When you run low on your daily vitamins and medications, you head down to your nearest drugstore or check out an online drugstore to replenish your supply. Drugstores are the best places to get your medicines because they are always well-stocked with various over-the-counter and prescription drugs. However, drugstores in the Philippines don’t only sell medicine. They also offer products that can be found in sari-sari and major grocery stores.

Although it may seem odd to see packs of candies, toiletries, and even beauty products in a drugstore, having them in the same place offers great convenience. Here’s an example: while buying your medicine, you suddenly remember that you need more dishwashing liquid at home. Instead of heading to a separate store, you can quickly grab one in the drugstore and pay all your items at the cashier. At most, you’ll have to line up at a separate counter (some drugstores may have different counters for medicines and other products).

Here are other household essentials you can find in a drugstore to help make your next visits more efficient:

Snacks

Snacks have become a staple in many Filipinos’ daily food consumption. Children have them during recess, workers eat them when they’re able to take a break, and people seek them out in the middle of the night. Snacks don’t only give us the boost of energy we need to help us get through the day, but they also improve our mood. That’s why it could be disappointing to see that you’re out of snacks the moment you check the pantry or open the fridge.

Fortunately, drugstores carry a lot of food items that range from Filipino favorites to healthy treats. You can throw in a few bags of chips, roasted peanuts, as well as packs of biscuits and cookies to your basket and purchase them along with your medicine.

Breakfast Items

Drugstores with a larger floor space can offer more food items like loaves of bread, spreads, juice, coffee, instant noodles, and even eggs. Select drugstores have even started selling frozen ready-to-cook meats and meals.

It seems strange but again, it’s highly convenient. One of the biggest advantages of this setup is that you can get your breakfast at any time. Because many drugstores are open 24/7, you can buy your breakfast items late in the evening so you have something to eat the next morning. This is less of a hassle than rushing to buy your food before the supermarket closes or waiting for the supermarket to open in the morning.

Baby Products

When taking care of newborns and infants, you need to purchase products that are specifically designed for their needs. The usual lotions, shampoos, and soaps might be too harsh on a baby’s skin. Milk that isn’t formulated for babies can’t be easily digested by newborns. At times, it can be challenging to find baby products, especially when the baby requires special care. Fortunately, drugstores sell a variety of baby products so parents won’t have a difficult time meeting their baby’s needs. Aside from baby bath items and formula milk, you can also buy the following products from drugstores:

• Diapers
• Baby oil
• Baby wipes
• Baby powder

There are even drugstores that sell baby accessories like silicone nipples, baby bottles, and baby bottle cleaners.

Bathroom Products

It’s easy to associate drugstores with good health since they’re where you purchase your vitamins and medicines. That’s why it makes sense that drugstores also sell bathroom products to promote good hygiene. Some of the items you can buy include toothpaste, body soaps, hand soaps, and bottles of alcohol to help keep your bathroom essentials fully stocked. You can also get personal care items and accessories like creams, hairbrushes, and nail cutters.

Cleaning Solutions, Disinfectants, and Insect Repellants

Other than bathroom products, there are some drugstores that also have cleaning solutions, disinfectants, and insect repellants on their shelves. This makes it easier for you to find the items you need to keep your home environment clean and pest-free.

Medical Care Supplies and Equipment

Drugstores are excellent places where people can get all kinds of medical supplies, from home and personal essentials to hospital-grade equipment. Some examples of home medical supplies you can find at a drugstore include digital thermometers, face masks, and blood pressure monitors. Meanwhile, hospital-grade equipment you can find in most drugstores include IV sets, syringes, pen needles, and oxygen tanks. If you’re able to go to a larger drugstore, you can even find wheelchairs, walkers, and other geriatric care equipment. Due to the wide range of medical care supplies and equipment drugstores offer, medical students and people who use these products at home can easily find what they need.

Drugstores have become more than a one-stop shop for all your medications and supplements. They’re also great places to quickly grab something to eat or purchase things you’ve missed during your grocery run.