Many minor ailments can be successfully treated, or the symptoms relieved, with medicines available without a prescription at the pharmacy. Modern medicines are safe if used properly - this means taking the right dose at the right time and in the right way. For example, if you take certain medicines prescribed by your doctor, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or suffer from allergies, then some medicines won't be suitable for you. That's why you should always take your pharmacist's advice before you take anything else. What's on the Label To get the best results from a medicine, you need to use it in the right way, so if you don't understand any of the instructions that come with your medicine, ask your pharmacist to explain.
Some medicines have to be taken in a specific way.
Other medicines come with special warning messages. What any special instructions or warnings mean Safe Storage and Disposal of Medicines Medicines need to be stored in the right conditions this usually means in a cool, dry place. Medicines should also be stored safely away from children. Don't leave medicines where they can be easily found such as on a bedside table or in a handbag. No packaging is totally safe and many children can even open bottles fitted with child resistant caps, so the best place to store all medicines is in a locked medicine cabinet.