Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor and nothing in this article should be taken as medical advice. Please talk to your doctor before using any of the herbs and/or remedies mentioned in this article.
It’s easy to take the power of medicine for granted. We all grew up with the idea that you can just pop a pill and get rid of your cold and flu symptoms, but just a little over a century ago this was completely unheard of.
Back then, people had to live with their symptoms and could only hope they would get better. If you ever find yourself in a long-term disaster without OTC (over-the-counter) medications, you’ll quickly find out how rough it was for them.
The list below is not a comprehensive list of all the medical supplies you should stockpile. Rather, it’s a list of the most popular OTC medications that you can take orally (or in some cases, topically). If you’re looking for a complete list of medical supplies, check out this list.
The medications listed below should take care of all the most common ailments such as allergies, arthritis, congestion, constipation, cough, cramps, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, headache, heartburn, nausea, sore throat, runny nose, vomiting, and more.
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I listed them alphabetically by the most popular names (usually a brand name), but I also included the generic names in parentheses along with links to them on amazon.com since the generic versions are much cheaper and usually just as effective (most of them are made by Kirkland Signature, which I have found to be reliably good).
Before you say, “I hardly ever get sick, I’ll be fine,” keep in mind that during a major disaster you’ll be undergoing a lot of stress which will quickly weaken your immune system. If you get sick and are feeling miserable, you won’t be nearly as helpful to those who depend on you.
Also, since many other people will be stressed out and possibly sick, you could use some of your medicine for bartering.
But don’t just run to the store and start filling your cart with drugs. Stop and think about what you use most and least often. For example, I have a lot of antacids because I tend to get heartburn, but I only have a little bit of Dramamine because I rarely ever get nauseous, even when I’m sick.
Once you figure out which items you use most frequently, add them to your EDC kit, your bug out bag, and your regular first aid supplies.
It should also be noted that some of these items are slightly redundant. For example, Excedrin is just equal parts acetaminophen and aspirin, so you’ll have to decide whether to buy Excedrin or just make your own. As another example, there are many different things listed for digestive discomfort.
That’s because some things work for some people, and some don’t. Everybody is different. Figure out which products work best for you and your family, and stock up on those.
Also, don’t forget to note the expiration dates of your medications. Although they’ll last a while beyond the expiration dates, they will lose their potency over time, so you should keep track of what’s new and what’s old. Now on to the list (organized by the type of ailment they treat).
Allergies
1. Allegra (Fexofenadine) – This relieves all the classic allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and throat, and so forth.
2. Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) – This antihistamine is sort of a wonder drug. It treats all sorts of things including coughing, itching, rashes, runny nose, sneezing, and other allergy symptoms. It’s also great for helping people fall asleep.
3. Claritin (Loratadine) – This also treats allergy and cold symptoms like coughing and sneezing, but it doesn’t make you drowsy. Many people find it to be more effective than Benadryl.
Again, it’s a matter of personal preference. Figure out which of the two you like better, or go ahead and store both.
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4. Zyrtec (Cetirzine) – My wife swears by this stuff. Some people love Allegra and Claritin, but those never worked for her and she had given up on stopping allergy symptoms (which get really bad for a few months every year) until she tried Cetirzine. Everybody’s different.
Cold and Flu
5. Dayquil (Acetaminophen, Dextromethorphan, Phenylephrine) – My favorite thing for cold symptoms such as congestion, cough, headache, and sore throat. However, it won’t stop a runny nose. For that you’ll need an antihistamine such as Benadryl.
6. Mucinex DM (Dextromethorphan, Guaifenesin) – This is great for the kind of colds that cause lots of coughing and chest congestion. Drink plenty of water with it.
7. Nyquil (Acetaminophen, Doxylamine, Dextromethorphan) – This does a good job relieving cold and flu symptoms. However, many people complain about having a “Nyquil hangover” the next day. It’s not as bad as an alcohol hangover, but you’ll feel very tired.
8. Robitussin (Guaifenesin) – This is just like Mucinex DM minus the Dextromethorphan (cough suppressant). If your only problem is chest mucus, this is what you want to take.
9. Sudafed PE (Phenylephrine) – This is just like Dayquil minus the Dextromethorphan, which is a cough suppressant. If all you have is sinus pressure and pain, then this is what you need.
Digestive Discomfort
10. Alka-Seltzer (Citric Acid, Sodium Bicarbonate) – This is a combination citric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and a little bit of aspirin. It’s great for indigestion, stomach aches, and even head or body aches, especially after eating or drinking too much.
11. Dulcolax (Bisacodyl) – These cause bad stomach pain and a very unpleasant bowel movement, but that’s the whole idea. If you’re constipated, these will get you going again. Just make sure you stay close to the bathroom after you take it.
12. Imodium (Loperamide) – Disasters can be stressful, and if you’re also eating food you don’t normally eat, you might become constipated (see Dulcolax above).
Or you could end up with the opposite problem: diarrhea. For that you need Imodium. It’s important to take care of this quickly because you don’t want to get dehydrated.
13. Milk of Magnesia (Magnesium Hydroxide) – This is both an antacid and a laxative. It reduces stomach acid, but it also draws water into the intestines, helping relief constipation.
14. Nexium or Prilosec (Esomeprazole) – Once or twice a year, if I start getting frequent heartburn again, I’ll take this for a couple weeks and it fixes me up.
However, you don’t want to take it longer than two weeks or too many times per year as long-term use is bad for the kidneys.
15. Pepcid AC (Famotidine) – If heartburn isn’t a regular problem for you but only happens after eating certain foods, this is probably the fastest way to get relief.
16. Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate) – This stuff is amazing. It can soothe almost any kind of stomach discomfort (diarrhea, heartburn, indigestion, nausea) by limiting digestive secretions and reducing inflammation.
17. Tagamet (Cimetidine) – Another fast-acting acid reducer. I recommend taking this ahead of time if you know you’re going to eat something like pizza or fried food.
18. Tums (Calcium Carbonate) – If you’ve stocked up on lots of canned food, spaghetti sauce, crackers, and other acidic, high-sodium foods, then you have a recipe for frequent heartburn.
Antacids can make a huge difference. They also treat calcium deficiencies.
19. Zantac (Ranitidine) – If Tums aren’t enough for your heartburn, try this. It also reduces the amount of acid produced by your stomach and works very well for most people.
General Pain
20. Advil or Motrin (Ibuprofen) – An anti-inflammatory that is good for arthritis, back pain, headaches, menstrual cramps, sore muscles, stomach aches, toothaches, and small injuries.
21. Aleve (Naproxen Sodium) – Another anti-inflammatory drug. It works the same way as Advil (reducing hormones that cause inflammation) and treats the same symptoms. Some people think it’s more effective than Advil.
Whichever one you choose to store is a matter of personal preference.
22. Aspirin (Aspirin) – Although it’s not quite as effective as the last two painkillers, one huge plus is its ability to help someone recover from a heart attack. It can also help prevent future heart attacks by thinning the blood.
For that, you need baby aspirin, but talk to your doctor first as it can have negative side effects in some people.
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23. Excedrin (Acetaminophen and Aspirin) – I used to have a friend who got migraines on a regular basis and she swore by this. It’s equal parts aspirin and acetaminophen (250 mg each) and a little bit of caffeine.
24. Orajel (Benzocaine) – The most common usage for this to relieve toothaches. If dentists are hard to come by after a major disaster, it could become very valuable.
It can also be used to treat sore throats, hemorrhoids, sunburns, and other skin irritations.
25. Tylenol (Acetaminophen) – One of the most popular drugs of all time. It can effectively relieve pain and reduce fevers. You’ll definitely want to have plenty of this on hand.
Skin Itching / Wounds
26. Aspercreme (Lidocaine) – This will treat itching, sunburns, and other minor burns. Some people say it even helps with hemorrhoids and sore muscles. It works is by targeting pain receptors and numbing the skin and tissue.
27. Cortizone 10 (Hydrocortisone) – Sometimes, my son gets rashes when playing in the yard, and if it weren’t for this stuff, he would probably scratch until he bled.
Hydrocortisone cream works wonders for itching, and it’s good for eczema and psoriasis.
28. Lotrimin (Clotrimazole) – This cream treats itching associated with bacteria such as jock itch, athelete’s foot, and yeast infections.
29. Neosporin (Bacitracin, Neomycin, and Polymyxin B) – After a disaster, one where you end up clearing debris and making repairs, you’re bound to get some cuts and scrapes. This will help them heal faster and prevent infection.
30. QuikClot Sponge (Zeolite) – This is a sterile mesh bag filled with zeolite beads which help speed up your blood’s coagulation, causing serious wounds to stop bleeding much, much faster.
This is a very important one to have on hand.
Miscellaneous
31. Activated Charcoal (Charcoal) – This is worth stockpiling because of its ability to absorb poisons and remove them from the body. It can also treat gas, diarrhea, indigestion, and can even whiten your teeth.
32. Dramamine (Dimenhydrinate) – This is the best thing for dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Just be warned that it can make you very sleepy. There’s also a non-drowsy kind made of meclizine.
33. Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate) – This is usually used in baths. So why is it on this list? Because Epsom salt can treat sore muscles, soothe headaches, heal sprains and bruises, alleviate tension, and reduce inflammation. It can also be used as a laxative.
Storing Your Medications
To make your medications last as long as possible, be sure to keep them in a cool, dry, dark location. You might be thinking of the medicine cabinet in your bathroom, but that’s actually a bad place because of all the moisture, especially if you have a shower. Instead, keep them somewhere like the back of your closet.
Also, keep your medications in their original bottle, but remove the cotton ball as it tends to pull moisture in the bottle. Other than that, just common sense. Keep medications out of reach of children and consider putting them inside something with a lock.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, the information here is not meant to be medical advice, and many of the statements above have not been approved by the FDA. I’m just sharing my opinion.
I encourage you to do your own research and talk to your doctor to make sure you’re not allergic to any of these medications and to make sure they won’t interfere with any other medications you’re taking.
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Very interesting article, comments, replies, and suggestions. While I’m sure everyone has their own opinions, experiences, perspectives, and ideas on this subject, the only ones that really should matter, are the ones YOU develop after discussing all this information and more with YOUR doctor. Only the two of you are familiar with YOU, YOUR medical history, and YOUR particular situation. (I would also suggest that you do this for each member of your family and their doctor as well.)
After you have developed YOUR LIST(s), then you can determine how you would like to proceed assembling your stock of medication supplies. Your doctor(s) may be able to offer you some ideas on how to do this as well. Just some thoughts.
useful data here about pharmaceutical this website is very useful all information are very useful
I think the author should have sought some professional medical advice before posting this article.
As a retired board-certified PA in family & emergency medicine, I was taught to avoid using combination ingredient drugs as you can no longer control dosages.
I would not use some of these OTC meds. Aspirin for example. I was in school (Univ of Utah Coll of Medicine) when the Coronary Drug Project was promoting 325mg aspirin to prevent myocardial infarction (heart attack). We now know that a full-strength aspirin can initiate a cerebral hemorrhage. Anyone who takes full-strength aspirin knows how difficult it is to stop bleeding from a cut. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen is very effective for fever reduction and ibuprofen is a better anti-inflammatory than aspirin. Another point I noticed is the listing of combination drugs. That is terrible policy. For example, consuming a cough syrup with “Tylenol” and also taking tablet ‘Tylenol could easily result in liver damage.
I highly recommend you have a family physician review this list and revise it according to good practice.
Just my opinion but based on knowledge.
Of course you want her to see a doctor. How would they pay for their huge houses otherwise? Thankfully I’ve been mentally guided through the years to stockpile. I was able to give away and help people through the pandemic. Soon we will have a HUGE shortage on the OTC medications. Not like these little ones so far. I will be able to share in an emergency.
You miss the entire point of the post. The OTC meds are becoming scarce and in a SHTF situation will be impossible to find. The author is simply telling people to have these in your medicine cabinet. People are not as stupid as your presume.
Don’t forget about baking soda for heart burn.
This was a great article. Even though it is not a medicine, l find a great comfort in using nose strips to open up your stuffy nose especially when you have a cold at night. I found out that a good night sleep is crucial in rapid recovery from (minor) illnesses and in the case of having a night cold, l really thing this is a good solution. I wouldn’t travel anywhere without them and l even have a couple of boxes for my kids as they have smaller noses obviously. So throw a box or two in your medical bags, you can thank me later 🙂
There’s a new NSAID Ointment just released I’d recommend adding to the list. It’s called Voltaren (diclofenac sodium), and for me this has been a life saver. I suffered from Advanced Degenerative Joint Disease, and though I’m on a regimen of NSAIDs and opiates, I have a lot of issues with one shoulder in particular. Tried CBD oil and no relief. Slapped some of this on and within and hour, the throbbing backed off. I was amazed at the relief because that throbbing pain debilitated me.
I mix two parts baking soda to one part citric acid to make my own Alka Seltzer. I always have these on hand for baking and canning anyway and I use baking soda daily for cleaning. I get it at the livestock supply store in 20 LB bags. You can also just add a tsp of baking soda to orange juice and it will fizz up. I also keep crystalized ginger I have for baking to use for nausea. Robax platinum isn’t on there but it has a muscle relaxant in it and the only thing that ever take away pain for back and headache pain and muscle pain. Epsom salts is wonderful to relax muscles and draw boils or heal damaged skin (bathing in it). I always keep Aspirin, Gravol and Imodium and Pepto Bismol around for more severe cases but that’s about it. Thank you for the list.
Diflucan and yeast infection OTC meds for women might be a good idea to stock up on.
This is a terrible chemical list…who would want to put that in their bodies???
There are so many natural remedies out there ….you can even prepare some of your stuff….
I’m always shocked that people resort to chemicals directly without looking for an alternative….
Medication is necessary of course …but should be used sparsely and with a doctors permission
Oh gheez: shut up
OK take that s**t and enjoy the pharma lifestyle and WASTES $$
Sometimes there is a situation that one of these is urgent. We all know natural medications take much longer. There could be a severe sudden emergency. These should be stockpiled only for this reason. You think we’ve had shortages????? You’ve seen nothing yet. Open your eyes. Pay attention to what’s happening.
You have forgotten to list medications that women might need, such as Monistat, boric acid, Vagisil, or Midol
If any of you have a vacuum sealer try sealing your meds I cut the plastic sheets or roll to the size I need, seal then reseal in mylar for added protection.
Before stock piling over the counter meds : Make a list , then go to the FDA website and be sure of what the lifetime of the meds are , and most important , can the med ,over time become toxic .
Great article! I’ve been prepping since the 911 attack in 2001. I would suggest raw honey and B-12 for a natural substitute for allergies. Also, peppermint is good for heartburn and asthma too. I have had asthma and realized a battery operated nebulizer would be a good idea. Some spices, like ginger for gastric pain and upset and tumeric is good for inflammation. It healed my dog from parvovirus, too! Essential oils are great for many ailments too. Lavender oil is a great calmer for stress and anxiety. Witch hazel is good for soothing hemmorroids. Look up natural alternatives for your meds. Also, zinc is a natural remedies to prevent colds. I even think muscle and chest rubs are a good thing to stock. Chest rubs also work for pain. I injured my knee awhile ago and tried chest rub just to see how it worked. It worked great! I could go on with my list but it would be way to long. Think of situations that could happen and get prepped. Urge your family and friends to prep. It might save a life!
Hi,
We talk about “cetirizine” not “cetirzine” 😉
Didn’t notice Ibuprofen listed, only thing that works for me, the rest is like candy for all the good they do lol for cuts and scratches regular triple-antibiotic cream does everything I ever need
Ibrufen is the only one thay works for stress headaches I get on the one side of my face
It starts in the neck and goes right up my left part of my face. I have tried everything. Ibrufen and be is all that helps
The only thing I say as “incorrect” was your description of Aspirin. It is not a blood thinner nor does it thin the blood. Its purpose when used in chest pain/heart attack, and following is that it keeps the platelets from sticking together, and creating new or preventing exacerbations of clots. Aspirin comes in the jar at 325mg, and the dosing is (4) 81mg tabs for chest pain/discomfort…which is 324mg.
When walking down the line of cardiac medicines, as this one is most commonly used, please be overly educated about the product you’re preaching. I will agree with the very first comment when she talked about having appropriate medical training. Basic first aid and CPR training are easily and readily available, but at least one member of your group needs to be an EMT at a minimum. If you’re lucky you’ll find a Paramedic, a nurse, or even a doctor that shares your enthusiasm for preparing for the unknown and can be added to your group.
While on the topic of first aid, let’s also consider mental first aid. The stress and fear and uncertainty of any sort of collapse or disaster is going to be one of the hardest things people will go through. Now is the time to start educating ourselves about how we deal with the stress of an event. My go-to is fishing, but when you start relying on those fish to feed your family, even your go-to may add stress and be the thing that breaks you.
There are many natural antibiotic meds and some anti viral and immune supports but there are times that true prescription strengths are needed to overcome something that was once a common killer such as pneumonia. For those times, more thought and planning will pay off.
I still prefer natural plant based meds as much as possible. Many dry herbs and tinctures, oils, et can be stored ahead for quite a while. Some like cascara bark were useless until dry stored for a year or more before preparing for use. Some knowledge and experience in herbals will be the best medicine available in a really long term SHTF situation. First aid courses and real medical training will be called on short or long term. When my daughter was born 40+ years ago there were many trained and licensed midwives. I don’t know how that is now but training could be lifesaving. I’ve had to switch off with my son doing CPR on his dad. This last time I was alone doing CPR. Both times for husbands. Both times worked. There wasn’t time to think or panic.
I told the Dr this last time I think prayers were probably better than my CPR skills. I’d just had surgery on my wrist and forearm so the right hand was pretty useless. He’d sat down on a barstool leaning against the wall. When I realised he wasn’t breathing and I couldn’t find a pulse. I tried to pull him off to be flat on the floor but couldn’t move him. So l pulled him upright the best I could and did left-handed Chest compressions against the wall. I was digging out my cell phone and calling 911 once he was breathing raggedy. Still doing compressions and yelling at him. That was 7 months ago. He’s still here. He had a broken pacemaker lead in the heart. It worked and he has a new lead that was added. Time without a heart beat on pacemaker record was 2 minutes. It had probably stopped just as he sat down. He was suddenly confused, said he felt funny, so walked over and sat down. We were just putting cabinet doors back on after my project painting the whole kitchen. He’d done one and just was started on the second one. That fast you can need first aid training.
When I was working I kept up my certification. The last time I’d used the heartsavers part of the training was 2001. I read about updates but hadn’t recertified in the last few years. The big change now is do the compressions only. Before we did compressions and breaths at a set rate. I just did compressions.
Like everything else to do with survival, training and some practice can save your life or the life of someone else.
Both of these instances would have ment nothing without surgery afterwards but in many cases like a drownding or electrical shock, CPR is enough. Make first aid trading just as important as a good stash of OTCs and prescriptions.
Thought provoking list.
I’m on a perscription. 3x per day. I skip one two or three times a week. Usually the mid day one. I now have almost a month ahead. That would be fine for a little while but not a truly long term problem. I’ll keep doing this and building up a better supply but I don’t find a non prescription answer. Any suggestions for treating neuropathy nerve pain? The med I use is a very common prescription for many different conditions. I also refill as far ahead as insurance will cover to build up a few extra that way. Without the med walking and sleeping become almost impossible. It frustrating since its a common diabetic problem but I’m not diabetic and no cause has been found… Therefore no treatment plan except pills for life.
Search alpha lipoic acid for that. It is OTC.
Are you taking any PPI’s? (Omeprazole, pantoprazole, etc) Long term use of these can cause deficiencies in Vitamin B-12, magnesium, calcium, iron, etc. They are designed only for short term use but people get left on them. Slowly wean off. We need our stomach acid – major defense for body. (Most don’t want to alter lifestyle.) Anyway, Vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neuropathies etc. Magnesium loss can lead to cramping/muscle pain. Ask your dr. To test for these specifically as not common tests. Easy to add supplementation. 1000 mcg B-12 daily. Magnesium: you’ll know when you have too much as you’ll have diarrhea but typically most can tolerate one tab once or twice daily. (Caution for those with kidney failure need lower doses.) Vit B12-we pee out excess.
Ideas for Rxs: if it’s not a controlled Rx, many insurance companies will fill most of them for 90 days at a time especially through discount places that will mail your RX to you. I have had luck with getting my insurance to do this through Costco. Anyway, you cannot lose anything by asking.
2. Sometimes it is possible to replace an RX with an over the counter option or with an herbal option. Personally, I think that it’s probably safer to try this with medicine that says As Needed in the instructions.
With one’s that aren’t as needed what would it hurt to ask your dr. “ in a disaster ( use whatever is common where you are: I am in California so I would say “ like an earthquake or the chaos after one) what else could I take if I happen to be out of this particular RX?” At worst, your Dr might have to research it for you.
As an example of replacing medicine with an over the counter, I take phenergan for nausea with my migraine medicine. It’s liquid. So, it’s not convenient for travel. So, when I went on a trip, I asked my pharmacist if I get a migraine on vacation would it be okay to take Dramamine instead phenergan.
Another idea for As Needed medicine: the way I read it as needed means I decide if/ when I need it and if I need the whole amount. So, unless it’s an extended release pill, I will sometimes try taking half of the dose which obviously allows me to keep the other half
Lastly idea, it doesn’t take a lot of research to find pharmacy websites from India that will sell you non-controlled RXs although the risks of using them seems very high
On the subject of over the counter stuff to stockpile I would add that dog owners should keep baby aspirin around ask your vet how much your dog or cat can take. My vet says my small dog can have half a baby aspirin every 6 hours. It really helped when she got a bee sting on the nose and it swelled up.
Great ideas, thanks for sharing them!
For me the best nausea OTC is Emetrol or the generic. All it is is 3 types of sugar. A tablespoon or two, wait 30 minutes to an hour and ready to go. Won’t do much for serious gut problems like full blown food poisoning. That is a Dr. thing. Do as you wish but natural healing rarely works for me or is inconsistant. St. John’s Wort and bee pollen worked pretty well…..once or twice. Problem may be inconsistent formulation. If I get in a medical issue, I will do whatever. Rx, OTC, or natural
For rx meds keep the info paper that comes with it in your document bag. In a disaster Wal-Mart will fill it for you with that without having to contact your Dr, since they won’t be in the office either.
Great advice, thanks!
OTC meds are easy. What I want to know is what does someone do about Rx meds. Renexa, metoprolol, atorvastatin, Plavix etc. I can pull out 3 or 4 pills from each Rx refill but look how long it would take me to build up a sufficient supply.
Check into ordering fish antibodies pet and bird (pigeon) catalogs Also check natural healing methods get advice from a herbalist many rx meds won’t be available in a shfs.
I have been saving 5 out of a 30 day Rx for years. Have a very nice backup. Will be looking into the animal drugs for my use. Also if you have a pet do the reverse, but clear it with a vet first. My dog and I both use meloxicam….again confer with a vet!!
Most of these drugs can be purchased under a generic name at Walmart for a pittance. They are equal in strength and chemical according to my pharmacist nephew. Pick up two when you are buying one for current use.
I disagree with Neosporin. ‘heals faster’ is their marketing campaign speaking. Neosporin has a petroleum base. As a field medic, the only time I had wounds get infected was when we used neosporin (or similar petroleum based product.)
Conspicuously missing is povidine-iodine.
In a post- apocalypse world, povidine-iodine will do more than anything on the list to prevent infection. It has fallen into disfavor in the modern medical world because some studies indicated it interfered with healing and newer, patented products were suggested instead. Personally, I believe the studies were there to switch to a more expensive alternative.
I have not found anything better in helping stop infections that povidine-iodone. Anyone serious about providing would care should have a gallon or more stored.
I didn’t know that about Neosporin, Thanks!!
I have had good luck (survival school instructor, ist aid instructor) with Neosporin, AND the original (according to my pharmacist- off the record- and I have used it for this myself, twice, successfully) can be used in the eyes to treat an eye infection.
Suggestion. Try Silver Solution. Docs used to use it frequently. Comes liquid and gel.
The major issue with storing these is shelf-life. Aspirin has a fairly short shelf-life. When it smells like vinegar, get rid of it. Ibuprofen stores longer. I no longer keep aspirin because by the time I need it, it has gone bad.
Each of these should be characterized by shelf-life. Some will degrade gracefully – meaning, the potency will decrease linearly over time, others will not. This means if the ‘expiration’ date has passed, those that gracefully degrade will still be good, some more than 10 years past the expiration date.
It will also help to store them in a refrigerator or other cold space for extended shelf life.
i only disagree about aspirin. For me, and many other people I know, aspirin works much better as both a pain reliever and as an anti inflammatory than either advil, aleve, tylenol or excedrin. Don’t downplay aspirin. :o)
I agree, I read that aspirin will last 4 to 5 years past the expiration.
Dept. of Defense did a study a few years back that shown in pill form meds there was over 10 years and still good.) That’s when they ended the study) to save tons of money buying new meds every year.
The end of the study noted there was so little degradation of the meds that many, stored properly, had no real expiration dates (other than what pharmaceutical companies stated with the FDA minimum research behind in)
Aspirin is a chemical copy of willow bark tea. Willow is a common tree but none where I happen to live. The tea relieved pain and lowered fevers. Still, it’s a worthwhile med if you can get it where you live.