Self care with over the counter products
Many common conditions and minor ailments can be treated at home with the support of your local pharmacy if needed.
Over the counter products for self-care are for things like pain relief, cold sores, cough and colds.
These items can be bought from pharmacies and supermarkets without a prescription and are also often cheaper this way. You can get them without an appointment or seeing a GP.
Last year in Lambeth we spent over £1 million on prescriptions for self care products available over the counter.
NHS Lambeth CCG no longer supports the routine prescribing of over the counter products for common conditions and minor ailments that are short term illnesses, and/or will get better with time.
Examples of self care treatments available to purchase over the counter without a prescription:
Acne treatment
Analgesic/pain relief treatment (short term
pain, fever, headache, muscle/joint injury)
Anti-fungal treatment (athlete’s foot, oral and
vaginal thrush, ring worm)
Antiperspirant treatment (excessive sweating)
Cold sore treatment
Colic treatment
Constipation treatment
Cough, cold and sore throat treatment
Diarrhoea treatment
Ear wax remover
Eye treatments/lubricating products
(Conjunctivitis/dry eyes)
Haemorrhoid (piles) treatment
Hayfever treatment
Head lice treatment
Herbal and complementary treatments
Indigestion and heartburn (dyspepsia)
treatment
Mouth ulcer treatment
Nappy rash treatment
Scabies treatment
Threadworm treatment
Topical steroid treatment (insect bites/stings,
contact dermatitis, nappy rash)
Vitamins and minerals
Wart and verruca treatment
For advice and information on how to self care and treat a range of common
conditions and minor ailments visit www.lambethccg.nhs.uk