Peeking inside somebody’s medicine cabinet is a no-no, which is a big part of what makes poking around all those tubes and bottles so tempting. (Still, don’t. It’s not only rude, but also an egregious violation of privacy.) But what if someone were to invite you into their medicine cabinet, and then took it a step further by showing you the items they swear by for every ailment under the sun? Fabulous!
In service of bringing you that exact experience, we asked nurses — and, truly, who better than nurses? — to tell us what they always keep stocked in their medicine cabinets. And any items you can’t do without? Let us know in the comments.
(Responses have been edited for length and clarity.)
Hanna Weitzman-Flanigan, a nurse practitioner in New York City
Tylenol is the universal answer. Headache? Tylenol. Sore back after a 12-hour shift? Tylenol. Low-grade fever? You guessed it. It’s the “don’t overthink it” solution — reliable, effective and always within reach.
Rubbing alcohol is one of those quiet MVPs. Need to clean a cut? Done. Disinfect something quickly? Easy. Somehow get marker, sticker residue or who knows what on your skin? Rubbing alcohol has entered the chat. I love it because it’s simple and it works without fuss.
I use Band-Aids for almost everything. Paper cut, kitchen nick, blister from new shoes … it’s getting a Band-Aid. Part comfort, part prevention, all habit.
Benadryl cream is a favorite for all the annoying things — bug bites, mystery rashes, skin that just suddenly decides to act up. It’s the “Why is this itchy, and how do I make it stop immediately?” solution. And it usually works.
Vicks VapoRub is basically magic. Congestion? Vicks. Cough? Vicks. Headache, sore muscles, questionable life decisions? Somehow … also Vicks. It’s part remedy, part nostalgia and 100 percent a staple in my home.
Zac Shepherd, an intensive care unit travel nurse
Electrolytes. I keep these around because they’re useful in a lot more situations than people realize. Travel, stomach bugs, heat, long days, hard workouts or simply not drinking enough water. As an ICU nurse, I’ve seen firsthand how much electrolyte imbalances can affect the body. That said, more isn’t always better — don’t take them just for the sake of taking them. Electrolytes that are too high can be just as dangerous as electrolytes that are too low.
Vaseline. It’s not exciting, but I probably use it more than anything else on this list. Dry skin, chapped lips, minor cuts, irritated skin. There’s always a tub of it somewhere in my house.
A blood pressure cuff. Working in the ICU has made me appreciate having objective information. If something feels off, getting a useful piece of data like your blood pressure can help you decide what to do next. Checking it periodically can also help you understand what’s normal for you, especially if white coat syndrome tends to make you run higher at the doctor’s office or hospital.
Ibuprofen (Advil). It’s a staple for a reason. Headaches, sore muscles, back pain, minor injuries. It’s one of those things that has a permanent spot in my medicine cabinet. When appropriate, alternating it with Tylenol can be a very effective way to manage pain.
Jennifer Armendariz, a nurse practitioner in Texas
Oscillococcinum is a homeopathic product that I keep on hand at all times. As soon as someone starts to feel a cold coming on, we start taking it.
Excedrin migraine. My daughter and I both suffer from migraines. I keep this at home and in my purse.
Magnesium glycinate to help with sleep. I will also pair Excedrin and magnesium when I have a headache.
Arnica ointment for any bruising to help speed up the healing process.
Aloe vera gel is especially helpful during the summer if you’re out in the sun too long. The plant is best, but you can get the gel as well.
Icy Hot or Biofreeze are great for muscle aches or joint pain.
Bonnie Fecowicz, a registered nurse in New Hampshire
Aleve, cortisone cream, Band-Aids and antidiarrheal meds. Nothing impairs you more than having to find a bathroom frequently! I used to host teenagers and young adults for summer vacations, and no matter what they were up to the night before, these things got them through the next day.
Louis Joseph, a neonatal ICU nurse in Chicago
Castor oil. It helps with digestion, skin care, hair care, hair growth. I was born in Haiti, and it’s something everyone keeps in their home.
Vicks VapoRub. When you rub it on your chest or under your nose, all that menthol and the minty smell help to open your sinuses. It warms and cools your skin, and it seems as if it can fix anything, like a headache, a cold or a stuffy nose. It may be a superstitious thing, but someway, somehow it helps you feel better.
Baby aspirin. It’s good for treating pain, and it’s an antiplatelet.
Albuterol inhaler for asthma. Cold and flu medication. Tums.
Also, in my backpack that I take everywhere, I carry a mini medicine cabinet that has baby aspirin, cough drops, acetaminophen (Tylenol), a blood pressure cuff, a stethoscope, an ophthalmoscope and emergency albuterol. There are a lot of kids in the city and in my neighborhood with asthma because of air pollution. So I like to keep things around just in case. Everyone around me knows that I’m the go-to for anything.
Diane Plas, a family nurse practitioner in Texas
Second-generation antihistamines, like loratadine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra) or levocetirizine (Xyzal), are multipurpose medicines. When the weather changes, when a wind storm blows in or when new flora blooms, they come to the rescue to treat troubling allergies. You can also grab these antihistamines to treat itchy skin and rashes caused by allergies, and they also come in handy for skin breakouts due to new cosmetics and self-care items, irritation from certain fabrics, food allergies and pet allergies. It’s best to have antihistamines on hand year-round.
I always have a trio of meds to cover all GI issues: Gaviscon — you want something quick and chewable to help with heartburn, indigestion and GERD. An antidiarrheal may not be needed very frequently, but when you need it, you need it! No one wants to go out to the pharmacy during a bout of this type of tummy trouble. Stool softeners like Colace or Miralax that pull water into the bowel without a stimulant. You can ensure everything keeps moving without the dramatics of a stimulant. This is also great for travel.
Antifungal cream for itchy rashes along toes, underarms and skin folds. They often increase in hot, humid and sweaty areas and can be very bothersome. Treating these rashes quickly helps prevent them from spreading.
You can put hydrocortisone on so many trouble spots. It will help with inflammation and itchy areas due to contact dermatitis, allergies and yeast.
Jessica Varghese, a registered nurse in New York
Vicks VapoRub is my go-to solution for everything. From headaches, to chest congestion, to general uneasiness, Vicks is the remedy. When I was pregnant, the smell even helped my nausea. It’s the answer to many ailments.
I carry Benadryl in my purse and have used it in emergency situations in the community. Benadryl can be used when there is some type of allergic reaction. Having a child with an egg allergy, it has come in handy when certain things you don’t account for have egg, such as brioche or certain ice creams. It can also be used to help with itching, induce sleep or as a treatment for hay fever.
Tweezers. Someone is always getting something stuck somewhere. It’s very helpful for splinter removal, ticks and bee stings, which happen a great deal outdoors.
Chai calms you from the inside out (I usually store that in my kitchen cabinet, not my medicine cabinet, but it still serves the same medicinal purpose). I make it with ginger and cardamom, and it is very therapeutic for healing.
Pam Vollmer, a registered nurse in Florida
Fever reducer. Acetaminophen is the best choice here.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory. I prefer ibuprofen for this, but naproxen (Aleve) is another excellent over-the-counter choice. Doses of ibuprofen range from 400 to 800 mg. My rule of thumb is that if the pain I have is not bad enough to need an 800-mg dose, then I don’t take anything at all.
Antihistamine for severe reactions. My go-to for this is diphenhydramine (Benadryl). The antihistamine kept on hand should be something that can treat allergic emergencies, not simply daily or seasonal type allergies.
Sandra Russo, a registered nurse in New York City
Two pain relievers: plain acetaminophen and plain ibuprofen, both in one standard strength so nobody has to squint at labels when they don’t feel well. If someone has a low‑grade fever, a headache or just feels achy, we start with acetaminophen. If it’s something clearly inflamed, like a twisted ankle, a sore back after too much lifting or dental pain, that’s when I pull out the ibuprofen.
There’s always a nondrowsy antihistamine (I usually buy cetirizine), a small bottle of diphenhydramine and a tube of 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. Between those three, we’ve gotten through bug bites, surprise rashes from who‑knows‑what and random hives that show up right before bed. Aloe gel and a battered bottle of calamine lotion live there, too, because in the summer someone is always coming home sunburned or bitten.
For stomach and “I knew that second slice was a bad idea” problems, I keep chewable antacids, loperamide (Imodium) and a couple of electrolyte drinks or powder packets.
If there’s a bug going around, I add honey, throat lozenges and saline spray to the rotation before I reach for anything stronger.
And because the nurse part of my brain never fully clocks out, there’s a small first aid box tucked nearby — containing bandages in too many sizes, gauze, tape, antibiotic ointment, alcohol wipes, tweezers, a tiny pair of scissors, gloves — and a reusable ice pack waiting in the freezer.
A plain digital thermometer is the unsung hero of the whole setup. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the thing I reach for first.
Veneta Simone Easter, a registered nurse in California
I find myself always reaching for the following three things again and again that I will always recommend having. Witch hazel should be a staple for everyone because it’s so versatile. It can be used to soothe irritated skin, calm any redness, refresh your skin when needed. It’s also great if you get a bug bite or a minor scrape as it gives you fast relief. This product is inexpensive and simple, and I highly recommend it.
Medical–grade hyaluronic acid is great in the serum form, and for skin care this is my top recommendation. No better way to get healthy, hydrated skin. A quality serum helps maintain and protect the skin’s barrier, gives you instant hydration and can be used for all skin types. A win-win for everyone.
Sunscreen is next, and this is nonnegotiable! Go for a mineral sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for daily sun protection and use. This product will help prevent premature aging, hyperpigmentation and, of course, protect your skin from sun damage.
Jeff Doucette, a chief nurse officer in Pennsylvania
The three must-haves in my medicine cabinet are a tub of CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for all the handwashing and rehydrating; it’s second to none! Lumify eye drops: With all my travel, something to clear up red eyes from flights and different hotels, no day starts without a couple of drops. SPF 30 light facial moisturizer: No face should leave the house without it.
Karen Selby, registered nurse and patient advocate in Florida
I always have a supply of the classic first aid kit essentials: burn cream, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, antacids and Tylenol. But in addition to those, I always have a supply of Tegaderm transparent dressing. This is a great way to keep wounds clean and dry, especially in the summer months.
Another must-have is some type of woven sleeve bandage, which is perfect for keeping those scraped knees and elbows clean and covered.
Jessica Wise, a licensed practical nurse in Pennsylvania
Burn gel is crucial to stop wounds from continuing to burn and blister.
Saline wound wash as a “hurt free” rinse for boo-boos. My kiddos think it’s magic! Butterfly dressings to help keep wounds/cuts closed.
A Dechoker helps remove foreign objects from airways — you will never know when you need it!
All the Band-Aids: every shape, size, color and character of Band-Aids, because the kids go through 100 a day, even if they aren’t actually needed.
Fedline Lysius, a senior nurse clinician in New York City
A heating pad is one of my go-to recommendations because it can provide soothing relief for muscle tension, menstrual cramps, back pain and stress-related tightness.
I keep oral rehydration packets on hand, as they can be especially helpful during illness, after travel, following strenuous activity or any time dehydration contributes to fatigue, headaches or dizziness.
I swear by aromatherapy rollers containing ingredients such as peppermint. Many people find these useful for easing tension headaches, promoting relaxation and creating a sense of calm during stressful moments.
Another favorite is a simple stress ball, which can serve as a practical mindfulness tool by helping release nervous energy, improve focus and encourage grounding during periods of stress and overwhelm.
The post Here are the at-home medical items nurses swear by appeared first on Washington Post.
