Women are going through what has been dubbed a 'paindemic', reporting experiencing pain at significantly higher rates and in more varied forms than men. Of note, 28% of women aged…
UK
OTC Medications
simple
UK OTC Analgesics and Cough, Cold and Flu Remedies Market Report 2026
"Greater recognition of gendered pain and personalised interests will spur format and claim innovation."
Women are going through what has been dubbed a ‘paindemic’, reporting experiencing pain at significantly higher rates and in more varied forms than men. Of note, 28% of women aged 18-50 in the UK have experienced 4+ types of pain in the last 12 months, underscoring the complexity and interconnectedness of pain experience on an individual and lifestage level.
A shift towards holistic and preventative health management could restrain further market growth. A focus on immunity support through lifestyle choices, like diets and stress management, could potentially help consumers prevent ailment onset, reducing demand for OTC remedies.
While threats from adjacent categories are present, brands can still find opportunities to forge deeper connections with consumers and adapt to their evolving lifestyles. 52% of OTC remedy users are unsure which remedies are most effective at treating pains/ailments, signalling a need for more guidance and support.
Refining efficacy positioning could help OTC brands remain relevant in the evolving market dynamics, such as leverage the flexibility of topical formats to fit into different occasions and lifestyles, and reinforce consumers’ trust in pharmacists and drug-free, thoughtful formulations.
This Report Looks at the Following Areas:
Experience of pains and ailments
Usage of OTC remedies used to treat pains and ailments
Methods to ease ailments, including use of OTC remedies and lifestyle changes
Factors that consumers consider important for supporting their immune system
Attitudes and behaviours related to use of OTC remedies
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
What you need to know
Outlook for OTC Analgesics and Cough, Cold and Flu Remedies
Opportunities
Consider expanding into topical solutions
Integrate into everyday wellness with ‘plus’ benefits
Leverage medical experts to help consumers cut through the noise
Graph 1: Pharmacy First claimed consultations, 2024-25
THE MARKET
Snapshot – market size and forecast
Economic pressure will have a mixed impact on spend
Graph 2: CPI inflation rate and total pay growth rate, 2021-25
A renewed recognition of gendered pain
Increasing obesity will lead to more OTC use
Maxwellia’s naproxen reclassification will boost new ingredient sales
Tariff exemption will drive innovation and cost
Pain relief keeping up, while cough, cold and flu shrank in size
Market size and forecast
Market size and forecast of OTC Analgesics and Cough, Cold and Flu Remedies
Graph 3: market forecast for OTC analgesics and cough, cold and flu remedies, 2019-30
Market segmentation
Cough, cold and flu remedies brand share
Graph 4: retail value shares of OTC cough, cold and flu remedies, by brand, 2024-25
THE CONSUMER
Address the gender disparity in pain experience
Women’s ‘paindemic’ demands urgent solutions
Graph 5: select types of pain experienced in the last 12 months, by gender, 2026
Recognise the gendered pain experience
Women are more likely to use traditional formats of pain management
Combine solutions to meet multiple outcomes for women
Graph 6: usage of combination tablets with multiple active ingredients to ease a pain experienced in the last 12 months, by repertoire of pains experienced, 2026
Prevalence of menstrual pain opens up space for period bundles
Broaden the appeal of topical solutions for more occasions
Guide consumers to navigate cold and flu treatment
Older adults report fewer common illnesses
Alleviate confusion over flu treatment
Explore bundles to support the flu experience
Graph 7: use of OTC remedies to treat an ailment experienced in the last 12 months, by ailments experienced, 2026
Innovate around pharmacy initiatives to engage
Brace for a shift towards holistic management
Sugar-free remedies can broaden its appeal
Sugar free remedies can broaden its appeal
Graph 8: I prefer taking sugar-free remedies to ones with sugar, by OTC remedies to ease a pain, 2026
Different approaches to recovery
Graph 9: which of the following have you done to ease the ailments you have experienced in the last 12 months, by gender, 2026
Immunity support cues new opportunities for OTC brands
Leverage “food as medicine” trend
Graph 10: most important factors to supporting the immune system – dietary choices, by gender and age, 2026
Topical solutions are well-positioned to expand into wearable wellness
Accessible pharmacy service through pop-up
Blended with social events and lifestyles
APPENDIX
Report scope
The market
Overweight and obesity prevalence
Forecast methodology
Forecast methodology – fan chart
Market size and forecast: constant and current prices (total)
Market forecast: prediction intervals (total)
Market segmentation – analgesics
Market segmentation – cough, cold and flu remedies
Market share – analgesics
Market share – cold/flu decongestants
Market share – cough liquids
Market share – medicated confectionery
The consumer
Consumer research questions
Consumer research methodology
Repertoire analysis methodology
UK generation groups
Other data source methodologies
Mintel Spark
Abbreviations
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