What pharmacists say belongs in your home medicine cabinet

Most government lists stop at “medicines and a first aid kit”. The pharmacists’ associations in Germany and Austria publish more specific home medicine cabinet checklists, and Germany’s BBK adds a few items for emergencies. This is the list we use.

The list

• Thermometer
• Pain and fever relief
• Antihistamine tablets
• Anti-diarrhoea tablets
• Oral rehydration salts (electrolytes)
• Cold, cough and sore-throat remedies
• Wound disinfectant and healing ointment
• Burn gel / burn ointment
• Dry-eye drops
• Children’s formulations (fever syrup, child ORS)

Plus your own prescription medication, with a written list of what you take.

Notes

• Paracetamol and ibuprofen are the usual pain and fever relievers. Aspirin isn’t for children.
• Oral rehydration salts are the first thing to reach for with diarrhoea or vomiting, especially for children and older people.
• Follow the leaflet for every medicine, and check expiry dates once a year.

Sources: ABDA (German pharmacists’ federation), Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists / Zivilschutz Österreich, BBK. Last reviewed: October 2026.