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Key takeaways
With the prevalence of common illnesses like the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19, keeping your medicine cabinet well-stocked is essential.
Single-ingredient medications are recommended over multi-symptom products to avoid overmedication and treatment duplication.
Essential items include cough syrup, pain relievers, throat lozenges, antihistamines, nasal spray, nasal irrigation kits, and medication for nausea and diarrhea. It’s also good to have immune system boosters, masks, thermometers, hydration aids, humidifiers, and at-home COVID tests on hand.
There’s nothing worse than waking up and feeling sick in the middle of the night to discover there’s nothing in the house to ease your symptoms. While it’s always good to be prepared and have a well-stocked medicine cabinet, experts say it’s especially important this year. Americans could face a “tripledemic” this year with the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and new variants of COVID-19 all hitting at the same time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you’ve visited your local pharmacy recently, you may have noticed that many over-the-counter (OTC) cold and flu medications are in short supply. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) attributes these medication shortages to supply chain issues, manufacturing, and quality problems, delays, and discontinuations. Healthcare providers and pharmacists urge you to prepare for cold and flu season now.
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13 medicine cabinet essentials to buy this winter
“Just this week I restocked my medicine cabinet for winter sicknesses,” says Carrie Kreps, Pharm.D., a consultant pharmacist in Birmingham, Alabama. “I’m a fan of single-ingredient products instead of multi-symptom, multi-ingredient medication products because if you aren’t careful, you can easily overmedicate and duplicate treatments by accident.”
Ready to stock your own medicine cabinet in preparation for this winter? Purchase the following:
1. Cough syrup
Guaifenesin cough syrup helps thin mucus that comes along with COVID, seasonal colds, or the flu. Commonly known by the brand names Mucinex or Robitussin, Dr. Kreps says she always has guaifenesin on hand to keep chest congestion to a minimum. Guaifenesin syrup helps thin mucus so when you cough you can expel mucus. It can also help decrease a nagging nighttime cough so you get the sleep you need and you feel better.
However, “OTC cold medicines with decongestants are generally not recommended for children,” says Janet O’Mahony, MD, an internist with Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. Be careful of combination products. “You can give Mucinex DM for cough in adults and children over 12,” she explains. Read the labels for appropriate age and dosing of each medication.
2. Pain reliever and fever reducer
Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen) are the best medications to decrease fevers and body aches, according to Dr. Kreps. When choosing a fever medication for your child, just keep these considerations in mind.
Whether you choose acetaminophen or ibuprofen is a personal preference, but since acetaminophen is also contained in many cough and cold medicines, check with your provider or pharmacist before taking these products at the same time to ensure you don’t exceed the recommended dosage. Read the labels on each medication you take. If it is a combination product, it will often contain acetaminophen. For adults with good kidney and liver functioning, the maximum suggested dose of acetaminophen daily is 3000 mg and for ibuprofen it is 2400 mg.
3. Throat lozenges
Having an itchy, scratchy, sore throat as the result of a cold or the flu isn’t fun, but there are ways to soothe the pain. Gargling with saltwater is a good start. Throat lozenges can also help. Sore throat lozenges are okay for older children and adults to use, says Dr. O’Mahoney. Do not put throat lozenges in your mouth at bedtime. If you fall asleep with it before it dissolves, you can aspirate it into your lungs.
4. Antihistamines
“In my home, we keep antihistamines such as Zyrtec (cetirizine) around to help with sneezing and drainage during cold and flu season,” Dr. Kreps says. While histamine isn’t the major cause of congestion when you have a cold, taking these medications can help reduce the nasal swelling that makes you feel all stuffed up. “Claritin and Zyrtec are okay in adults and children over 12 years old, ” Dr. O’Mahony says. For younger children, talk to a pediatrician and look for a kid-specific formulation. Antihistamines work best when they are taken daily for 5 days or more, so if you routinely have a stuffy nose the same time every year, consider preemptively taking this medication to help decrease your symptoms.
5. Nasal spray
“For someone who feels like their ears are experiencing a lot of congestion pressure, a nasal steroid spray can be really helpful,” Dr. Kreps says. “Using this nasal spray in the nasal passages helps to decrease inflammation and swelling in both the nasal passages and in the nearby ear canal and eustachian tubes.” If sinus and ear problems are common in your household, consider keeping a bottle of Nasonex or Flonase on hand.
6. Nasal irrigation kits
”Every member of my family has a nasal irrigation kit,” Dr. Kreps says. Using a nasal irrigation kit thins thick mucus and often relieves nasal symptoms associated with colds and flu. “One of my favorite ways to speed up getting rid of nasal and sinus congestion and pressure is by irrigating my sinuses two to three times a day,” explains Dr. Kreps. “This is a non-drug therapy that everyone above age 5 can benefit from. I really like the NeilMed Sinus rinse squeeze bottle kit with saline packets, but there are also excellent neti pot kits.”
7. Nausea and diarrhea medication
In the event someone in your family gets a case of gastroenteritis, Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) is a good OTC medicine to decrease nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea. Imodium (loperamide) helps with loose stools as well.
8. Immune system boosters
Dr. Kreps says both vitamin C and elderberry gummies help stimulate the immune system. While vitamin C might not prevent you from getting sick, it can shorten the duration of your cold and reduce the severity of your symptoms. Another bonus, since vitamin C is also an antioxidant, it helps to reduce swollen sinuses. Elderberry is also known for easing cold and flu symptoms. You can also consider taking a vitamin D supplement if your levels are low. One recent study found vitamin D can help protect against COVID-19 and the flu.
9. Masks
Masks became commonplace to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Understandably, they also decrease transmission of other viral illnesses—even within your home. “I don’t think I’ll ever go without a supply of simple surgical masks to use around the house when one of my family members is sick,” Dr. Kreps says. “Wearing a mask and keeping hands and surfaces clean and sanitized prevents sharing colds and the flu with the rest of my household.”
RELATED: How to prepare for flu season
10. Thermometers
Even if you feel warm to the touch, a thermometer is the only way to confirm you have a fever. The CDC classifies a temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher as a fever. While there’s a wide variety of thermometers on the market for home use, Dr. Kreps says the best thermometers are the ones you intuitively know how to use without consulting an owner’s manual.
“Digital oral thermometers with a single button on them are my favorite,” Dr. Kreps says. “They’re accurate, quick, and inexpensive. If you have a small child or a family member with special needs, a no-touch forehead digital infrared thermometer is a wonderful option.”
Dr. O’Mahony agrees that digital oral thermometers are the most accurate option. “The ear thermometers aren’t accurate enough and the older glass thermometers are too dangerous to have around the house,” she says. For infants, the best way to take their temperature if you are concerned about a fever is the rectal thermometer. Infants tolerate having a rectal temperature taken.
11. Hydration aids
When you’re sick, it’s important to drink adequate fluids and to stay hydrated. Your body loses fluids through sweating, diarrhea, and vomiting. Ensuring that you receive enough liquids helps your white blood cells to better fight off illness. “A person who is well-hydrated can heal much faster and get back to normal activities with minimal downtime,” Dr. Kreps says. “Dehydration really slows down and can complicate upper respiratory infections.”
In addition, Dr. Kreps says good hydration keeps mucus and phlegm thinner and makes you less prone to a secondary infection. Staying adequately hydrated also increases the effectiveness of any cold and flu medications you take.
“Be sure to have popsicles, soups, electrolyte sports drinks, flavored waters, tea, even coffee, and the occasional soda on hand,” Dr. Kreps says. “The key is to focus on translucent, water-based, non-dairy fluids as much as possible.”
Dr. Mahony recommends Pedialyte popsicles if you have little ones who are refusing to drink anything else. “Warm liquids are particularly good for sore throats and for thinning mucus and phlegm and also help you stay hydrated if you’re fighting cold and flu symptoms,” she adds.
12. Humidifier
Dr. Kreps recommends hydrating the air you breathe in your home with a humidifier to help with dry sinuses and ease symptoms of colds and flu. Dr. O’Mahony adds that cool mist vaporizers may help with congestion for the younger age groups. Read your humdifier’s owner’s manual and clean it at the frequency and with the appropriate cleaners so that the humidifier does not grow and spew mold into your home.
RELATED: Home remedies for the common cold
13. At-home COVID tests
Since flu and COVID share similar symptoms, Dr. O’Mahony recommends having home COVID-19 tests. “It’s important to know if you have COVID because it may impact other family members,” Dr. O’Mahony says. “For example, if your child tests positive for COVID and then Grandma develops respiratory symptoms, we would know to test and treat Grandma with antiviral medication to avoid hospitalization.”
RELATED: Is it the flu—or something else?
How to avoid getting sick
While there’s no surefire way to avoid getting sick this winter, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk, including:
- Get your annual flu shot and COVID-19 booster
- Wash your hands well (and often) and avoid touching your face
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
- Sleep well
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Exercise regularly
- Manage stress
When to see a doctor
If a cough lasts longer than seven days, check in with your healthcare provider. If you suspect the flu or COVID-19 and are in a high-risk group (65 or older, pregnant, or have a chronic health condition such as heart disease, diabetes, asthma, or chronic kidney disease, or have a weakened immune system, due to AIDS or cancer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend calling your doctor as soon as your symptoms begin. Call your physician day or night. Doctors always have call-coverage after normal business hours. Likewise, if you are an otherwise healthy adult and have a severe sore throat, trouble breathing, or a cough that produces green or yellow mucus, you should talk to your healthcare provider. If you are having respiratory distress, neurologic changes, or chest pain, you may need to dial 911 for emergent assistance.