I don’t like to be dramatic (I say, clutching a Lemsip and rummaging for a blister pack of ibuprofen like it’s a lost credit card), but I genuinely don’t understand how people function without a portable medicine cabinet on them at all times.
I am the person in the office who, when a colleague mutters the word “headache” or sneezes with a little too much flair, is already halfway across the room with a selection of remedies fanned out like a magician’s deck. Do you want paracetamol or ibuprofen? Soluble or swallowable? Decongestant spray or herbal oil? I’ve got you.
Of course, this degree of preparation requires some rather strategic packing. You can’t just lob Strepsils, plasters, antihistamines and antiseptic wipes into a handbag willy-nilly. Not unless you enjoy fishing rogue pills out of the dusty corners of your tote and handing over lint-coated antihistamines in a moment of panic.
So, over the years, I’ve become something of an expert in the fine art of medicine pouch curation. I have a pouch for pain relief, a pouch for stomach mishaps (Imodium, Dioralyte, Rennie, the works), and another for plasters, creams and mystery ointments that I’ve panic-bought in foreign pharmacies “just in case.” There’s a whole system, colour-coded and zippered, worthy of an NHS logistics consultant.
Friends ask me (sometimes mockingly, sometimes earnestly) what I actually use to keep all this paraphernalia in order. And thus, this article was born: a guide to the best pouches, pill cases and clever containers to keep your on-the-go pharmacy not just functional, but chic. Or at least hygienically sealed.
Whether you’re a fellow hypochondriac or simply someone who likes to be prepared, these are the storage solutions that have saved me from countless minor crises and kept my handbag from becoming a biohazard zone.
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Roka Carnaby Marine Recycled Canvas
The overall winner and the pouch that I quite literally couldn’t go a day without, the Roka Carnaby is a tri-compartment wonder. It fits a remarkable number of blister packets in each pocket, and even my favourite miniature hypochlorous acid spray. Though technically a wallet, the Carnaby is nevertheless a multi-purpose dream featuring weather-resistant triple-coated canvas, recycled nylon and chic, durable hardware to boot.
Buy now £22.95, Roka London
Fjallraven Samlaren Field Repair Kit
Technically, it’s for repairing rucksacks, but this rugged little pouch is the ultimate multipurpose organiser. With its zip compartments, sturdy water-resistant fabric and tactile Scandi charm, it moonlights brilliantly as a med pouch. It’s durable enough for hiking, stylish enough for the Tube, and it looks deliberately outdoorsy for all my fellow granola girls and boys.
Buy now £35.00, The Mountain Factor
Mini Family First Aid Kit
This is the Swiss Army Knife of home first-aid kits: compact, yes, but bursting with well-organised essentials including bandages, antiseptic wipes, scissors, tweezers and even a digital thermometer. It’s a godsend for anyone who wants to be properly prepped without schlepping an entire Boots aisle around in their bag. It’s also great for mixing and matching – swap out the bandages and tweezers you don’t need on the daily for Imodium and Nurofen instead.
Buy now £26.99, Amazon
Fullicon Travel Pill Box Organiser
This cheerful, pastel-toned organiser is a hypochondriac’s dream. With seven compartments and a slim, palm-sized design, it’s perfect for storing daily doses or separating meds by category (pain relief, antihistamines, panic-purchased homoeopathy). The click-close lid is reassuringly secure, and it won’t fly open in your bag mid-commute.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Sequence Store Pillar 7 Day Pill Box
Muji meets apothecary. This beautifully minimal pill tower has seven stackable, magnetised compartments that rotate open like a puzzle box. A surprisingly elegant solution for the weekly-med-toting crowd, and it looks more like a sleek desk object than a pharmacy container.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Sibba Pill Organiser Box
Compact, transparent and pleasing to the eye, this container is ideal for the aesthetically inclined. Think of it as the no-nonsense friend who always brings a charger and tissues to dinner. It’s practical, sturdy, and does its job without stealing the spotlight in your handbag.
Buy now £6.49, Amazon
AAOWU Pill Box Organiser
If you need a no-frills, ultra-portable container that’ll disappear into even the tiniest clutch bag, this is it. It’s feather-light, surprisingly durable, and costs less than a Pret coffee. For emergency Nurofen or a stash of travel sickness tablets, it’s the ultimate just-in-case box.
Buy now £3.99, Amazon
TheOnlyLabels UK Pocket Pharmacy Labels
For those of us who hoard unmarked blister packs like dragons, these minimal, printable labels are a revelation. Created by a UK designer, they’re editable, tidy, and ideal for bringing order to your DIY pharmacy. No more guessing whether that rogue tablet is an antihistamine or an accidental laxative.
Buy now £2.83, Etsy
