What the label says about each medicine.
What the label and the regulators say about common medicines — Singapore's HSA register and HealthHub, the NHS and FDA labels. What it is for, how the label times it, food, cautions and documented interactions with supplements and other medicines. Never a dose instruction — that stays with your pharmacist.
Aciclovir
NHS: cold sores, shingles, chickenpox, genital herpes
Prescription onlyAlendronate
Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and in men
Prescription onlyAlfuzosin
Prescribed for an enlarged prostate (bph)
Prescription onlyAllopurinol
Lowering uric acid to prevent gout attacks and urate stones
Prescription onlyAlprazolam
Prescribed short-term for anxiety or panic symptoms
Prescription onlyAluminium hydroxide
Short relief of indigestion, heartburn and acid
general-saleAmbroxol
Chesty cough — thins mucus or phlegm in the air passages
Prescription onlyAmiodarone
Abnormal heart rhythms not responding to other treatments
Prescription onlyAmitriptyline
Depression · HealthHub notes other uses as well
Prescription onlyAmlodipine
Prescribed for high blood pressure and angina
Prescription onlyAmoxicillin
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyApixaban
Prescribed to prevent and treat blood clots
Prescription onlyAripiprazole
HealthHub: schizophrenia, bipolar or depression symptoms
Prescription onlyAspirin
Low dose makes blood less sticky; 500 mg eases pain
general-saleAtenolol
SG label: hypertension and angina pectoris
Prescription onlyAtorvastatin
Prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides
Prescription onlyAzelastine
SG label: moderate to severe allergic rhinitis
Prescription onlyAzithromycin
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyBaclofen
NHS: muscle spasms and tightness from nerve conditions
Prescription onlyBeclometasone
Asthma and copd — a daily preventer, not a reliever
Prescription onlyBetahistine
Vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss in ménière's disease
Prescription onlyBetamethasone
Eczema, contact dermatitis and psoriasis (NHS)
Prescription onlyBilastine
SG label: allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and urticaria
Prescription onlyBisacodyl
Constipation · also to empty the bowel before procedures
general-saleBisoprolol
High blood pressure, angina, and stable heart failure
Prescription onlyBrimonidine
Lowering eye pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension
Prescription onlyBromhexine
Chesty cough — thins and loosens mucus in the airways
Prescription onlyBudesonide
Prescribed as a preventer for asthma and copd
Prescription onlyBupropion
Prescribed for depression; also used to help quit smoking
Prescription onlyCarbamazepine
SG label: epilepsy, bipolar disorder, nerve pain in the face
Prescription onlyCarbocisteine
Chesty cough — thins and loosens mucus in the airways
Pharmacy onlyCarvedilol
High blood pressure, angina and chronic heart failure
Prescription onlyCefuroxime
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyCelecoxib
HealthHub: pain and inflammation, e.g. in arthritis
Prescription onlyCephalexin
Prescribed for lung, urine and skin infections
Prescription onlyCetirizine
Runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes/nose/throat, itchy rash
Pharmacy onlyChlorpheniramine
Sneezing, runny nose and itch from allergies, cold or flu
Pharmacy onlyCiclosporin
HealthHub: psoriasis, eczema, lupus, transplant rejection
Prescription onlyCinnarizine
Nausea and vomiting from vertigo, tinnitus or ménière's
Pharmacy onlyCiprofloxacin
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyCitalopram
Prescribed for depression and for panic disorder
Prescription onlyClindamycin
Bacterial infections of skin, soft tissue, bone and joint
Prescription onlyClobetasol
NHS: eczema, psoriasis, lichen planus and discoid lupus
Prescription onlyClonazepam
Prescribed for anxiety, panic, insomnia or seizures
Prescription onlyClopidogrel
Clot prevention after a heart attack, stroke or stent
Prescription onlyClotrimazole
Fungal infections: athlete's foot, ringworm, thrush
Pharmacy onlyCloxacillin
Prescribed for staph and other bacterial infections
Prescription onlyCo-amoxiclav
Prescribed for ear, sinus, skin and dental infections
Prescription onlyCo-trimoxazole
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyCodeine
Pain, and dry cough in some SG combination linctuses
Prescription onlyColchicine
HealthHub: treatment and prevention of gout flares
Prescription onlyCombined oral contraceptive
Preventing pregnancy — NHS: >99% effective used correctly
Prescription onlyDapagliflozin
Type 2 diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease
Prescription onlyDesloratadine
SG label: allergic rhinitis symptoms and hives
Pharmacy onlyDesvenlafaxine
HealthHub: symptoms of depression such as low mood
Prescription onlyDexamethasone
Inflammation, severe allergies, croup, immune conditions
Prescription onlyDextromethorphan
Dry, persistent cough — dulls the urge to cough
Pharmacy onlyDiazepam
Severe anxiety, seizures or muscle spasm, as prescribed
Prescription onlyDiclofenac
Aches and pains, joint, muscle and bone problems, swelling
Prescription onlyDicyclomine
Gut spasm and cramping pain, including in IBS
Pharmacy onlyDigoxin
Prescribed for atrial fibrillation and heart failure
Prescription onlyDiltiazem
HealthHub: irregular heartbeats; also lowers blood pressure
Prescription onlyDimenhydrinate
Nausea, vomiting, vertigo and motion sickness (HealthHub)
Pharmacy onlyDiosmectite
Acute diarrhoea in adults and children from 2 years
general-saleDiphenhydramine
Sneezing and runny nose; wet cough in the SG syrups
Pharmacy onlyDomperidone
Nausea and vomiting · fullness, bloating after meals
Prescription onlyDonepezil
Symptoms of alzheimer's and other dementias — not a cure
Prescription onlyDorzolamide
Lowering eye pressure in glaucoma or ocular hypertension
Prescription onlyDoxazosin
High blood pressure and enlarged-prostate symptoms
Prescription onlyDoxycycline
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyDulaglutide
SG label: type 2 diabetes, in patients 10 years and above
Prescription onlyDutasteride
Prescribed for an enlarged prostate (bph), men only
Prescription onlyDydrogesterone
Prescribed for period problems and as part of hrt
Prescription onlyEmpagliflozin
Type 2 diabetes, heart failure and kidney disease per NHS
Prescription onlyEnalapril
NHS: high blood pressure and heart failure
Prescription onlyErythromycin
Bacterial infections: chest, dental, sti, skin (NHS)
Prescription onlyEscitalopram
Depression, ocd, gad, social anxiety and panic (NHS)
Prescription onlyEsomeprazole
HealthHub: reflux disease and ulcers of the gut
Prescription onlyEstradiol
Prescribed for menopause symptoms and bone thinning
Prescription onlyEtoricoxib
Osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, acute pain
Prescription onlyEzetimibe
Prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides
Prescription onlyFamotidine
Heartburn, reflux and ulcers of the stomach or gut
Prescription onlyFebuxostat
Prescribed to lower uric acid in gout
Prescription onlyFedac (brand)
Blocked nose, cold, sinus and allergy symptoms per label
Pharmacy onlyFenofibrate
Prescribed to lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol
Prescription onlyFexofenadine
Hay fever, hives, itch, runny nose and other allergies
Pharmacy onlyFinasteride
Enlarged prostate symptoms; male pattern hair loss in men
Prescription onlyFluconazole
Prescribed for thrush and other candida infections
Prescription onlyFluoxetine
Prescribed for depression, ocd, bulimia or anxiety
Prescription onlyFluticasone
Allergic rhinitis — blocked, runny, itchy nose, sneezing
Prescription onlyFluvoxamine
HealthHub: depression, anxiety and ocd symptoms
Prescription onlyFormoterol
Asthma and copd — SG products pair it with a steroid
Prescription onlyFurosemide
Prescribed for fluid build-up, and for high blood pressure
Prescription onlyGabapentin
Prescribed for nerve pain and for seizures
Prescription onlyGaviscon
Heartburn (acid reflux) and indigestion
general-saleGliclazide
Prescribed to lower high blood sugar in type 2 diabetes
Prescription onlyGlimepiride
US label: type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise
Prescription onlyGlipizide
Prescribed for diabetes alongside diet and exercise
Prescription onlyGlyceryl trinitrate
HealthHub: to relieve and to prevent angina attacks
Pharmacy onlyGuaifenesin
Chesty cough with phlegm — thins and loosens airway mucus
general-saleHaloperidol
HealthHub: schizophrenia symptoms and their return
Prescription onlyHydralazine
US label: essential hypertension, alone or as an adjunct
Prescription onlyHydrochlorothiazide
Prescribed for excess fluid and raised blood pressure
Prescription onlyHydrocortisone
Eczema, contact dermatitis, insect bites, psoriasis
Pharmacy onlyHydroxychloroquine
Prescribed for lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and malaria
Prescription onlyHydroxyzine
Prescribed for itch, skin allergy and anxiety symptoms
Prescription onlyHyoscine butylbromide
Stomach and gut cramps, IBS cramping pain, period pain
Pharmacy onlyHyoscine hydrobromide
Travel and motion sickness — nausea and vomiting
SG class unconfirmedIbuprofen
Pain and inflammation relief · brings down fever
Pharmacy onlyInsulin aspart
HealthHub: to control blood sugar after each meal
Prescription onlyInsulin degludec
SG label: diabetes mellitus in adults and ages 12–17
Prescription onlyInsulin glargine
Prescribed to lower high blood sugar in diabetes
Prescription onlyInsulin lispro
Prescribed to control blood sugar levels after each meal
Prescription onlyIpratropium
Medlineplus: wheeze and breathlessness in copd
Prescription onlyIrbesartan
SG label: essential hypertension; renal disease in type 2
Prescription onlyIsosorbide mononitrate
Prescribed to prevent angina, not to stop an attack
Prescription onlyIsotretinoin
Severe acne that has not responded to other acne medicines
Prescription onlyItraconazole
Fungal infections of skin, nails, mouth and organs (SG)
Prescription onlyKetoconazole
SG label (shampoo): dandruff, seborrhoeic dermatitis
Pharmacy onlyKetotifen
SG label: allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria
Prescription onlyLactulose
Constipation · also used for hepatic encephalopathy
general-saleLamotrigine
Prescribed for epilepsy and for bipolar depression
Prescription onlyLansoprazole
NHS: indigestion, heartburn, reflux and stomach ulcers
Prescription onlyLatanoprost
SG label: reduction of raised pressure inside the eye
Prescription onlyLevetiracetam
HealthHub: control of seizures and related conditions
Prescription onlyLevocetirizine
Runny nose, itchy eyes, nose or skin, allergic rash
Pharmacy onlyLevofloxacin
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyLevonorgestrel
Contraception — daily pill, morning-after pill, or an ius
Prescription onlyLevothyroxine
An underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) — NHS, HealthHub
Prescription onlyLinagliptin
Prescribed for type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise
Prescription onlyLisdexamfetamine
SG label: adhd, in patients aged 6 and above
Prescription onlyLisinopril
High blood pressure, heart failure, after a heart attack
Prescription onlyLithium
HealthHub: reducing mood swings in bipolar disorder
Prescription onlyLoperamide
Short-term diarrhoea · IBS diarrhoea diagnosed by a doctor
Pharmacy onlyLoratadine
Allergy symptoms — runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes/skin
Pharmacy onlyLorazepam
Prescribed short-term for anxiety, panic or insomnia
Prescription onlyLosartan
Prescribed for high blood pressure and heart failure
Prescription onlyMacrogol
SG label: constipation in adults and children over 8
general-saleMagnesium hydroxide
Heartburn and indigestion · constipation at laxative doses
general-saleMebeverine
Stomach cramps, spasms and pain, as in IBS
Pharmacy onlyMedroxyprogesterone
Prescribed for abnormal uterine bleeding, and for hrt
Prescription onlyMefenamic acid
Mild to moderate pain; period pain (dysmenorrhoea)
Prescription onlyMeloxicam
Prescribed for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Prescription onlyMemantine
Moderate to severe alzheimer's disease, as prescribed
Prescription onlyMesalazine
Ulcerative colitis and crohn's disease, as prescribed
Prescription onlyMetformin
Type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and pcos per NHS
Prescription onlyMethotrexate
Autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
Prescription onlyMethylphenidate
Adhd from age 6, and narcolepsy in adults (SG label)
Prescription onlyMethylprednisolone
Prescribed for inflammation and immune or allergic flares
Prescription onlyMetoclopramide
Prescribed for nausea and vomiting
Prescription onlyMetoprolol
Prescribed for blood pressure, angina, migraine and more
Prescription onlyMetronidazole
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyMiconazole
Fungal skin infections: feet, groin, trunk, scalp (SG)
general-saleMinoxidil
Treatment of hair loss in men and women, per the SG label
general-saleMirabegron
Prescribed for overactive bladder
Prescription onlyMirtazapine
HealthHub: symptoms of depression such as low mood
Prescription onlyMometasone
Eczema and psoriasis on skin; allergic rhinitis in the nose
Prescription onlyMontelukast
Preventing asthma symptoms and allergic rhinitis
Prescription onlyMorphine
Severe pain · SG labels say severe or chronic severe pain
Prescription onlyMoxifloxacin
Prescribed for bacterial infections — your doctor decides
Prescription onlyMupirocin
Medlineplus: impetigo and other bacterial skin infections
Prescription onlyMycophenolate
HealthHub: stopping rejection of a transplanted organ
Prescription onlyNaproxen
Pain and inflammation — period, joint and muscle pain
Prescription onlyNebivolol
HealthHub: high blood pressure, angina, heart failure
Prescription onlyNicotine
Withdrawal symptoms and cravings when stopping smoking
Pharmacy onlyNifedipine
NHS: high blood pressure, angina and raynaud's
Prescription onlyNitrofurantoin
Prescribed for lower urinary tract infections
Prescription onlyNorethisterone
HealthHub: heavy or absent periods; menopause with estrogen
Prescription onlyNortriptyline
HealthHub: symptoms of depression such as low mood
Prescription onlyNystatin
Oral thrush and other candida infections (NHS)
Prescription onlyOfloxacin
SG label: urinary, chest, skin and genital tract infections
Prescription onlyOlanzapine
HealthHub: schizophrenia and bipolar mood symptoms
Prescription onlyOlmesartan
High blood pressure, alone or with other bp medicines
Prescription onlyOlopatadine
SG label: signs and symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis
Prescription onlyOmeprazole
Heartburn, reflux (gord) and stomach ulcers per label
Pharmacy onlyOndansetron
Prescribed to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting
Prescription onlyOseltamivir
Prescribed for influenza type a and b — a doctor decides
Prescription onlyOxybutynin
Overactive bladder — urgency, frequency, leaking
Prescription onlyOxycodone
Prescribed for severe pain, e.g. after surgery or in cancer
Prescription onlyOxymetazoline
SG label: acute cold, sinusitis, syringitis, otitis media
general-salePanadol extra
Stronger pain — bad headache, backache, toothache
general-salePantoprazole
Prescribed for reflux, heartburn or stomach ulcers
Prescription onlyParacetamol
Relief of fever, headache, body aches and general pain
general-saleParoxetine
Prescribed for depression, anxiety, ocd, panic and ptsd
Prescription onlyPerindopril
SG label: hypertension and stable coronary artery disease
Prescription onlyPhenylephrine
SG label: blocked nose, fever and aches in colds and flu
general-salePioglitazone
Type 2 diabetes — HealthHub: helps bring blood sugar down
Prescription onlyPotassium chloride
Prescribed to treat or prevent low potassium levels
Prescription onlyPravastatin
Prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides
Prescription onlyPrazosin
High blood pressure · HealthHub notes other uses too
Prescription onlyPrednisolone
Inflammation, allergies, asthma, skin and immune conditions
Prescription onlyPrednisone
Inflammatory, allergic and autoimmune conditions (US label)
Prescription onlyPregabalin
Prescribed for seizures, nerve pain or anxiety
Prescription onlyProgesterone
SG label: progesterone-deficit disorders; hrt with estrogen
Prescription onlyPromethazine
Allergy symptoms, itch, nausea, motion sickness, sleep
Pharmacy onlyPropranolol
HealthHub: high blood pressure, angina, irregular heartbeat
Prescription onlyPseudoephedrine
Blocked or stuffy nose from colds, sinusitis or allergies
Pharmacy onlyQuetiapine
HealthHub: schizophrenia, bipolar or depression symptoms
Prescription onlyRamipril
NHS: high blood pressure, heart failure, after heart attack
Prescription onlyRisperidone
NHS: schizophrenia and the mania of bipolar disorder
Prescription onlyRivaroxaban
Prescribed to prevent and treat blood clots and strokes
Prescription onlyRosuvastatin
Prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides
Prescription onlySacubitril/valsartan
Heart failure · SG label also lists essential hypertension
Prescription onlySalbutamol
Relief of wheeze and breathlessness · before exercise
Prescription onlySalicylic acid
Removal of common warts, and of corns and calluses
general-saleSalmeterol
Regular asthma or copd control, not sudden attacks
Prescription onlySemaglutide
Prescribed for type 2 diabetes or obesity — a doctor decides
Prescription onlySenna
SG label: relief of occasional constipation
general-saleSertraline
Depression, ocd, panic, ptsd and social anxiety (NHS)
Prescription onlySildenafil
Erectile dysfunction; also pulmonary arterial hypertension
Prescription onlySimethicone
Trapped wind, bloating and colic — evidence is weak
general-saleSimvastatin
Prescribed for high cholesterol — a doctor decides
Prescription onlySitagliptin
Prescribed for type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise
Prescription onlySodium bicarbonate
Acid indigestion, heartburn · urine alkalinising in SG
general-saleSodium valproate
HealthHub: some types of seizures; bipolar mood swings
Prescription onlySolifenacin
Overactive bladder — urgency, frequency and leaks
Prescription onlySpironolactone
Prescribed for fluid build-up, heart failure, blood pressure
Prescription onlySucralfate
Prescribed for ulcers in the gut lining
Prescription onlySumatriptan
HealthHub: to stop a migraine attack after it begins
Prescription onlyTacrolimus
HealthHub: preventing rejection after organ transplant
Prescription onlyTadalafil
HealthHub: erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, pah
Prescription onlyTamsulosin
Prescribed for urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate
Prescription onlyTelmisartan
SG label: essential hypertension; cv risk reduction at 55+
Prescription onlyTerazosin
Enlarged prostate symptoms · also high blood pressure
Prescription onlyTerbinafine
Athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, fungal nail infection
general-saleTestosterone
Replacement in confirmed male hypogonadism
Prescription onlyTheophylline
HealthHub: opens the airways in asthma and lung disease
Prescription onlyTicagrelor
Preventing clots after acute coronary syndrome — SG label
Prescription onlyTimolol
High pressure inside the eye, often from glaucoma
Prescription onlyTiotropium
HealthHub: long-term copd control · SG label adds asthma
Prescription onlyTirzepatide
Type 2 diabetes in adults, alongside diet and exercise
Prescription onlyTopiramate
Seizures in epilepsy, and prevention of migraine
Prescription onlyTramadol
Moderate to severe pain, per the SG and NHS labels
Prescription onlyTranexamic acid
Prescribed to reduce heavy bleeding, e.g. heavy periods
Prescription onlyTrazodone
Prescribed for depression; also used for poor sleep
Prescription onlyTretinoin
US label: acne vulgaris, applied to the skin
Prescription onlyTriamcinolone
Prescribed for inflamed, itchy steroid-responsive skin
Prescription onlyUmeclidinium
SG label: maintenance copd treatment, to relieve symptoms
Prescription onlyValaciclovir
Prescribed for shingles, cold sores and genital herpes
Prescription onlyValsartan
Prescribed for high blood pressure and some heart conditions
Prescription onlyVenlafaxine
Prescribed for depression, anxiety and panic attacks
Prescription onlyVerapamil
HealthHub: irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure
Prescription onlyVilanterol
Regular asthma or copd control, never on its own
Prescription onlyVildagliptin
Prescribed for type 2 diabetes, with diet and exercise
Prescription onlyVortioxetine
HealthHub: symptoms of depression such as low mood
Prescription onlyWarfarin
Preventing and treating blood clots
Prescription onlyXylometazoline
SG label: stuffy nose and blocked mucus in colds
general-saleZolpidem
Short-term treatment of severe insomnia (NHS, HealthHub)
Prescription onlyZopiclone
Prescribed short-term for insomnia
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