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New edition evaluates more than 1,000 over-the-counter consumer products, names product winners across 100+ product categories.
WASHINGTON, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in health care rankings and consumer advice, today published the third annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products. The latest edition of the rankings features 133 categories, with 12 new over-the-counter product categories added this year.
The brands with the most No. 1 products among the 2025-2026 rankings are Nature Made (7), followed by CeraVe (6) and Neutrogena (5); the companies with the most No. 1 products are Haleon plc, followed by Kenvue Inc., Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company and L'Oreal Usa, Inc.
"Navigating the crowded shelves of over-the-counter products can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be a guessing game," said Shanley Chien, senior editor of health at U.S. News. "U.S. News' annual Best OTC Medicine & Health Products rankings offer consumers a trustworthy guide, backed by a statistical assessment of the top-performing over-the-counter products."
"U.S. News' in-depth evaluation across more than 100 categories, informed by the expertise of nearly 500 pharmacists and dermatologists, is your go-to resource for making confident over-the-counter purchasing decisions," Chien added.
In a continued partnership with global market research firm The Harris Poll, U.S. News surveyed 357 pharmacists and 134 dermatologists practicing in the United States in March 2025 regarding 133 categories. The over-the-counter medicine and health products that were evaluated ranged from prenatal and pregnancy care items to those for infants and children, and further encompass products for adults and seniors.
To determine the rankings, panelists selected their top three recommended brands within each category assigned to them. The brands that were highly ranked most often were ranked No. 1 for the corresponding product categories. U.S. News awarded the designations of Best OTC Medicine & Health Products only to those brands that satisfy U.S. News' statistical assessment of performance on the survey. Based on U.S. News' analysis, some product categories were awarded more than one winner.
Some popular product category winners evaluated by pharmacists among the 2025-2026 edition, ranked No. 1, include:
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Children's Cough Medicines: Children's Delsym
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Cough Drops: Halls
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Cough Suppressants: Delsym
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Daytime Cold and Flu Medicines: Mucinex
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Eye Drops for Dry Eyes: Refresh Tears
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Laxatives: MiraLAX
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Multivitamins: Centrum Men's Multivitamin, One A Day Women's Multivitamin
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Probiotic Supplements: Culturelle
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Stool Softeners: Colace