucking your eyebrows, it is time for an update. Bear with us to learn which essential items needs to be added to make it to the end of this dramatic winter.
Against seasonal ailments, customers of popular online pharmacies seem to prefer “classic” remedies, primarily vitamin C, but also paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid, or supplements based on echinacea and zinc.
Like every year the go-to products against colds and flu disorders are in trend: from vitamin C, which are preferred in the form of effervescent tablets than chewable, aspirin, paracetamol, but no longer alone but combined with nose decongestants. Since the ‘natural’ trend is very much in vogue, sales are driven precisely by simple vitamin C, or acerola, or even in supplements that combine it with zinc, echinacea and other principles that stimulate the immune system.
However, the pharmacists’ advice is to “not exceed in the intake of these products, which are not candies: it depends on what you are taking, but in general you should not exceed a couple of doses a day, and in the case of aspirin always take care to take it on a full stomach, as it is gastrically damaged. Finally, do not exceed 3-4 days of treatment: if the illness continues, you should go see a doctor – a simple but very effective tip from Canadian pharmacy generics that everyone will find rewarding.
Compared to last year, the specialists of Canadian pharmacy generics note that in general a small increase in consumption. But fortunately, as far as medicines are concerned, Italians buy them when they are needed: offers and discounts on these products do not have much appeal for citizens. Shoppers buy drugs whenever there is a need for those, otherwise they spend their money in other ways.
The trend is confirmed by one of the largest pharmacies: vitamin C remains highly sold – they say from the North Rome presidium – both in chewable and effervescent tablets. Patients enter already convinced that they want to buy it or in many cases pharmacists recommend it as a remedy to strengthen the immune system. Paracetamol combined with nasal decongestant active ingredients and propolis are also very popular.
One of the trends is precisely that of resorting to paracetamol – one of the best-selling active ingredients – but combined with other substances such as nasal decongestants and the same vitamin C”. Next up on the bestseller list, acetylsalicylic acid, also associated with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), anti-inflammatories based on ibuprofen, and among the supplements obviously those with an immunostimulating effect.
On the supplementation front, the most popular products are those based on vitamin C, royal jelly, zinc, echinacea, and multivitamins. The list of the most requested items for the upcoming winter 2020 also includes various types of thinners and products for dry cough and nasal lavages with saline water. But these days when gastroenteritis picks up, pharmaceutical vendors observe an increase in requests for anti-nausea and vomiting, as products based on a set of salts and lactic ferments.
As you can see, a medicine cabinet for the winter does not require who knows how many medicines. A few are enough to be able to face the winter troubles from their first onset. Check which of these drugs you are missing and integrate them into your medicine drawer. Do you have the drugs from the list below?
Cold medications
Stuffed or runny nose, sneezing and mild headache are typical symptoms of a cold or rhinitis. Inflammation of the nasal mucosa is mainly due to viruses that take root when you are more exposed to frequent changes in temperature. If it is not accompanied by a high fever, a cold can be treated with the help of some over-the-counter medications, which we suggest you always keep at home just in case. The most effective cold medications are:
- Aspirin
- Paracetamol
- Complexes of paracetamol, decongestant and antihistamine
To intervene immediately against cold symptoms, the adult dosage of aspirin and paracetamol is one 500 mg tablet after the two main meals. The dosage of paracetamol for children, on the other hand, must be commensurate with age.
Over-the-counter antipyretic drugs
It may happen that the attack of winter viruses is quite violent and immediately lead to a medium-sized fever. Especially when you have urgent work commitments, resorting to antipyretics can be a solution to bring down the fever quickly. Among the medicines for the winter that should never be missing at home, we suggest that you keep antipyretic tablets or suppositories in the medicine cabinet. Here are the main pharmacological remedies for cold fever:
- Paracetamol
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
The dosage of these drugs depends on the mg of active ingredient contained in each tablet or suppository and on the age and weight of those who take them. Normally, fever tablets are taken every 6 to 8 hours. Every 8 hours a 1000 mg tablet and every 6 the 500 mg tablet and only in cases where the temperature exceeds 38.5 degrees. Warning: never give aspirin tablets to children under the age of 12, to avoid Reye’s syndrome. For them, always consult your doctor or pediatrician.
Medicines for sore throat
Another annoying ailment of winter is sore throat, which manifests itself with burning, difficulty in swallowing and pain in the pharynx. As soon as symptoms appear, you can resort to anti-inflammatory drugs for sore throats, such as aforementioned paracetamol and ibuprofen.
OTC remedies for rheumatic pains
With the cold and the increase in humidity, winter also brings pains to the bones and muscles. You have difficulty moving, you feel pain if you take some positions and you feel stiff ligaments. The drugs for rheumatic pain, therefore, are those that act on the malaise as pain relievers, anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants. To deal with the first signs of rheumatism, there are specific winter medicines for bones and muscles. Among these, the most effective are:
- Ibuprofen
- Naproxen
- Aspirin
- Diclofenac
Medicines for otitis without prescription
Due to humidity or cold air blows to the ears, among the winter ailments we cannot forget otitis. The inflammation of the ear canal can be addressed instantly with oral painkillers or analgesic drops to be inserted into the ear after making them lukewarm. However, since this is an infection that can have varying degrees of severity and can lead to serious consequences, our advice is to have a general practitioner or specialist checked.
Cough syrup
Let’s finish our list of medicines for the winter to keep at home with syrup for cough. Supplements based on antioxidants are highly sought after. And there is also a slice of customers who resort to herbal remedies such as herbal syrups, with a mucolytic and sedative effect. Propolis is often purchased. Another classic of this type for the winter period is fermented papaya. And, again, there are those who ask for pineapple extract to boost the immune system. There are always those who rely on homeopathic products, for example snail syrup against coughs. We had to double-check this latter. What’s your take on it?
