Understand the basics. Check the official guidance.

Avomine is a brand used for motion sickness and nausea. Its active medicine is a form of promethazine, a sedating antihistamine that can make you feel drowsy.

Key consideration: Follow the packet instructions or advice from a pharmacist. Avoid driving or operating machinery if it makes you sleepy.

Atorvastatin is used to lower high cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It works by reducing the amount of cholesterol the body makes.

Key consideration: Take it as prescribed and speak with your clinician about unexplained muscle symptoms or other concerns.

Co-codamol combines paracetamol and codeine for pain. Lower-strength products can be supplied by a pharmacy, while higher strengths require a prescription.

Key consideration: Codeine can cause dependence. Do not take extra paracetamol-containing products unless a healthcare professional says it is safe.

Metformin is commonly used for type 2 diabetes and may also be used in other situations. It lowers blood sugar by improving how the body handles insulin.

Key consideration: Stomach-related side effects are common when starting. Take it exactly as advised and attend recommended monitoring.

Mirtazapine is an antidepressant used for depression and sometimes other mental health conditions. It affects chemicals involved in mood.

Key consideration: It can cause sleepiness and increased appetite. Do not stop suddenly without discussing a safe plan with your prescriber.

Quetiapine is used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression. It changes the activity of chemical messengers in the brain.

Key consideration: It may cause drowsiness, dizziness and metabolic side effects. Do not stop it suddenly without medical advice.

Sertraline is an antidepressant used for depression and other mental health conditions. It is part of a group called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

Key consideration: Benefits can take several weeks. Seek urgent help if your mental health worsens or you develop thoughts of harming yourself.

Venlafaxine is an antidepressant mainly used for depression and sometimes anxiety, panic attacks and certain menopause symptoms.

Key consideration: It can cause withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly. Any reduction should be planned with the prescriber.

Amoxicillin is a prescription antibiotic used for certain bacterial infections, including some chest, ear and dental infections. It does not treat viral infections such as colds or flu.

Key consideration: Take it exactly as prescribed and tell the prescriber about any penicillin allergy. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty or swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.

Omeprazole reduces stomach acid. It is used for heartburn, acid reflux, stomach ulcers and alongside antibiotics for some Helicobacter pylori infections.

Key consideration: If you bought it without a prescription, do not use it for longer than 2 weeks without medical advice. Persistent, worsening or concerning symptoms should be assessed.

Ramipril is used for high blood pressure and heart failure, and after some heart attacks. It widens blood vessels and can help protect the heart and kidneys.

Key consideration: Kidney function and potassium usually need blood-test monitoring. Contact your clinician if severe diarrhoea or vomiting makes you dehydrated, and do not stop it without advice.

Amlodipine relaxes and widens blood vessels. It is used to lower high blood pressure and to help prevent angina attacks.

Key consideration: Ankle swelling, flushing, headache and dizziness can occur. Do not stop amlodipine unless a doctor advises you to, as stopping suddenly can be dangerous.

Levothyroxine replaces the thyroid hormone thyroxine when the thyroid gland does not make enough. Regular blood tests help confirm that the dose is suitable.

Key consideration: It is usually taken consistently before breakfast or caffeine. Calcium, iron and some other medicines can affect absorption, so follow the spacing advice from your pharmacist or prescriber.

Salbutamol is a fast-acting reliever that opens the airways during symptoms such as wheeze, breathlessness or chest tightness. It is used for conditions including asthma and COPD.

Key consideration: Check your inhaler technique and seek a treatment review if you need it more often than usual. If severe breathing symptoms are not relieved, follow your emergency plan and seek urgent help.

Fluoxetine is an antidepressant used for conditions including depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and bulimia. It belongs to the SSRI group of medicines.

Key consideration: Benefits may take several weeks. Seek urgent help if your mental health worsens or you develop thoughts of harming yourself, and discuss any planned dose change with your prescriber.

Citalopram is an SSRI antidepressant used for depression and sometimes panic attacks. It increases the availability of serotonin in the brain.

Key consideration: Improvement may take several weeks. Do not stop suddenly, and seek urgent support if your mood deteriorates or you develop thoughts of harming yourself.

Pregabalin is used for nerve pain, epilepsy and anxiety. It changes the release of chemical messengers involved in pain signals and abnormal electrical activity.

Key consideration: It can cause sleepiness or dizziness and may lead to dependence. Do not stop it suddenly; dose reductions should be planned with the prescriber.

Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for pain and inflammation in conditions such as arthritis, gout, period pain and muscle or joint problems.

Key consideration: Take it with or just after food and use it only as directed. Do not combine it with ibuprofen or other NSAIDs unless advised, and seek urgent help for signs of serious stomach bleeding.