What this category covers
This section explains what medicines are used for, in plain language, for people in South Africa. Every guide answers one question directly: what is this medicine normally given for?
You will find prescription medicines, pharmacy-only medicines and products you can buy off the shelf. Many of the guides cover brand names you see on a South African dispensing label — names like Synaleve, Betamox or Hyospasmol — rather than only the international generic name, because the box in your hand rarely uses the textbook term.
What this section does not do is tell you whether a medicine is right for you. It will not diagnose a condition, work out a dose, tell you it is safe to combine with something else, or replace what a pharmacist or doctor tells you about your own situation. Those decisions depend on your health history, your other medicines, your age and other factors that a web page cannot know. Use these guides to understand what you are holding, then take the specific question to a professional.
A single medicine often has more than one legitimate use. The same active ingredient may be prescribed for very different reasons at different doses, so the fact that a guide lists a use does not mean that is why it was prescribed for you. If you are unsure why you were given something, ask the prescriber or the pharmacist who dispensed it.
Browse by topic
Medicines are grouped by what they treat, so you can move straight to the right area.
- Explore General Prescription & OTC Medicines — products that do not sort into one body system, including brands that cannot be matched to a current registration.
- Explore Pain, Inflammation & Musculoskeletal Medicines — the most searched section: painkillers, anti-inflammatories, muscle and joint products.
- Explore Antibiotics, Antifungals & Antimicrobials — medicines that treat bacterial, fungal and other infections.
- Explore Digestive, Stomach & Nausea Medicines — reflux, cramps, nausea, diarrhoea and related products.
- Explore Skin, Wound & Topical Medicines — creams, ointments, antiseptics and wound products.
- Explore Blood Pressure, Heart & Circulation Medicines — cardiovascular medicines, most of them long-term.
- Explore Mental Health, Nerve & Neurological Medicines — mood, anxiety, sleep, epilepsy and nerve-related medicines.
- Explore Allergy, Cold, Flu & Respiratory Medicines — antihistamines, decongestants, cough products and asthma-related medicines.
- Explore HIV, Antiviral & Infectious Disease Medicines — antiretrovirals and other antiviral treatments.
- Explore Diabetes, Thyroid & Endocrine Medicines — medicines that act on hormones and metabolism.
- Explore Sexual Health & Urology Medicines — urinary, prostate and sexual health products.
- Explore Vaccines & Preventive Medicines — vaccines and medicines given to prevent rather than treat illness.
Most searched questions
These are the medicine guides South Africans open most often.
- Prednisone used for — a corticosteroid prescribed across a wide range of inflammatory conditions.
- Hetemcit used for — an antiretroviral combination, widely dispensed in South Africa.
- Donapan used for — a paracetamol product.
- Synaleve used for — a combination pain capsule that contains codeine, which is why it carries specific cautions.
- Hyospasmol used for — commonly associated with cramping and spasm.
- Azrotrin used for
- Diclofenac used for — a widely used anti-inflammatory, sold under several brand names.
- Metronidazole used for — an antimicrobial with well-known interaction cautions.
- Trolic used for
- Betamox used for — an amoxicillin-based antibiotic.
How to choose the right guide
Start with the name printed on the box or the dispensing label, not the condition you think you have. South African pharmacies dispense many products under local brand names, and searching the brand will usually land you on the exact page.
If the name on your label is not the one you expected, check whether it is a generic version. Pharmacies may substitute a generic for the brand your doctor wrote, and the two can look completely different while containing the same active ingredient. The active ingredient is normally printed in smaller type under the brand name.
If you only know the reason it was prescribed, use the topic list above instead and work down to the specific product. And if two guides seem to describe the same thing, use the one that matches your exact product name — strengths and formulations differ, and a tablet, a suspension and a suppository of the same medicine are not interchangeable.
Safety, accuracy and South African context
These guides are informational. They are written for a South African reader, using the product names and pack formats commonly dispensed here, and they point to the professionals who can answer questions specific to you.
Speak to a pharmacist or doctor before acting when any of the following apply:
- You are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding.
- The medicine is for a child, and the pack is labelled for adults.
- You already take other medicines, including anything herbal or bought over the counter.
- You have a long-term condition affecting the liver or kidneys.
- You have had a reaction to a medicine before.
- Symptoms are severe, getting worse, or not improving as expected.
A pharmacist is the most accessible medicines professional in South Africa, and you do not need an appointment to ask one a question. For anything involving a new diagnosis, a dose change or stopping a chronic medicine, that conversation belongs with the prescriber.
Two habits matter more than anything on this page. Finish a course of antibiotics as directed rather than stopping when you feel better, and keep an up-to-date list of everything you take, including supplements, to show to any professional who treats you. Where a guide makes a factual claim about a medicine, it follows regulator-approved product information and the manufacturer’s label rather than general opinion. Where guidance depends on individual circumstances, the guide says so instead of guessing.
Related UsedFor categories
- Supplements — vitamins, minerals and wellness products, which are regulated differently from medicines.
- Household Products — antiseptics and cleaning products that are sometimes confused with medical ones.
- South Africa Admin — medical aid, official documents and related paperwork.
Frequently asked questions
Does this site tell me what dose to take? No. Dosage depends on your age, weight, kidney and liver function and other medicines. Follow the dispensing label and ask the pharmacist who gave it to you.
The guide lists a use that is not why I was prescribed it. Is that a mistake? Usually not. Many medicines are legitimately used for several conditions, sometimes at different strengths. Ask your prescriber why it was chosen for you.
Can I use these guides to decide whether to stop a medicine? No. Stopping some medicines suddenly is harmful, particularly long-term ones for blood pressure, mental health or epilepsy. Discuss any change with the prescriber.
Is a generic the same as the brand? A generic contains the same active ingredient and must meet the same regulatory standards. The tablet may look different and inactive ingredients can differ, which occasionally matters for allergies. Your pharmacist can confirm the substitution.
Are these guides written for South Africa? Yes. They use product names and pack formats dispensed in South Africa and refer to South African professionals and sources. Availability and packaging elsewhere may differ.