Peering into someone else’s medicine cabinet is deeply personal—and when that someone is the CEO of a healthcare company, it’s enlightening, too. William Soliman, PhD, BCMAS is the Founder and CEO of the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs (ACMA), a medical certification organization highly respected for its Board-Certified Medical Affairs Specialist (BCMAS) program. A PhD from Columbia University, he also has over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and medical affairs—and he opens his medicine cabinet for the world to see.
“As the CEO and founder of ACMA, a company that works with pharmaceutical manufacturers all day, I have a keen sense of which drugs are probably the most important to keep in my medicine cabinet,” says Soliman. Read on to find out which four items he stocks and why you might want to do the same.
READ NEXT: 4 drugs doctors will never prescribe again.
The life of a CEO can be fast-paced and demanding: one day you’re sitting in a series of meetings and the next you’re boarding an international flight. This can wreak havoc on a reliable eating plan and sometimes cause some nasty side effects — including acid reflux.
That’s why Soliman offers Nexium – an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that’s commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, and other stomach acid-related conditions. “Acid reflux can afflict us at any time, especially after a late night business meal, so I like to keep Nexium on me,” says Soliman.
READ THIS NEXT: Never take this popular OTC drug for more than 2 days, FDA warns.
According to Soliman, hydrocortisone cream, which is used to treat uncomfortable skin conditions like pain, swelling, itching, and redness, is another “must have” in his medicine cabinet. Hydrocortisone, a topical steroid, is particularly effective at alleviating your immune response to acute inflammation. Soliman says he mainly uses it on the go. “Getting a mosquito bite or a skin rash while traveling can be annoying,” he notes.
Long working hours and constant travel can take a physical toll on your health, causing muscle aches, headaches and more. That’s why Soliman always has Advil on hand to combat these nasty symptoms.
“Advil (ibuprofen) is another medication that I always keep in my medicine cabinet because with travel comes back pain and neck strain,” he says, adding that headaches are also a common occurrence. He says these symptoms are especially common “as you adjust to new time zones,” so he makes sure you travel with the NSAID on hand.
Sign up for our daily newsletter to get more health news delivered straight to your inbox.
When you travel as much as a CEO, you may find that your new environment presents unexpected health challenges. Soliman says that while he rarely has serious allergies at home, he likes to have Claritin on hand when he’s on the go. “Depending on the climate I’m traveling to, my allergies can occur,” he explains.
Best Life provides the most up-to-date information from top experts, emerging research and public health authorities, but our content is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. When it comes to taking medication or other health-related questions, always consult your doctor directly.
