What you should have in your medicine cabinet

6. Antiemetics
What they do:
Prevent or relieve motion sickness and nausea and vomiting caused by flu. If flying, take a half-hour before you board your flight.

Generic name/category: Dimenhydrinate. Available as a liquid, tablet or suppository.

Brand names: Gravol; Travel Aid; Travel Tabs

Not recommended for:
Not for use with alcohol. Consult a physician before using with antihistamines, tranquillizers or other sedatives. Avoid giving to children under two unless directed by your physician.

Side-effects:
Some people, especially those taking high doses, may experience drowsiness, dizziness and dry mouth.

7. Antidiarrheal medications
What they do:
Treat symptoms of acute diarrhea. Should not be used in cases of acute dysentery, which is characterized by blood in stools and elevated body temperature. Useful to have for emergencies.

Generic name/category: Loperamide HCL. Available as both a liquid and a tablet.

Brand names: Hydrochloride; Imodium; PMS-Loperamide

Not recommended for:
Children under two; pregnant or nursing women; situations in which constipation is to be avoided (such as people with acute colitis or someone preparing for an operation); or for those allergic to loperamide. If symptoms do not improve within 48 hours, discontinue use and see a doctor.

Side-effects:
Cases of dry mouth, nausea and vomiting are minor and difficult to tell apart from the symptoms associated with diarrhea.

A healthy medicine cabinet
• Check the expiry date before taking or using medications since they all lose their potency over time.

• Go through your medicine cabinet at least once a year and dispose of anything that is past its best-before date.

• Consider moving your medications out of the bathroom medicine cabinet since the heat and humidity there can shorten their shelf life. Better to keep your medications in a lockable dresser drawer in your bedroom.

Read more:
• Checklist: What to ask your doctor
• Ayurveda: Could it work for you?
• Health secrets from people around the world
• Natural headache remedies

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