Pulse Blogger: 10 must haves for your home medicine cabinet

Back then as a child, this drawer was all the healthcare that we ever needed and in actual fact, ever truly received.

I remember growing up in Lagos, my mom had a special drawer filled with all kinds of ‘drugs’ and ‘medicines’ that she would refer to anytime myself, my sister or one of the extended family members felt sick or unwell.

Back then as a child, this drawer was all the healthcare that we ever needed and in actual fact, ever truly received.

Looking back now, what was in mummy’s cabinet?

1. Multivitamins – she had lots and lots of these from the chewable ones to the dissolvable (effervescent) ones and the cod liver oil ones (eurgh! I remember thinking as a child)

2. Paracetamol – I don’t know if it was my childhood innocence or my mom’s confidence but as far as I was concerned, Paracetamol was the be-all-and-end-all for ALL ailments and problems. Cut your hand on a broken glass? Paracetamol. Insect bite? Paracetamol. Malaria? Paracetamol. Diarrhoea? Paracetamol. Bad exam results? Paracetamol (I joke).  I still remember getting the shock of my life when I discovered Paracetamol was actually pronounced /ˌpærəˈsɛtəmɒl/ and not /pa-rasta-mol/

3. Loperamide aka Imodium – Loperamide is a drug that acts at the same place in the body as morphine but without the painkiller effects of morphine because it doesn’t enter the brain. Loperamide basically slows down the bowel movements so that the body can absorb more water and thereby, reduce the water content of stool. This is very beneficial for someone who has diarrhea but will cause constipation in someone who doesn’t.

4. Anti-acids e.g. Gaviscon, Peptac, Alka-seltzer – these come in very hand when you have just eaten a very spicy dish e.g. my personal favorite: ofada rice and ayamase stew. They basically form a protective film or lining on the stomach to help protect the stomach and neutralize some of the extra acidity stimulated by the spicy dish.

5. Plasters & Bandages

6. TCP & Savlon antiseptic

7. “Agbo-jedi jedi” in the fridge

Now as a qualified medical professional, what do I think about mummy’s cabinet and what needs to be in it?

To fully appreciate a home cabinet and what needs to be in one, we must first ask the simple question, what common and simple things am I trying to manage at home? Once you know what it is you are trying to manage, you can work your way backward to figure out what you need. (“Begin with the end in mind” - Habit #2 of Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

Our list is far from exhaustive but any list should include the following:

1. Simple cuts & grazes

2. Headaches & Pain (in general)

3. Heartburn (Dyspepsia)

4. Allergies

5. Cold & Flu

6. Early stages of diarrhea & vomiting

7. Menstrual & Pre-menstrual symptoms

SO what should you stock up on?

1. For simple cuts & grazes, you need to:

   1. Clean the wound using simple GAUZE, clean water (or SALINE) & ANTISEPTIC solution.

   2. PLASTERS – Make sure you have different sizes, waterproof ones, and hypoallergenic ones. Plasters may sometimes need reinforcing with CREPE BANDAGES

   3. Remember, if the wound came into contact with soil or happened as a result of (rusty) metal fragments, seek medical attention.

2. Almost everyone gets a headache at least once a week so PAINKILLERS are a staple in any home drugs cabinet.

   1. The WHO has an analgesic (painkiller) ladder that basically advises you on what painkillers to take and what to take next if what you’re taking doesn’t work.

      1. Step 1 – Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Diclofenac, Nefopam

      2. Step 2 – Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Tramadol, Co-codamol (paracetamol & codeine)

      3. Step 3 – Morphine, Fentanyl, Diamorphine, Oxycodone

   2. Most Step 1 drugs are available over the counter. Co-codamol 8/500 is available over the counter but for stronger doses, you may need a prescription. All Step 3 drugs require a prescription.

   3. For children, CALPOL is a great tasting and effective form of paracetamol.

3. Heartburn happens to Nigerians more than most. Our love for spicy food from ofada stew to pepper soup, peppered snails, and suya means we expose our stomachs to acidity on a regular basis increasing the risk of developing discomfort associated with increased stomach acidity called ‘dyspepsia’.

   1. Over the Counter treatments for this include:

      1. Stomach-lining protectors e.g. Gaviscon, Pepto-bismuth, Rennie’s

      2. Acid reducers e.g. Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Lansoprazole

Having personally suffered from an unfair share of ‘dyspepsia’ probably because of my vigorous love for spicy jollof rice, jalapenos & ofada stew, I now swear by OMEPRAZOLE. Ranitidine is not great – the way it acts on the tummy means that it is not very effective. Lansoprazole works best when taken 30 minutes before a meal (who remembers???). Usually, I have swallowed the first spoon and tasted the serious pepper before remembering to take my OMEPRAZOLE, which works like magic once I take it. I cannot recommend it enough.

1. ANTI-HISTAMINES are the best treatment for allergies. However, allergies are usually associated with a skin reaction e.g. rash, wheal and therefore, some skin ointments or creams may be required. Whilst helping with your allergies, some anti-histamines cross into the brain and make you drowsy which is not good if you are going to drive or work with machinery. I would recommend LORATADINE (non-drowsy) or ACRIVASTINE (non-drowsy & my personal favorite but slightly more expensive). Other options are: CETIRIZINE (mild drowsy), FEXOFENADINE (drowsy) and CHLORPHENAMINE (drowsy)

2. For anyone with cold & flu, you only need two nurses: DAY NURSE & NIGHT NURSE. Both contain painkillers and have anti-fever functions. Day nurse has a decongestant that helps to unblock your nose whilst helping to keep you awake during the day whilst Night nurse has a cough suppressant (stops you waking up from sleep because of a cough) and a mucus breaker so that it’s easier to cough out when you do. What’s more, the cough suppressant helps you get a good night’s sleep too!

3. IMODIUM (Loperamide) works a treat for non-infectious diarrhea e.g. traveler’s diarrhea. If you think the diarrhea is caused by an infection, seek medical attention.

METOCLOPRAMIDE & PROCHLORPERAZINE (BUCCASTEM) are two great anti-sickness drugs. I prefer BUCCASTEM to Metoclopramide because it is harder to take a tablet when you are feeling sick but with Buccastem, you can put it in the space between your top lip and gums where the drug can be absorbed into the blood without you having to swallow and risk vomiting again.

1. Top 4 menstrual & pre-menstrual symptoms

   1. Bloatedness – GAS-X, SIMETHICONE, GREEN TEA, HOT WATER BOTTLE

   2. Pain – MEFENAMIC ACID works great for period pain but also acts a mild diuretic which means you may notice you have to pee more. IBUPROFEN is a great alternative.

   3. Cramps – Mefenamic acid can help with painful cramps but BUSCOPAN is a great alternative for some people.

   4. Nausea – anti-sickness e.g. METOCLOPRAMIDE & PROCHLORPERAZINE (BUCCASTEM)

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