What belongs in your medicine cabinet?

Are you prepared for an emergency? Kevin Soden, MD, shares 4 basic items to include in your medicine cabinet to manage anything from a headache to a heart attack.

Transcript

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Hydrocortisone cream-- this is good to have on hand to soothe bug bites, rashes, and topical allergic reactions like poison

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ivy. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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Hi. I'm Dr. Kevin Soden here, with some advice about what over-the-counter medicines you should have on hand at home or while traveling that might

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help in an emergency. I recommend these drugstore basics to get you started. An antihistamine such as diphenhydramine,

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commonly known as benadryl-- this is an oral medication that can help tame an allergic reaction, as well as provide relief from upper respiratory cold

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symptoms. Ibuprofen-- this nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine can help relieve minor pain and reduce a fever.

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Aspirin-- this is good to use if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. It can also help reduce pain and reduce a fever.

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Check with your doctor, though, because aspirin may cause some bleeding in some people. Hydrocortisone cream-- this is good to have on hand

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to soothe bug bites, rashes, and topical allergic reactions like poison ivy. Those are some of the basics.

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Also check with your doctor for any other items you need to keep on hand for your family's specific health needs.