Often we fall sick when we least expect it and are unable to visit a doctor immediately. Many pharmacies are closed on Sundays and holidays. So it is advisable to keep a stock of medicines in your medicine cabinet to help you tide over any medical emergency.

Some of the medicines and accessories you should keep in your medicine cabinet are:
1. Painkillers/ relievers - Paracetomol, asprin, femedol , ibuprofen
2. Milk of magnesia
3.cough syrup  - one dry, one expectorant
4. Cold relief or sinus tabs
5. Antihistamines
Bandages - bandages, plasters, tape, dressings
Thermometer

Care should be taken to check the expiry date of the medicines and throw away outdated tablets and syrups
 

Over the counter (OTC) medicine have the same manufacturing requirements as prescription medications. However, OTC medicine does not include herbal supplements, which are not proven to be effective. They undergo the same quality checks.

However the dose of the effective drugs is lower in the OTC medicine than in prescription medicines. Like prescription medicines, where the patient has to follow the instructions of the doctor, for OTC medicines also, the user has to take the medicines as the directions on the packaging. Usually an error in the intake of the medicine is less likely to adversely affect the health of the user.