Most Trusted by Pharmacists OTC Brands in America 2023
What is your go-to over-the-counter (OTC) product for a headache? What about heartburn, a gassy baby, or a painful sunburn? How did you decide which products were right for you and your family? You may know these brands from what mom used to use or what has always worked for you. But what about when you need something new or different? Many people head to the drugstore down the street to talk to a pharmacist.
It's said that the earliest known prescription was recorded in Mesopotamia sometime before 2000 B.C. These healthcare providers are often one of our first lines of defense when treating a minor illness or ailment. We depend on pharmacists to provide not only our prescribed medications but also practical advice, often during weekends or after hours when other providers aren't as available.
According to the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), households in the United States spend approximately $338 annually on OTC products. Brands like Benadryl, Pepto-Bismol, Orajel and Excedrin are staples in most American households.
Newsweek and leading market research firm BrandSpark International are pleased to announce the winners of the "Most Trusted by Pharmacists OTC Brands in America 2023." We award this designation to make it easier for consumers to buy OTC products confidently, knowing our listing provides a pharmacist-voted seal of approval. This year's winners were named based on a survey of 1,716 pharmacists currently practicing in the United States. The participants were asked to provide their top-of-mind, unaided opinions on which brands they trust the most in 71 categories.
Please note that these awards are based entirely on the opinions of pharmacists. Brands were not permitted to make nominations. We hope you'll find this list beneficial as you select OTC products for yourself and your family.
| SEGMENT | CATEGORY | Rank | Brand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Adult Allergic Reaction Treatment | 1 | Benadryl |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Cough Lozenge | 1 | HALLS |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Cough Lozenge | 2 | Cepacol / Ricola (TIE) |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Cough, Cold, and Flu Multisymptom Relief | 1 | Vicks DayQuil / NyQuil |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Cough, Cold, and Flu Multisymptom Relief | 2 | Mucinex / Tylenol / Robitussin (TIE) |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Liquid Cough Expectorant | 1 | Robitussin |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Liquid Cough Expectorant | 2 | Mucinex |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Liquid Cough Suppressant | 1 | Delsym |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Liquid Cough Suppressant | 2 | Robitussin |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Nasal Decongestant Spray | 1 | Afrin |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Nasal Decongestant Spray | 2 | Flonase |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Natural Cold Remedy | 1 | ZICAM |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Adult Seasonal Allergy Relief | 1 | Zyrtec |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Adult Seasonal Allergy Relief | 2 | Claritin |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Adult Seasonal Allergy Relief | 3 | Allegra |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Sinus Rinse | 1 | NeilMed |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Sore Throat Lozenge | 1 | Cepacol |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Sore Throat Lozenge | 2 | Halls |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Sore Throat Lozenge | 3 | Chloraseptic |
| Cough, Cold, Allergy | Vapor Therapy | 1 | Vicks Vapo |
| Diagnostics | Blood Glucose Monitor | 1 | OneTouch |
| Diagnostics | Blood Glucose Monitor | 2 | FreeStyle |
| Diagnostics | Blood Glucose Monitor | 3 | Accu-Chek |
| Diagnostics | Blood Pressure Monitor | 1 | Omron |
| Diagnostics | Non-touch digital thermometer | 1 | Braun |
| Diagnostics | Non-touch digital thermometer | 2 | Vicks |
| Ears and Eyes | Contact Lens Solution | 1 | Bausch + Lomb |
| Ears and Eyes | Contact Lens Solution | 2 | OPTI-FREE Puremoist |
| Ears and Eyes | Adult Earache Relief | 1 | Similasan |
| Ears and Eyes | Adult Earache Relief | 2 | Debrox / Hyland's Naturals (TIE) |
| Ears and Eyes | Children's Earache Relief | 1 | Similasan |
| Ears and Eyes | Children's Earache Relief | 2 | Hyland's Naturals |
| Ears and Eyes | Children's Earache Relief | 3 | Children's Tylenol |
| Ears and Eyes | Eye Drops for Pink Eye | 1 | Similasan |
| Ears and Eyes | Eye Drops for Pink Eye | 2 | Visine |
| Ears and Eyes | Eye Vitamin | 1 | PreserVision |
| Ears and Eyes | Eye Vitamin | 2 | Ocuvite |
| Ears and Eyes | Multisymptom Eye Drops | 1 | Visine |
| Ears and Eyes | Multisymptom Eye Drops | 2 | Systane |
| Family Planning | Condom | 1 | Trojan |
| Family Planning | Pregnancy Test | 1 | First Response / Clearblue (TIE) |
| Family Planning | Pregnancy Test | 3 | e.p.t. |
| First Aid | Bandages | 1 | BAND-AID |
| First Aid | Burn Treatment & Relief | 1 | NEOSPORIN |
| First Aid | Sunburn Relief | 1 | Solarcaine |
| First Aid | Sunburn Relief | 2 | Banana Boat |
| Gastrointestinal | Diarrhea Relief | 1 | Imodium |
| Gastrointestinal | Fiber Supplement | 1 | Metamucil |
| Gastrointestinal | Fiber Supplement | 2 | Benefiber |
| Gastrointestinal | Gas Relief | 1 | Gas-X |
| Gastrointestinal | Heartburn Relief | 1 | TUMS |
| Gastrointestinal | Heartburn Relief | 2 | Pepcid |
| Gastrointestinal | Hemorrhoid Relief | 1 | Preparation H |
| Gastrointestinal | Laxative | 1 | Dulcolax |
| Gastrointestinal | Laxative | 2 | MiraLAX |
| Gastrointestinal | Nausea Treatment/Relief | 1 | Emetrol / Dramamine-N (TIE) |
| Gastrointestinal | Nausea Treatment/Relief | 3 | Pepto-Bismol |
| Gastrointestinal | Stool Softener | 1 | Colace |
| Gastrointestinal | Stool Softener | 2 | Dulcolax |
| Gastrointestinal | Upset Stomach Relief | 1 | Pepto-Bismol |
| Gastrointestinal | Upset Stomach Relief | 2 | Tums |
| Oral Care | Cold Sore Relief | 1 | Abreva |
| Oral Care | Dry Mouth Relief | 1 | Biotène |
| Oral Care | Oral Pain Relief | 1 | Orajel |
| Oral Care | Oral Pain Relief | 2 | Tylenol |
| Other | Incontinence Products | 1 | Depend |
| Other | Incontinence Products | 2 | Poise |
| Other | Shampoo for Severe Dandruff | 1 | Head & Shoulders |
| Other | Shampoo for Severe Dandruff | 2 | Selsun Blue |
| Other | Shampoo for Severe Dandruff | 3 | Nizoral |
| Other | Sleeping Aid | 1 | Unisom |
| Other | Sleeping Aid | 2 | Benadryl |
| Other | Sleeping Aid | 3 | Vicks ZzzQuil |
| Other | Smoking Cessation | 1 | Nicorette |
| Other | Smoking Cessation | 2 | NicoDerm |
| Pain and Inflammation | Back Pain Relief | 1 | Aleve / Advil (TIE) |
| Pain and Inflammation | Back Pain Relief | 3 | Tylenol |
| Pain and Inflammation | Rapid Headache Relief | 1 | Excedrin |
| Pain and Inflammation | Rapid Headache Relief | 2 | Tylenol |
| Pain and Inflammation | Rapid Headache Relief | 3 | Advil |
| Pain and Inflammation | Rapid Migraine Relief | 1 | Excedrin |
| Pediatrics | Children's Allergic Reaction Treatment | 1 | Children's Benadryl |
| Pediatrics | Children's Allergic Reaction Treatment | 2 | Children's Zyrtec |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cold Relief | 1 | Children's Dimetapp |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cold Relief | 2 | Children's Tylenol |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cold Relief | 3 | Children's Robitussin / Mucinex Children's |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cough Relief | 1 | Children's Delsym / Children's Robitussin (TIE) |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cough Relief | 3 | Mucinex Children's |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cough/Cold Multisymptom Relief | 1 | Children's Dimetapp / Children's Robitussin (TIE) |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cough/Cold Multisymptom Relief | 3 | Mucinex Children's |
| Pediatrics | Children's Cough/Cold Multisymptom Relief | 4 | Children's Tylenol |
| Pediatrics | Children's Seasonal Allergies | 1 | Children's Claritin / Children's Zyrtec (TIE) |
| Supplements | Greens Powder Supplement | 1 | AG1 |
| Supplements | Immune System Booster | 1 | Emergen-C |
| Supplements | Immune System Booster | 2 | Airborne |
| Supplements | Joint Supplement | 1 | Osteo Bi-Flex |
| Supplements | Letter Vitamins | 1 | Nature Made |
| Supplements | Letter Vitamins | 2 | Centrum / Nature's Bounty (TIE) |
| Supplements | Meal Replacement | 1 | Ensure |
| Supplements | Meal Replacement | 2 | BOOST |
| Supplements | Melatonin Supplement | 1 | Nature Made |
| Supplements | Melatonin Supplement | 2 | NATROL |
| Supplements | Memory Support Supplement | 1 | Prevagen |
| Supplements | Adult Multivitamin | 1 | Centrum |
| Supplements | Adult Multivitamin | 2 | ONE-A-DAY |
| Supplements | Children's Multivitamin | 1 | Flintstones |
| Supplements | Children's Multivitamin | 2 | Centrum Kids |
| Supplements | Nutritional Drink | 1 | Ensure |
| Supplements | Nutritional Drink | 2 | BOOST |
| Supplements | Weight Loss Supplement | 1 | alli |
| Topicals | Acne Treatment | 1 | Differin |
| Topicals | Acne Treatment | 2 | Neutrogena |
| Topicals | Acne Treatment | 3 | Clearasil |
| Topicals | Antifungal Treatment | 1 | Lotrimin |
| Topicals | Antifungal Treatment | 2 | Lamisil |
| Topicals | Eczema Relief | 1 | Aveeno / Eucerin (TIE) |
| Topicals | Eczema Relief | 3 | Cortizone 10 |
| Topicals | Eczema Relief | 4 | CeraVe |
| Topicals | Hot/Cold Topical Pain Relief | 1 | Icy Hot |
| Topicals | Hot/Cold Topical Pain Relief | 2 | BIOFREEZE |
| Topicals | Lice Treatment | 1 | Nix |
| Topicals | Lice Treatment | 2 | RID |
| Topicals | Medicated Topical Pain Relief | 1 | Voltaren |
| Topicals | Medicated Topical Pain Relief | 2 | Aspercreme |
| Topicals | Scar and Stretch Mark Treatment | 1 | Mederma |
| Topicals | Adult Sunscreen | 1 | Neutrogena |
| Topicals | Adult Sunscreen | 2 | Coppertone |
| Topicals | Adult Sunscreen | 3 | Banana Boat |
| Women's Health | Menstrual Relief | 1 | Midol |
| Women's Health | Menstrual Relief | 2 | Pamprin |
| Women's Health | Menstrual Relief | 3 | Advil |
| Women's Health | Vaginal Lubricant | 1 | K-Y |
| Women's Health | Vaginal Lubricant | 2 | ASTROGLIDE / Replens (TIE) |
| Women's Health | Yeast Infection Treatment | 1 | MONISTAT |
Visit our rankings portal How winners are determined:
1,716 pharmacists practicing in the United States determined the BrandSpark/Newsweek Most Trusted by Pharmacists Awards winners for 2023 through their unaided write-in citations, as if they were giving their suggestions in the pharmacy. The highest share of citations as Most Trusted in the category determined the winner, with other brands ranked based on share where at least 10% of citations were received. If the margin of citation share was less than 3% between brands, then a tie was declared.
If your brand is listed and you would like promote this win, contact Enveritas Group today.
