10 categories for your Medicine Cabinet
I think your medicine cabinet can be a little bit overwhelming so here are a few tips to help keep it organized and ready at all time.
I recommend you take everything out, put it in categories and eliminate all of your expired medications. See this link here as to the best way to get rid of these.
I used these drawers as they fit perfectly in my space however use what works for you. I liked that I could easily pull out the drawer I needed in the middle of the night. I recommend you keep these out of reach of children or pets.
Categorize depending on what you need but these are the categories I used: First aid, Pain relief, Vitamins, Stomach, Children, Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat, Cold, Skin, Misc.
Here are the items I recommend keeping on hand:
- First Aid
- An assortment of Band-aids: you never know what size you might need
- Sterile gauze: This is great for a pressure dressing for a bleeding wound, or to create wet compresses for a burn, these are also great for cleaning out wounds. I recommend buying both 2×2 and 4×4 sizes
- Ace bandage: This can be used to create a pressure dressing or for those minor ankle sprains or muscle strains.
- Wrap: I recommend getting Coban if you can find it. This is a stretching wrap that you can use for wound dressings but it doesn’t hurt like tape when you remove it.
- Antibiotic ointment: Good for dressing wounds. Please be aware that depending on what kind this can cause allergy reactions in a lot of people
- Hydrogen Peroxide or Alcohol: Good for cleaning wounds. Consider keeping vinegar on hand. This can be used for mild swimmers ear or jellyfish stings.
- Superglue: This is a secret weapon for those deeper cuts that won’t stop bleeding. This is very similar to dermabond which we use in the hospital. It will work in a pinch when a wound won’t stop bleeding. Make sure to clean the wound first. If the cut won’t stop bleeding please see your doctor. These need to be sutured within 24 hours and you may need further treatment.
- Pain Relief
- Tylenol (Acetaminophen): Dosing is weight based for children. Print this copy for the inside of your medicine cabinet for quick reference. This doesn’t have anti-inflammatory properties. Do not use if you have liver issues without consulting your doctor.
- Motrin (Ibuprofen): Dosing is weight based for children. Print this copy for the inside of your medicine cabinet for quick reference. This does have anti-inflammatory properties so it is better for sprained ankle or anything inflammatory process. However this can irritate your stomach and is metabolized by your kidneys so it is recommended that you avoid this if you are dehydrated or have kidney issues. Make sure to check what dose you have!
- Vitamins
- This will be person dependent
- Stomach
- Immodium: Anti-diarrheal. This isn’t recommended until age 2 and is weight based as well.
- Tums or Rolaids: good for mild heartburn
- Miralax: good for constipation
- Fiber supplement: to help keep things regular, consider benefiber or metamucil
- Other medications to consider: Maalox, Zantac, pepto
- Children’s
- I have my children’s medications separate from my adult medications but have similar medications.
- Eye/Ears/Nose/Throat
- Lubricating eye drops: For any sort of irritation
- Vinegar: For swimmer’s ear
- Cold
- Dayquil: for adults
- Nyquil: for adults
- Dimetapp: for children
- Thermometer: Ensure that this has the ability for rectal temperature for children under 1 year. If your children are older you can go with another method.
- Cough drops
- Skin
- Aloe Vera: great for a sunburn, I recommend putting this in the fridge to help cool the area
- Hydrocortisone: good for itching or irritation
- Calamine lotion: an old favorite, good for poison ivy/oak/sumac or other irritating skin condition. I would also consider a oatmeal bath for severe irritation.
- Allergy
- Benadryl (Diphenhydramine): This is the gold standard for allergy reaction but can cause drowiness. Dosing is weight based, print this for quick reference. Do not given under 1 year of age.
- Zyrtec: I also keep zyrtec on hand for non drowsy treatment.
- Misc
- Tweezers: I like to have these on hand for tick/bee sting where removal is necessary. Also good for splinters.
