The short answer
An NHS list based on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society suggests pain relief (paracetamol and ibuprofen), antihistamines, oral rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoea tablets, antacids, a decongestant and sunscreen, plus first aid basics: plasters, bandages, sterile dressings, antiseptic, eyewash, tweezers and a thermometer. For an emergency, add your regular medicines ordered in good time (Be Ready says up to 5 working days before you need them) and a written list of what you take and the doses. Keep everything in a high, lockable, cool, dry cupboard and take out-of-date medicines back to a pharmacy.
Start with the pharmacists' list
There is no single national nhs.uk page listing what to keep at home, but many local NHS bodies publish the same list from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. We use the version from NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board.
Medicines
| Item | What it's for (as the NHS list says) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Paracetamol | Aches, headaches, period pain, fever | Never exceed the dose on the packet |
| Ibuprofen | As above, and swelling from sprains and arthritis | Take care with some conditions such as asthma; not in pregnancy |
| Antihistamines | Allergies, hay fever, insect bites, itching | Some cause drowsiness; ask a pharmacist about less drowsy ones |
| Oral rehydration salts | Replace fluid and minerals lost through fever, diarrhoea or vomiting | They don't treat the cause |
| Anti-diarrhoea tablets | Control diarrhoea | Don't treat the cause; ask a GP or pharmacist for children |
| Antacids | Stomach ache and heartburn | |
| Decongestant | Short-term relief for a blocked nose | |
| Sunscreen | Factor 15 or more, with UVA protection |
First aid items
Bandages, plasters in a range of sizes (waterproof if possible), sterile dressings, antiseptic (including alcohol-free wipes), eyewash, tweezers and a thermometer. Be Ready's emergency checklist asks for much the same, plus gloves and medical tape. Whether to buy a kit or build one is in our first-aid kit post.
Add these for an emergency
The list above is for everyday illnesses. For a power cut, a storm or a few days when you can't easily get out, add:
- Your regular medicines, ordered in good time. Be Ready says to request repeat prescriptions up to 5 working days before you need them, so you're less likely to run out in an emergency. What's legal if you want a bigger buffer is in our repeat prescriptions post.
- A written list of everyone's regular medicines and doses, kept with your emergency phone numbers (Be Ready). It helps if someone else has to collect medicines for you or you need care away from home.
- A plan for getting medicines if you can't go out. Be Ready's cold-weather advice is to check you have enough before bad weather and to arrange someone who can collect them for you.
- Extra rehydration salts if you have young children or older relatives at home. Diarrhoea and vomiting are harder to manage when water or power is off.
Medicines that need a fridge
If anyone at home uses insulin or another medicine that must be kept cold, plan with the pharmacist or care team before a power cut, and follow the leaflet. Our guide to medicines that need a fridge in a power cut has the steps. If you rely on powered medical equipment, Be Ready says to make a plan with your care provider, and you can ask your energy company to add you to the Priority Services Register.
What not to stockpile
- Antibiotics. They are prescribed for a specific illness. The NHS says only take antibiotics prescribed for you and never "borrow" them. It warns that taking them when you don't need them can mean they won't work for you in future. We don't suggest buying them online or keeping leftovers.
- Out-of-date medicines. The NHS list says don't use medicines past their use-by date. The NHS says take out-of-date or unwanted medicines to a pharmacy; don't put them in the bin or flush them.
- Iodine tablets "just in case". UKHSA says to take only tablets provided officially, when told to. See should I buy iodine tablets?
Store it safely
- Keep medicines out of sight and reach of children, ideally in a high, lockable cupboard, somewhere cool and dry (NHS list). A steamy bathroom isn't ideal.
- Keep the first aid kit somewhere everyone can find in the dark.
- Check dates when you check the rest of your emergency kit, for example when the clocks change.
When to get help
Your pharmacist can advise on coughs, colds, sore throats, aches and pains, and questions about medicines, without an appointment (NHS). Under Pharmacy First in England, pharmacists can also give some prescription medicines for seven conditions, including sore throat, earache, sinusitis, infected insect bites, impetigo, shingles and urine infections in women aged 16 to 64, within age limits. Call the pharmacy first to check they offer it.
For diarrhoea and vomiting, the NHS says to call 111 if someone still shows signs of dehydration after using rehydration sachets, if a child under 5 has signs of dehydration, or if you're worried about a baby under 12 months. Call 999 for emergency signs such as confusion, not responding as usual, or blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue.
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What to buy
About these links: plain links to ordinary retailer pages. We may earn from some links in future; we don't now. We haven’t tested these and we don’t rank them: they are examples that were in stock when we checked. Prices change. Check what you already own first. Full kit list
First aid kit
Look for: Waterproof plasters, bandages, a thermometer, antiseptic, eyewash, sterile dressings, gloves, medical tape and tweezers.
- St John Ambulance Home First Aid Kit · Amazon UK · £14.49 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £26.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
- Lifesystems Mountain First Aid Kit · Lifesystems (UK brand store) · £42.99 (price on 1 November 2026) Shop
Large wound and burns dressings
Look for: A large pressure dressing for heavy bleeding, and a gel burns dressing. Learn how to use them.
Frequently asked questions
What should be in a home medicine cabinet?
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society list, published by NHS Black Country ICB, includes paracetamol and ibuprofen, decongestants, antacids, antihistamines, anti-diarrhoea tablets, oral rehydration salts and sunscreen, plus first aid items such as bandages, plasters, eyewash, a thermometer, sterile dressings, tweezers and antiseptic.
Are medicines safe after their use-by date?
The NHS advice we found is not to use medicines past their use-by date and to take them to a pharmacy for safe disposal, not the bin or the toilet. Check dates when you check your emergency kit.
Should I keep antibiotics just in case?
No. In the UK antibiotics are prescribed for a specific illness. The NHS says only take antibiotics prescribed for you, never borrow them, and warns that taking them when you don't need them can stop them working for you in future.
Can I get extra repeat prescriptions to build a buffer?
Official advice is about ordering in good time rather than stockpiling. Be Ready says to request repeat prescriptions up to 5 working days before you need the medicine, so you're less likely to run out in an emergency. Talk to your GP or pharmacist about your own situation.
What about medicines that need a fridge, like insulin, in a power cut?
Follow the advice on the leaflet and from your pharmacist or care team, and plan ahead with them. Our guide to medicines that need a fridge in a power cut covers the steps.
Sources
We opened each page on the date shown. Official advice changes: if a source says something different now, follow the source.
- NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board: Keep a well stocked medicine cabinet at home (list from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society; no page date shown) (read 1 November 2026)
- GOV.UK Be Ready: be ready for emergencies (checklist) (read 1 November 2026)
- GOV.UK Be Ready: Cold weather, snow and ice (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: Diarrhoea and vomiting (last reviewed 21 December 2023) (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: How pharmacies can help (last reviewed 30 July 2024) (read 1 November 2026)
- NHS: Antibiotics (last reviewed 11 November 2022; review was due November 2025) (read 1 November 2026)
Related guides
- Home first aid kit and medicine cabinet: a UK checklist
- Run out of your medicine? How to get an emergency supply
- Medicines that need a fridge: what to do in a power cut
- The Be Ready checklist, explained for your home
Free tools
We're an independent UK site, not the government. We check guides against official sources and link to them. In an emergency call 999.
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