‘Tis the season to be… sick. If you’re anything like me, then you’d know that the holiday season comes along with more than just shopping sales: wintertime also comes with the sniffles, sore throats, and all kinds of sickness. Between the holiday parties, losing sleep over exams and work, and the colder temps in the air, getting sick is easier than ever during the holiday season. And, as a college student, the whole co-living thing doesn’t exactly help you in terms of immunity.
As someone who gets sick often (I mean like, once-a-month often), I always find it important to keep my medicine cabinet stocked during this time of year. The first time I got sick in college, I had no clue how to actually take care of myself: I was so used to my mom making me soup and giving me grape-flavored Tylenol that I never actually learned how to help myself whenever I was under the weather. So, after a couple of battles with strep throat, the flu, and (unfortunately) COVID, I became an expert in battling sicknesses — sometimes, even before they have a chance to get worse.
However, your medicine cabinet arsenal is more than just cold and flu busters. Accidents happen, so it’s important to anticipate cuts, scrapes, infections, and maybe a late period from time to time. If you’re a college kid, a recent grad, or anyone looking to stock up your medicine cabinet, look no further. From flu remedies to first aid, here are 14 essentials you need in your medicine cabinet at all times.
- Quick Fix Kit
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Welly If you’re clumsy like me, this on-the-go first aid kit (Welly, $8) is an absolute essential.
- Zicam Zinc Cold Remedy Medicated Fruit Drops
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Walmart Zicam (Walmart, $11) has saved my life on multiple occasions: I take it as soon as I feel sickness coming on, and it definitely eases my symptoms.
- Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Caplets
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Walmart Tylenol (Walmart, $7) is my tried and true.
- Coated Advil
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Rite Aid Coated Advil (Rite Aid, $24) is perfect if you have trouble swallowing pills.
- Pregnancy Tests
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Amazon Pregnancy tests (Amazon, $21) are important. Buy ’em in bulk for your roomies, besties, or yourself.
- Hydration Multiplier+ Immune Support
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Liquid I.V. I love Liquid I.V. (Liquid I.V., $25) so much. Their new flavor, Wildberry Blend, provides hydration and immune support — perfect for hangovers, frat flu treatments, and any time you’re feeling under the weather.
- Sudafed
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Walgreens When you’re down bad with the sniffles, Sudafed (Walgreens, $10) is your saving grace.
- Thermometer
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Amazon A thermometer (Amazon, $10) is a must — and this one looks like a cute dog. I’m sold.
- Tums
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Amazon If you struggle with upset stomach, acid reflux, or heartburn, TUMS (Amazon, $8) is here to save the day.
- Condoms
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Cake Using condoms is hot. These ones from Cake (Cake, $9) are sustainably made and come in all kinds of different styles.
- Eye Drops
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CVS These eye drops (CVS, $3) are for when you have allergies… obviously…
- AZO
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Walmart My first college UTI was so traumatizing that I keep AZO (Walmart, $7) on deck at all times.
- First Aid Kit
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Walmart This first aid kit (Walmart, $15) has everything you need. Just store it in your bathroom until you scrape your knee trying to jump onto your lofted dorm bed.
- Tampons
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lola Have you ever thought about what’s really in your tampons? Snag some organic ones (Lola, $11) to keep on deck.