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Pharmacists' Picks of the Top Self-Care Products
James Keagy 2037

Pharmacists' Picks of the Top Self-Care Products

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Self-Care

Pharmacy Today proudly presents APhA’s Self-Care Product Survey. Conducted using scientifically valid methodology, the survey determines those nonprescription products most often recommended by pharmacists in the United States to consumers.

The winners were selected based on a survey of 1,682 pharmacists practicing in the United States who gave their unaided write-in opinions on which brands they’d recommend to patients in 86 categories. The highest share of citations as Most Trusted in the category determined the winner. If the margin of citation share between the leading brands did not exceed the estimate of sampling error at 90% statistical confidence, a tie was declared.

Self-Care Product Survey

Please also see APhAs Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs,the definitive source of professional information about OTC products. The Handbook is available in print in the bookstore at pharmacist.com and online at PharmacyLibrary.com.

The n listed is the total number of responding pharmacists’recommendations for each product category. These data may not be used without the prior permission of the American Pharmacists Association.

Cough, cold, and allergy

Allergic reaction treatment (Adult) (n = 554)
Benadryl67%
Zyrtec6%
Claritin2%
Cortizone 101%
Walgreens1%
Nasal decongestant spray (n = 555)
Afrin43%
Flonase21%
Vicks Sinex2%
Sudafed2%
Ocean1%
Adult cough suppressant — Topical treatments (n = 590)
Vicks VapoRub32%
Delsym11%
Robitussin9%
Chloraseptic4%
Halls4%
Sinus rinse (n = 645)
NeilMed33%
Neti Pot kit13%
Ocean8%
Navage2%
Ayr1%
Cough lozenges (n = 509)
Halls38%
Cepacol18%
Ricola15%
Ludens3%
Fisherman’s Friend2%
Liquid cough suppressant (dry cough) (n = 587)
Delsym43%
Robitussin24%
Mucinex6%
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil2%
Walgreens0%
Cold medication (n = 510)
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil25%
Tylenol11%
Mucinex9%
Robitussin8%
Sudafed5%
Cough, cold, and flu medication (n = 587)
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil27%
Mucinex15%
Robitussin12%
Tylenol8%
Sudafed5%
Adult seasonal allergy relief (n = 635)
Zyrtec34%
Claritin27%
Allegra13%
XYZAL3%
Flonase3%
Cough medication (n = 598)
Robitussin30%
Delsym30%
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil4%
MucinexDM2%
CVS Health1%
Flu medication (n = 598)
Theraflu19%
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil14%
Tylenol11%
Mucinex4%
Alka-Seltzer Plus2%
Liquid cough expectorant (n = 561)
Robitussin37%
Mucinex31%
Delsym8%
Vicks Dayquil Nyquil1%
Equate1%
Sore throat lozenges (n = 655)
Cepacol34%
Halls21%
Chloraseptic8%
Ricola8%
Sucrets3%

Diagnostics

Blood pressure monitors (n = 646)
Omron42%
Walgreens4%
CVS Health2%
FreeStyle2%
ReliON1%
Lancets (n = 487)
OneTouch27%
FreeStyle9%
Accu-Check8%
BD5%
ReliON 3%
Blood glucose monitoring (n = 600)
OneTouch27%
FreeStyle17%
Accu-Check9%
Dexcom5%
Contour Next4%
Digital thermometer (n = 466)
Braun10%
Vicks10%
BD3%
Walgreens2%
Omron2%

Ears, eyes, nose, and throat

Eye drops for allergies (n = 540)
Alcon (Pataday/Zaditor)51%
Visine9%
Bausch + Lomb7%
Refresh3%
Clear Eyes2%
Snoring cessation aids (n = 431)
Breathe Right32%
Nicorette1%
CVS Health1%
SleepRight1%
Eye drops for redness (n = 636)
Visine42%
Alcon (Systane)12%
Clear Eyes10%
Refresh4%
Lumify3%
Snoring treatment (n = 460)
Breathe Right30%
CPAP1%
SnoreStop1%
Walgreens 1%
Smart Nora1%
Contact lens solution (n = 529)
Bausch + Lomb37%
Alcon19%
Boston2%
Acuvue1%
Equate1%
Ear ringing treatment (Tinnitis) (n = 454)
Lipo-Flavonoid16%
Similasan4%
Hyland’s1%
CVS Health1%
Sundown Naturals1%
Earache relief (n = 463)
Similasan14%
Debrox7%
Hyland’s6%
Tylenol3%
Motrin IB2%
Water-blocked ear treatment (n = 531)
Swim Ear21%
Debrox16%
Auri-Dri6%
Walgreens1%
CVS Health1%
Eye drops for dry eyes (n = 547)
Alcon (Systane)25%
Refresh23%
Visine11%
Clear Eyes4%
TheraTears3%

Family planning

Emergency contraceptive pill (n = 595)
Plan B64%
My Way2%
Take Action2%
Aftera1%
Ella1%
Ovulation test (n = 565)
Clearblue25%
First Response6%
e.p.t1%
One Step1%
CVS Health1%
Prenatal vitamins (n = 509)
Nature Made16%
One A Day12%
Stuart Prenatal4%
Nature’s Bounty3%
Centrum2%
Pregnancy testing (n = 628)
Clearblue26%
First Response23%
e.p.t5%
CVS Health1%
Equate1%

First aid

First aid bandages (n = 551)
Band-Aid70%
Nexcare3%
Walgreens2%
CVS Health1%
Equate1%
Sunburn relief (n = 621)
Solarcaine13%
Banana Boat6%
Demoplast5%
Alocane2%
Sun Bum2%
Burn treatment (n = 468)
Neosporin11%
Solarcaine7%
Alocane5%
CVS Health1%
Foille1%
Insect bite/Sting relief  (n = 592)
Benadryl15%
After Bite13%
Cortizone 1010%
Off3%
StingEze3%

Gastrointestinal

Lactose digestive aids (n = 585)
Lactaid67%
Schiff Digestive Advantage1%
Walgreens1%
Equate1%
Kirkland1%
Diarrhea relief (n = 618)
Imodium66%
Pepto Bismol9%
Kaopectate1%
CVS Health1%
Equate1%
Gas relief (n = 572)
Gas-X61%
Mylicon7%
Phazyme2%
Gasex2%
Beano1%
Hemorrhoid relief (n = 571)
Preparation H61%
Tucks7%
Anusol3%
CVS Health1%
Walgreens1%
Upset stomach relief (n = 564)
Pepto Bismol52%
Tums10%
Pepcid Complete4%
Maalox3%
Emetrol3%
Fiber supplements (n = 629)
Metamucil48%
Benefiber12%
FiberCon6%
Fiber One2%
Citrucel1%
Stool softener (n = 545)
Colace48%
Dulcolax12%
Walgreens2%
CVS Health2%
Senna-S2%
Heartburn relief (n = 575)
Tums35%
Pepcid18%
Prilosec OTC8%
Nexium4%
Mylanta3%
Laxative (n = 560)
MiraLAX25%
Dulcolax23%
Senokot7%
Colace6%
Ex-Lax3%
Nausea treatment/Relief (n = 591)
Dramamine-N20%
Emetrol19%
Pepto Bismol10%
Bonine4%
Nauzene3%

Oral care

Toothpaste for sensitivity (n = 591)
Sensodyne72%
Crest6%
Colgate6%
Sensodyne Pronamel1%
Arm & Hammer1%
Cold sore relief (n = 574)
Abreva64%
Orajel3%
Carmex2%
Herpecin-L2%
Campho-phenique1%
Dry mouth relief (n = 619)
Biotene52%
XyliMelts3%
Therabreath1%
ACT1%
Good Neighbor Pharmacy1%
Oral pain relief (n = 610)
Orajel50%
Anbesol8%
Tylenol6%
Advil3%
Motrin2%
Sore gum relief (n = 464)
Orajel41%
Anbesol12%
G.U.M1%
Colgate1%
DenTek1%
Denture cleaner (n = 500)
Polident21%
Efferdent10%
Fixodent2%
Colgate1%
CVS Health1%
Denture adhesive (n = 482)
Fixodent17%
Polident10%
Super Poligrip9%
Sea-Bond4%
PreviDent1%

Pain and inflammation

Migraine headache products (n = 564)
Excedrin Migraine 53%
Tylenol7%
Advil Migraine 5%
Motrin IB 2%
Aleve1%
Headache relief (n = 549)
Excedrin26%
Tylenol25%
Advil16%
Aleve6%
Motrin5%
Back pain relief (n = 553)
Aleve13%
Advil9%
Salonpas9%
Tylenol7%
Motrin IB6%

Pediatrics

Children’s cough, cold, and flu (n = 488)
Children’s Mucinex15%
Children’s Dimetap12%
Children’s Tylenol11%
Children’s Robitussin10%
ZarBee’s Naturals3%
Children’s allergic reaction treatments (n = 556)
Children’s Benadryl63%
Children’s Claritin7%
Children’s Zyrtec6%
CVS Health1%
Equate1%
Children’s multivitamins (n = 556)
Flintstones38%
Centrum5%
One A Day Kids4%
L’il Critters3%
OLLY2%              
Children’s topical cough suppressant (n = 507)
Vicks VapoRub33%
Children’s Delsym7%
Children’s Robitussin6%
Children’s Mucinex2%
ZarBee’s Naturals2%
Colic relief (n = 491)
Mylicon13%
Little Remedies4%
Gerber3%
Hyland’s2%
Mylanta1%
Children’s seasonal allergies (n = 567)
Children’s Claritin36%
Children’s Zyrtec30%
Children’s Benadryl5%
Children’s Allegra4%
Children’s Flonase1%
Sunscreen for kids (n = 584)
Coppertone21%
Banana Boat14%
Neutrogena12%
Aveeno Baby6%
Blue Lizard2%
Children’s cough medication (n = 562)
Children’s Delsym21%
Children’s Robitussin16%
Children’s Mucinex9%
Children’s Dimetapp9%
ZarBee’s Naturals6%
Children’s cold medication (n = 543)
Children’s Dimetapp18%
Children’s Tylenol14%
Children’s Mucinex11%
Children’s Robitussin6%
Zarbee’s Naturals4%

Supplements

Adult multivitamin (n = 588)
Centrum43%
One A Day17%
Nature Made7%
Vitafusion2%
Nature’s Bounty1%
Memory support supplement (n = 497)
Prevagen30%
Neuriva4%
Nature Made2%
Focus Factor1%
Nature’s Bounty 1%
Menopause supplement (n = 473)
Estroven24%
Nature Made2%
Nutrafol1%
Nature’s Bounty1%
Walgreens1%
Vitamin D supplement (n = 581)
Nature Made30%
Nature’s Bounty10%
CVS Health2%
Spring Valley 2%
Kirkland1%
Joint supplement (n = 598)
Osteo Bi-Flex23%
Schiff Move Free6%
Cosamin DS4%
Nature Made3%
Kirkland2%
Omega-3 supplement (n = 497)
Nature Made20%
Nature’s Bounty7%
MegaRed3%
Nordic Naturals3%
CVS Health2%
Probiotic supplement (n = 578)
Culturelle24%
Align Probiotic11%
Florastor9%
Florajen8%
Nature Made2%
Weight loss aid (n = 457)
Alli13%
Hydroxycut2%
Slimfast2%
Diurex1%
Align1%
Immune system booster (n = 526)
Emergen-C21%
Airborne11%
Nature Made3%
Zicam3%
Nature’s Bounty2%
Vitamin C supplement (n = 557)
Nature Made23%
Emergen-C15%
Nature’s Bounty6%
CVS Health3%
Walgreens2%
Eye vitamins (n = 572)
PreserVision26%
Ocuvite21%
Bausch + Lomb3%
Icaps2%
Nature Made1%
Magnesium supplement (n = 586)
Nature Made21%
Mag-Ox 40017%
SlowMag MG5%
Nature’s Bounty4%
CVS Health2%
Iron supplement (n = 584)
Nature Made16%
Feosol14%
Slow Fe9%
Nature’s Bounty3%
Walgreens3%
Calcium supplement (n = 636)
Nature Made13%
Caltrate13%
Citracal12%
Os-Cal11%
Tums3%

Topicals

Scar treatment (n = 548)
Mederma49%
ScarAway2%
Bio-Oil2%
CeraVe1%
Cicatricure1%
Lice treatment (n = 498)
Nix49%
RID13%
Walgreens1%
Skilice1%
Licefree Spray1%
Topical pain relief (n = 527)
Voltaren26%
Aspercreme10%
Icy Hot7%
BIOFREEZE6%
Salonpas6%
Athlete’s foot treatment (n = 535)
Lotrimin30%
Lamisil19%
Tinactin10%
Dr. Scholl’s2%
CVS Health2%
Stretch mark treatment (n = 472)
Mederma18%
Palmer’s 11%
Bio-Oil7%
Mother’s Friend1%
Equate1%
Sunscreen (n = 567)
Neutrogena23%
Coppertone18%
Banana Boat10%
Sun Bum3%
Aveeno2%
Toe/Foot/Nail antifungal treatment (n = 453)
Lotrimin16%
Lamisil14%
Fungi Nail6%
Tinactin4%
Kerasal4%
Eczema relief (n = 504)
Aveeno14%
Eucerin14%
CeraVe9%
Aquaphor3%
Gold Bond2%

Women’s health

Yeast infection treatment (n = 632)
Monistat58%
AZO4%
Diflucan One1%
Walgreens1%
CVS Health1%
UTI prevention (n = 474)
AZO 49%
Cystex2%
Uristat Ultra1%
Monistat1%
UTI-Stat1%

Other

Incontinence products (n = 516)
Depend32%
Poise7%
Always2%
TENA2%
Walgreens1%
Sleep aid (n = 568)
Unisom23%
Benadryl11%
Vicks ZzzQuil7%
Nature Made2%
Sominex2%
Smoking cessation (n = 600)
Nicorette32%
NicoDerm23%
Nicotrol3%
CVS Health2%
Equate1%

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