Over-the-counter medicines
Posted on 28 August 2020
Guidance from the Northern Ireland Department of Health and the Health and Social Care Board advises GPs not to prescribe medicines that can be purchased over-the-counter by patients when they are being used to treat minor conditions or self-limiting illnesses.
If your condition is long term and you need medicines on a regular basis, you can speak to the GP about arranging a prescription.
Patients are encouraged to self-care and seek advice from their local community pharmacist to help manage these minor and self-limiting conditions:
- Aches and pains (minor)
- Head lice
- Athlete’s foot
- Heartburn and indigestion (mild)
- Cold sores
- Infant feeding
- Colic
- Nappy Rash
- Constipation (occasional)
- Oral health
- Coughs and colds
- Sore throat
- Diarrhoea (occasional)
- Sunscreen
- Ear wax
- Teething
- Fungal nail infections
- Threadworm
- Haemorrhoids (Piles)
- Vaginal Thrush
- Hay fever and allergies
- Vitamins
- Headache and migraine (mild)