Pharmacy Today proudly presents APhA’s Self-Care Product Survey. Conducted by BrandSpark/Newsweek International using a 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 1,716 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. Duplicate numbers represent a tie.
Please also see APhA’s Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs, the definitive source of professional information about OTC products. The Handbook is available online at PharmacyLibrary.com or in print in the bookstore at www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Books.
These data may not be used without the prior permission of APhA.
Cough, cold, and allergy
Adult allergic reaction treatment
Benadryl................................................ 1
Adult seasonal allergy relief
Zyrtec.................................................... 1
Claritin................................................... 2
Allegra................................................... 3
Cough lozenges
Halls...................................................... 1
Cepacol................................................. 2
Ricola.................................................... 2
Cough, cold, and flu multisymptom relief
Vicks Dayquil/Nyquil........................... 1
Mucinex................................................ 2
Robitussin............................................. 2
Tylenol.................................................. 2
Liquid cough expectorant
Robitussin............................................. 1
Mucinex................................................ 2
Liquid cough suppressant
Delsym.................................................. 1
Robitussin............................................. 2
Nasal decongestant spray
Afrin...................................................... 1
Flonase.................................................. 2
Natural cold remedy
Zicam.................................................... 1
Sinus rinse
NeilMed................................................ 1
Sore throat lozenges
Cepacol................................................. 1
Halls...................................................... 2
Chloraseptic.......................................... 3
Vapor therapy
Vicks Vapo............................................ 1
Diagnostics
Blood glucose monitors
OneTouch.............................................. 1
FreeStyle............................................... 2
Accu-Check........................................... 3
Blood pressure monitors
Omron................................................... 1
Nontouch digital thermometer
Braun.................................................... 1
Vicks..................................................... 2
Ears and eyes
Adult earache relief
Similasan.............................................. 1
Debrox.................................................. 2
Hyland’s Naturals..................................2
Contact lens solution
Bausch + Lomb..................................... 1
OPTI-FREE Puremoist......................... 2
Eye drops for pink eye
Similasan.............................................. 1
Visine.................................................... 2
Eye vitamin
PreserVision.......................................... 1
Ocuvite.................................................. 2
Multisymptom eye drops
Visine.................................................... 1
Systane................................................. 2
Family planning
Condom
Trojan.................................................... 1
Pregnancy test
Clearblue............................................... 1
First Response....................................... 1
e.p.t....................................................... 2
First aid
Bandages
Band-Aid............................................... 1
Burn treatment and relief
Neosporin.............................................. 1
Sunburn relief
Solarcaine............................................. 1
Banana Boat.......................................... 2
Gastrointestinal
Diarrhea relief
Imodium............................................... 1
Fiber supplement
Metamucil............................................. 1
Benefiber............................................... 2
Gas relief
Gas-X.................................................... 1
Heartburn relief
Tums..................................................... 1
Pepcid................................................... 2
Hemorrhoid relief
Preparation H........................................ 1
Laxative
Dulcolax................................................ 1
MiraLAX............................................... 2
Nausea treatment/Relief
Dramamine-N....................................... 1
Emetrol................................................. 1
Pepto Bismol........................................ 2
Stool softener
Colace................................................... 1
Dulcolax................................................ 2
Upset stomach relief
Pepto Bismol........................................ 1
Tums..................................................... 2
Oral care
Cold sore relief
Abreva................................................... 1
Dry mouth relief
Biotene.................................................. 1
Oral pain relief
Orajel.................................................... 1
Tylenol.................................................. 2
Pain and inflammation
Back pain relief
Advil..................................................... 1
Aleve..................................................... 1
Tylenol.................................................. 2
Rapid headache relief
Excedrin................................................ 1
Tylenol.................................................. 2
Advil..................................................... 3
Rapid migraine relief
Excedrin ............................................... 1
Pediatrics
Children’s allergic reaction treatments
Children’s Benadryl................................ 1
Children’s Zyrtec.................................... 2
Children’s cold relief
Children’s Dimetap................................ 1
Children’s Tylenol.................................. 2
Children’s Robitussin............................. 3
Mucinex Children’s................................ 3
Children’s cough relief
Children’s Delsym.................................. 1
Children’s Robitussin............................. 1
Mucinex Children’s ............................... 2
Children’s cough/Cold multisymptom relief
Children’s Dimetapp.............................. 1
Children’s Robitussin............................. 1
Mucinex Children’s ............................... 2
Children’s Tylenol.................................. 3
Children’s earache relief
Similasan.............................................. 1
Hyland’s Naturals................................. 2
Children’s Tylenol................................. 3
Children’s multivitamin
Flintstones............................................. 1
Centrum Kids........................................ 2
Children’s seasonal allergies
Children’s Claritin.................................. 1
Children’s Zyrtec.................................... 1
Supplements
Adult multivitamin
Centrum................................................ 1
One A Day............................................. 2
Greens powder supplement
AG1....................................................... 1
Immune system booster
Emergen-C............................................ 1
Airborne................................................ 2
Joint supplement
Osteo Bi-Flex......................................... 1
Letter vitamins
Nature Made......................................... 1
Centrum................................................ 2
Nature’s Bounty.................................... 2
Meal replacements
Ensure................................................... 1
BOOST.................................................. 2
Melatonin supplements
Nature Made.......................................... 1
NATROL................................................ 2
Memory support supplement
Prevagen............................................... 1
Nutritional drinks
Ensure................................................... 1
BOOST................................................. 2
Weight loss supplement
alli......................................................... 1
Topicals
Acne treatment
Differin................................................. 1
Neutrogena........................................... 2
Clearasil................................................ 3
Adult sunscreen
Neutrogena............................................ 1
Coppertone............................................ 2
Banana Boat.......................................... 3
Antifungal treatment
Lotrimin................................................ 1
Lamisil.................................................. 2
Eczema relief
Aveeno................................................. 1
Eucerin................................................. 1
Cortizone 10......................................... 2
CeraVe.................................................. 3
Hot/Cold topical pain relief
Icy Hot.................................................. 1
BIOFREEZE......................................... 2
Lice treatment
Nix........................................................ 1
RID....................................................... 2
Medicated topical pain relief
Voltaren................................................. 1
Aspercreme........................................... 2
Scar and stretch mark treatment
Mederma............................................... 1
Women’s health
Menstrual relief
Midol.................................................... 1
Pamprin................................................ 2
Advil..................................................... 3
Vaginal lubricant
K-Y....................................................... 1
ASTROGLIDE..................................... 2
Replens................................................. 2
Yeast infection treatment
Monistat................................................ 1
Other
Incontinence products
Depend.................................................. 1
Poise..................................................... 2
Shampoo for severe dandruff
Head & Shoulders................................. 1
Selsun Blue........................................... 2
Nizoral................................................... 3
Sleeping aid
Unisom................................................. 1
Benadryl................................................ 2
Vicks ZzzQuil........................................ 3
Smoking cessation
Nicorette................................................ 1
NicoDerm.............................................. 2