Which Medicines Recommend the Most Often?

When you’ve got a drippy nose or monster headache, chances are you head to your local pharmacy in search of relief. Endless over-the-counter treatment options await, sardine-packed on store shelves. For many of us, the which-product-should-I-buy decision is hardly more complex than a game of eeny, meeny, miney, moe. For some, it comes down to price. For others, it’s brand loyalty (Mom always went with … ). For others yet, it’s whichever medication has the most convincing TV commercial. For most people, it’s a decision you make alone. But you don’t have to.
Enter pharmacists – those white-coated, behind-the-counter individuals who, as defined by the Department of Labor, “dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use.” Indeed, pharmacists must understand the complex composition of medicines, as well as the laws that regulate their manufacture and sale. They instruct patients on how and when to take a prescribed medicine, advise on potential side effects and stay alert for the possibility of risky drug interactions

But they have a lot to say about the products lining drugstore aisles, too. For more than 25 years, the industry trade publication Pharmacy Times has surveyed thousands of pharmacists (3,028 participating in 2022) nationwide to pinpoint their recommendations on a range of over-the-counter products. The results, published annually in its OTC Guide, are then widely circulated to pharmacists throughout the country to help them guide consumers’ shopping decisions.

U.S. News, in collaboration with Pharmacy Times, presents Drugs & Treatments, a product aimed at getting those pharmacists’ recommendations into your hands. Previously known as Top Recommended Health Products, Drugs & Treatments is a natural extension of our continuous commitment to helping Americans make important health decisions, whether it’s choosing a hospital, doctor, diet or medication. U.S. News and Pharmacy Times have combed through pharmacists’ survey responses to show how different brands stack up in more than 136 over-the-counter product categories, from cough suppressants and headache relief, to sleep aids and antacids.