Recently Asked Questions

Ural Effervescent Granules is a urinary alkaliniser that is used to provide pain relief from urinary tract infection. It is available for sale over-the-counter at all NHG Pharmacy outlets.

However, we do not stock Cran Lite Effervescent Powder.

For further enquiries on cost and availability, you may contact NHG Pharmacy at 6355 3000.  

Jaw pain may be caused by various underlying medical conditions. 

A common cause is temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder (TMD). This could arise from injury or damage to the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movements. Excessive stimulation of the jaw point due to certain habits, such as teeth grinding at night or jaw clenching (due to stress and anxiety), may also contribute to jaw discomfort.

Other causes may include cluster headaches, sinus problems, toothaches, surrounding nerve damage or heart attack.

As I would not be able to assess the severity and extent of your condition, I would advise you to consult a doctor to find out the underlying cause and for appropriate treatment and advice.

These are the general steps to simple wound care:

1)      Perform hand hygiene.

2)      Clean the wound and surrounding skin with normal saline 0.9% solution.

3)      Apply a clean dressing and secure with a secondary dressing if required.

4)      Do keep the dressing dry and intact.

5)      Do not self-medicate and maintain personal hygiene over the wound site. Observe for abnormal symptoms e.g. increased pain, swelling, presence of pus or fever and seek medical attention immediately if any of these arise.

The above steps are only applicable for simple wounds.

As there is a concern that your wound might be deep, we recommend you to consult a nurse or doctor to assess your wound before using the dressing bandages. If you have existing conditions (e.g. diabetes) that may slow down wound healing, it is also recommended for you to consult a doctor.

Paxlovid (containing Nirmatrelvir 300mg and Ritonavir 100mg tablets) is available in NHG Pharmacy (NHG Polyclinics). This medication is also available in certain general practitioner clinics, public and private hospitals in Singapore. Paxlovid is currently only prescribed to patients with a COVID-19 infection who are assessed by doctors to be at a higher risk of progressing to severe COVID-19. Paxlovid also has potential interactions with many other commonly used medications, hence the decision to prescribe Paxlovid has to be carefully considered by doctors, after discussion with their patients on the benefits and risks.

Kindly note that Paxlovid cannot be purchased over the counter. If you are having any medical problems at the moment, I would advise you to consult a doctor for medical assessment and treatment.

Fedac contains the active ingredients Pseudoephedrine (for blocked nose) and Triprolidine (antihistamine for allergy). Since your child has already taken the maximum daily dose of Cetirizine today, it is recommended to only start Fedac tomorrow. Taking too much antihistamines may increase the risk of side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth/eyes, difficulty passing urine or confusion (in very young children). 

This medication is not available in NHG Pharmacy (NHG Polyclinics). Do note that a prescription from a Singapore registered doctor is required for its purchase.

If you have a valid prescription, you may contact the hospital or retail pharmacies to such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital at 6357 2040, or Guardian at 6891 8100 to enquire on its availability.

Taking Paracetamol may help with your headache. If Paracetamol does not work, you may try Ibuprofen or Naproxen to relief headache. Ibuprofen and Naproxen should be taken with food to reduce stomach pain or discomfort. These medications can be purchased over-the-counter at retail pharmacies. You may check with a pharmacist in person to see if taking Ibuprofen or Naproxen is suitable for you, as it should not be taken if a person has certain medical conditions (e.g. history of asthma).

Charcoal tablets/capsules, Kaolin mixture or Smecta sachets may help with your diarrhea. They work by reducing the bacteria and toxins that may be causing diarrhea. These medications should be taken 2 hours apart from any other medication. Probiotics such as Lactoguard and Lacteol Forte can help to relieve symptoms of diarrhea and reintroduce good bacteria to the intestines. Oral rehydration salts may be helpful to replenish the fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrhea. These medications may be purchased over-the-counter at retail pharmacies.

Loperamide or Diphenoxylate/Atropine (Lomotil) may also help with diarrhea by slowing down the movement of stools. They may be purchased either from a pharmacist or with a doctor’s prescription.

If your diarrhea does not improve and if you experience other symptoms such as severe vomiting, high fever or blood in stools, do consult a doctor to find out the underlying cause and for appropriate treatment and advice.

When a person takes in excess Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), the kidneys process it and the body removes it through the urine. Too much Ascorbic Acid may cause a buildup of oxalate in the body, which may increase the risk of forming calcium oxalate (kidney stones). This risk is especially for people with poor kidney function or a history of kidney stones.

It is recommended to consume not more than 2000mg of Ascorbic Acid per day.

If you do not have any history of kidney stones or poor kidney function, it is safe to consume a dose of 100mg once a day for supplementation. There may not be a need to reduce to take 100mg on alternate days.

Folic Acid is a vitamin that helps in the formation of red blood cells and the development of the baby’s nerves. It is also helpful in preventing birth defects in the baby.

It is recommended for pregnant women to take at least 400mcg of folic acid per day. Women may also take 5mg of folic acid per day as directed by their doctor. It is a safe supplement that is recommended to take until week 12 of pregnancy. Folic acid is not likely to cause any side effects.

A healthy diet would naturally consist of food or drinks containing folic acid. The additional intake of folic acid is not likely to cause harm to your wife or the growing baby.

You may consult your gynaecologist if you wish to enquire more about recommended food or supplements during the course of your wife’s pregnancy.

In general, it is recommended to space out the time of taking each dose as evenly as possible during the waking hours. This is to ensure that the concentration of the medication in the body is maintained to provide its effect and to reduce the risk of side effects. 

Certain medications may require people to take them at specific timings for the medication to be safe and effective, for various reasons. This includes (but are not limited to) the following:

• Medications that are formulated to be slowly released in the body throughout the day

• Medications that may cause side effects if taken at night

• Medications may work better when taken at specific times

Recommendations on how to space out doses may be different for specific medications. You may wish to speak to a pharmacist in person if you are facing difficulties in taking your medications on time, or if you wish to adjust your medication regimen for convenience.