U.S. News & World Report ranks best OTC medicine and health product brands

U.S. News & World Report says the Nature Made, CeraVe, and Neutrogena brands had the most category winners in its third annual Best OTC (over-the-counter) Medicines & Health Products ranking. The companies with the most number one-ranked products are Haleon, Kenvue, Prestige Consumer Healthcare, Procter & Gamble, and L’Oreal USA. 

By surveying almost 500 pharmacists and dermatologists, the organization ranked over 1,110 pharmaceuticals, supplements, and personal care products across 133 categories. 

Categories evaluated include ashwagandha supplements, multivitamins, cough drops, fiber supplements, indigestion relief, meal replacement shakes for weight loss, nerve pain medication, cough and cold medicine, and toothpaste. 

Nutrition Insight meets Stanley Chien, senior health editor at U.S. News, to discuss the results. She says the rankings help consumers make the most informed, expert-backed decisions to shop confidently. 

“Navigating the supplement section of your local store can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of products and brands to choose from, which can make it hard to find the best supplement,” notes Chien. 

“Our rankings offer an insightful look at top-performing products in categories like probiotics for gut health, omega-3 supplements for heart health, and essential vitamin D supplements, providing consumers with data-backed guidance for their wellness journey.”

New product categories

The 2025–2026 ranking includes 12 new categories, such as whey protein powders and supplements for weight loss, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and stress management. 

Chien explains: “We expanded our list of categories to include more OTC medicines and health products that people use on an everyday basis to improve their health.”

“We also wanted to add more categories around weight loss, IBS, and anti-stress supplements to reflect a growing body of research that continues to further support how important healthy nutrition is to overall physical and mental health.” 

This year’s ranking includes more categories to reflect growing research supporting nutrition’s role in physical and mental health.For the evaluation, U.S. News and The Harris Poll surveyed 357 pharmacists and 134 dermatologists practising in the US. For each category, panelists selected their top three recommended brands — the highly ranked ones most often were awarded the No. 1 slot for the corresponding product categories. 

“U.S. News’ Best OTC Medicine & Health Products rankings undergo a rigorous evaluation process by leading experts to assess each product’s safety, efficacy, and quality,” says Chien.

Whether consumers shop for vitamins or electrolytes, she notes they can trust that the top products on the list “truly are the best of the best as picked by our experts.” 

The product category rankings pages include information on active or key ingredients, essential considerations for choosing OTC products, photos of sample products per category, related product categories, and consumer advice articles. 

Preventative healthcare

Amid a growing awareness of self-care and the benefits of preventative healthcare, U.S. News observes an increasing variety and diversity of OTC medicines and health products, such as herbal and natural remedies, skin care items, and weight loss products. 

In addition, consumers are taking a more proactive role in managing minor health issues and seeking prescription-free relief from common health ailments, leading to more choices in OTC and health products. 

Chien sees supplements as important in supporting people’s daily health goals. 

For the ranking, 357 pharmacists and 134 dermatologists practising in the US selected their top three recommended brands per category.“While it’s important to get our nutrients from whole foods rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, supplements can help fill any nutritional gaps and provide additional dietary support to address specific health conditions.”

Supplements or medicine?

At the same time, U.S. News cautions that there can be substantial differences between products on the market. For example, the organization details that the US FDA regulates the safety and effectiveness of heartburn medicine, but doesn’t say which heartburn remedies are better than others. 

Moreover, FDA regulations for supplements such as vitamins and protein powders differ from those for drugs. 

“Categories separate OTC medicines (such as cough medicine, cold and flu medicine, and allergy medicines) and dietary supplements (vitamins, anti-stress, and electrolytes),” explains Chien. 

“Experts were asked to compare the safety and efficacy of each product against each other, so considering the FDA doesn’t regulate dietary supplements the same way it regulates drugs, it would not be an accurate or fair comparison.”

U.S. News released its 2025 Best Diet evaluation at the start of the year, where the Mediterranean diet scored the highest out of 38 examined diets.