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Over the Counter Conditions
Conditions for which over the counter items should not be routinely prescribed in primary care
Example products for conditions that could be restricted
| Condition/Item | Example products |
| Probiotics | Probiotic sachets |
| Vitamins and Minerals | Vitamin B compound tablets Vitamin C effervescent 1g tablets Multivitamin preparations |
| Acute Sore Throat | Lozenges or throat sprays |
| Cold Sores | Antiviral cold sore cream |
| Conjunctivitis | Antimicrobial eye drops and eye ointment |
| Coughs and Colds and Nasal Congestion | Cough mixtures or linctus Saline nose drops Menthol vapour rubs Cold and flu capsules or sachets |
| Cradle Cap | Emulsifying ointment Shampoos |
| Haemorrhoids | Haemorrhoid creams, ointments and suppositories |
| Infant Colic | Simethicone suspensions Lactase drops |
| Mild Cystitis | Sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate granules |
| Contact Dermatitis | Emollients Steroid creams |
| Dandruff | Antidandruff shampoos Antifungal shampoos |
| Diarrhoea (Adults) | Loperamide 2mg capsules Rehydration sachets |
| Dry Eyes/Sore (tired) eyes | Eye drops for sore tired eyes Hypromellose 0.3% eye drops |
| Earwax | Drops containing sodium bicarbonate, hydrogen peroxide, olive oil or almond oil |
| Excessive sweating (mild – moderate hyperhidrosis) | Aluminium chloride sprays, roll-ons, solutions |
| Head Lice | Creams or lotions for head lice |
| Indigestion and Heartburn | Antacid tablets or liquids Ranitidine 150mg Tablets OTC proton pump inhibitors e.g. omeprazole 10mg capsules Sodium alginate, calcium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate liquids |
| Infrequent Constipation | Bisacodyl tablets 5mg Ispaghula Husk granules Lactulose solution |
| Infrequent Migraines | Migraine tablets Painkillers Anti-sickness tablets |
| Insect bites and stings | Steroid creams or creams for itching |
| Mild Acne | Benzoyl peroxide products Salicylic acid products |
| Mild Dry Skin | Emollient creams, ointments and lotions |
| Sunburn/Sun Protection | After sun cream Sun creams |
| Mild to Moderate Hay fever/Seasonal Rhinitis | Antihistamine tablets or liquids Steroid nasal sprays Sodium cromoglicate eye drops |
| Minor Burns and Scalds | Antiseptic Burns Cream Cooling burn gel |
| Minor conditions associated with pain, discomfort, fever (e.g. aches and sprains, headache, period pain, back pain) | Paracetamol 500mg tablets Ibuprofen 400mg tablets NSAID topical creams or gels Paracetamol Suspension |
| Mouth Ulcers | Antimicrobial mouthwash |
| Nappy Rash | Nappy rash creams |
| Prevention of dental caries | Fluoride toothpastes Mouthwashes |
| Ringworm/Athletes foot | Athlete's Foot Cream Antifungal creams or sprays |
| Teething/Mild Toothache | Antiseptic pain relieving gel Clove Oil Painkillers |
| Threadworms | Mebendazole 100mg tablets |
| Travel Sickness | Travel sickness tablets |
| Warts and Verrucae | Creams, gels, skin paints and medicated plasters containing salicylic acid dimethyl ether propane cold spray |