Most Trusted by Pharmacists OTC Brands in America 2024

By Newsweek Rankings

Headaches, upset stomachs and fevers—these are some of the minor conditions that many people treat with over-the-counter medication. Not severe enough to require a doctor's office visit, these discomforts can often be handled by talking to a pharmacist and getting a recommendation for a product that doesn't even need a prescription.

It's a commonplace occurrence: Research reported by the Consumer Healthcare Products Association shows that 81 percent of adults use OTC medications as their initial response to small ailments. Americans average 26 trips per year to buy OTC products, but they visit the doctor only three times in the same time span.

With so many occasions to select an OTC product, there is ample opportunity to make the wrong choice. To help consumers make the most informed decisions about which OTC medications they should use, Newsweek and leading market research firm BrandSpark International have partnered for the third annual list of the Most Trusted by Pharmacists Awards honoring OTC brands in America. This recognition will make it easier for customers to make confident purchases, as the products listed here come with a pharmacist-voted endorsement.

This year's winners were determined based on a survey of more than 400 pharmacists in the U.S. who were asked their opinion on which brands they most trust across 36 categories. Overall, 80 products were selected as award winners.

The items recognized here are the ones most likely to make future trips to the pharmacy more effective.

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Segment

Category

Children's DimetappChildren's RobitussinMucinex Children'sChildrenChildren’s Cough & Cold ReliefAirborneEmergen-CZarbee'sChildrenChildren's Immune System SupportChildren's DelsymChildren's RobitussinChildren's DimetappChildrenChildren's Liquid Cough SuppressantChildren's TylenolChildren's MotrinChildrenChildren's Pain & Fever ReliefZarbee'sChildren's BenadrylChildrenChildren's Sleep SupportInfants' TylenolInfants' MotrinChildrenInfant Pain & Fever ReliefZicamCold-EEZECough, Cold & FluCold ShortenerVicks DayQuil / NyQuilMucinex / Robitussin / Tylenol (3-way TIE)Cough, Cold & FluCough, Cold, & Flu Multisymptom ReliefCoricidin HBPCough, Cold & FluCough, Cold, & Flu Multisymptom Relief for High Blood PressureBoironHyland's Naturals / Sambucol / Zicam (3-way TIE)Cough, Cold & FluHomeopathic Cold & Flu TreatmentDelsymRobitussinCough, Cold & FluLiquid Cough SuppressantFreeStyle LibreDexcomDiabetesContinuous Glucose MonitorBausch + LombOpti-FreeEars & EyesContact Lens SolutionAcuvueBausch + LombEars & EyesContact LensesSimilasanDebrox / Hyland's Naturals (TIE)Ears & EyesEarache ReliefSystaneRefresh / Visine (TIE)Ears & EyesEye DropsPedialyteLiquid I.V.GatoradeMiscellaneousDehydration ReliefUnisomBenadrylVicks ZzzQuilMiscellaneousSleep AidArnicarePainHomeopathic Topical Cream/Gel for Pain ReliefHyland's NaturalsPainLeg Cramp ReliefNervivePainNerve Pain ReliefSalonpasAspercremePainPain Relief PatchPlan B One-StepSexual HealthEmergency Contraceptive Pill (Morning After)OpillSexual HealthOver-the-Counter Birth Control PillClearblueSexual HealthOvulation TestClearblue / First Response (TIE)e.p.tSexual HealthPregnancy TestCeraVeAveeno / Eucerin (TIE)SkinMoisturizer for Itchy or Dry SkinMedermaSkinScar & Stretch Mark TreatmentPepcidPrilosec OTCStomachAcid ReducerTumsPepcidPrilosec OTCStomachHeartburn ReliefDulcolax / MiraLAX (TIE)SenokotStomachLaxativeEmetrolDramaminePepto-BismolStomachNausea Treatment/ReliefOsteo Bi-FlexSupplementsJoint Health SupplementPrevagenSupplementsMemory Support SupplementNature MadeNature's BountySupplementsNiacin SupplementCulturelle ProbioticsAlign Probiotics / Florajen (TIE)SupplementsWomen's Probiotic Supplement

2024 Newsweek/BrandSpark Most Trusted by Pharmacists Awards

USAGE

Permission or authorization from Best New Product Awards Inc. is required to reference the Newsweek/BrandSpark Most Trusted Awards win or use of the claim or logo in any communication.

LICENSING

If your company is a winner, contact Adam Bellisario, Associate Vice-President, BrandSpark Most Trusted (ABellisario@Brandspark.com) to learn more about licensing options or the trust research.

METHODOLOGY

In the 3rd annual BrandSpark American Pharmacists Trust Study, BrandSpark researchers identified OTC/Health categories where trust is important to consumers and where American pharmacists believe in the superiority of specific brands.

The winners were selected based on a survey of 401 pharmacists currently practicing in the United States who gave their top-of-mind, unaided opinions on which OTC/Health brands they trust the most in 36 categories.

The highest share of citations as Most Trusted in the category determined the winner, with other brands ranked based on share where at least 8% of citations was received. If the margin of citation share was less than 3% between brands, then a tie was declared. *

*BrandSpark can provide winning brands with additional supporting information.

Download the full methodology here.