Drugstore Indecision

By Madonna Behen

You feel too horrible to sort through the dizzying array of meds in aisle six. Which is why we've done the work for you: Here are pharmacists' top picks for the best over-the-counter drugs on the market.

Browsing through your favorite boutique trying to decide between the Citizens or the Sevens? Now, that's fun. But standing in the drugstore, puzzling out which heartburn medicine to buy as your lunch burrito burns a hole in your stomach? Not so much . . .

In a recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive for the National Council on Patient Information and Education, 66 percent of adults said that picking the right nonprescription drug is enough to make their heads spin. But mulling over the endless choices--there are more than 100,000 OTC meds crowding the shelves--gets a lot easier when you check with the experts. That's what the American Pharmacists Association did when it surveyed 5,000 practicing pharmacists earlier this year to find out which OTC products they recommend most often. Here are their top choices for treating those annoying ailments--from hay fever to headaches--that can ruin your day. Study this list--and get well soon.

Cold Sores

The Drug: Abreva

Why it's No. 1: Got that telltale tingle that signals that a cold sore the size of Donald Trump's ego is about to sprout on your lip? Abreva can bring it to a screeching halt. "It prevents the virus from infecting healthy cells, which stops the cold sore from erupting," says W. Steven Pray, Ph.D., D.P.H., professor of nonprescription drugs at Southwestern Oklahoma State University College of Pharmacy in Weatherford. The drug works by creating a barrier around skin cells that makes it more difficult for the cold sore virus to penetrate them. "No other nonprescription product can do that."

Generic: None. The soonest one could be available is 2014.

Fine print: Dash to a drugstore the minute you feel a cold sore coming on. "Once the sore develops, using Abreva isn't as effective, because the time for prevention has passed," says Elaine D. Mackowiak, Ph.D., R.Ph., professor of pharmacy practice at Temple University School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia. "At that point, you can use any topical cold sore treatment, such as Anbesol, Orajel, or Zilactin, to reduce discomfort."

See a doc if the sore hasn't healed after 10 days.

Constipation

The Drugs: Metamucil and Dulcolax

Why they're No. 1: When it comes to making regular deposits, the magic word is fiber. Metamucil is druggists' remedy of choice because it contains psyllium, a natural plant fiber that softens and bulks up your stools. (It may sound counterintuitive, but it's easier for your digestive system to transport soft, bulky stools than hard, small ones, which can stick to the walls of the colon and block the way.) Plus, "Metamucil is effective and safe to take every day," Pray says, which means you can use it to help prevent system backups.