What's new on your shelves?

What’s different in your drug stores this month or coming very soon? Chewable omega-3 jellies for kids. An oral antiseptic spray. A more-tapered cotton swab. Tasty vitamins that melt in the mouth. Shoes and sandals with arch supports. A non-habit-forming sleep aid. And there are even more new over-the-counter items featured in the print edition of Drug Topics.

• Nordic Omega-3 Jellies.

The latest in the Nordic Naturals line of kid-friendly supplements is Nordic Omega-3 Jellies. From the folksy box to the tutti-frutti taste, the little fish-shaped, chewable jellies will appeal to kids. And appealing to their parents will be the 250 mg of EPA+DHA per jellie, easy-to-open packs, and on-the-go convenience. Nordic Omega-3 Jellies are made from purified fish oil, sustainably sourced from anchovies and sardines, and then specially formulated for children ages 2 and older. Research shows that a high-quality, purified fish oil is the safest, most effective source of the omega-3s children need for normal brain and visual development, and nervous and immune system support. Each box contains 36 individual packs.

• Halo Oral Antiseptic Spray.

Oasis Consumer Healthcare has introduced an oral antiseptic clinically proven to protect against airborne germs, including a broad spectrum of bacteria and viruses. Halo Oral Antiseptic Spray coats the back of the oral cavity to provide sustained antiseptic action against germs that enter the mouth or are breathed in through the nasal cavity. The active ingredient, cetylpyridinium chloride (0.1%), provides up to 6 hours of germ-killing protection when sprayed three times directly into the mouth. The 1 fl. oz.-size meets TSA regulations for carry-on luggage, making it ideal for travel and other crowded environments. Available in berry and citrus flavors for adults; grape for children ages 2 and older. The Halo spray is alcohol- and sugar-free, and can be used up to three times a day.

• Q-tips Precision Tips.

Unilever has extended their Q-tips brand with Precision Tips, a more finely tapered cotton swab. Although specially designed for cosmetic applications and touch-ups, the dual tapered tips suggest a variety of applications, branching out from the beauty area and crossing into household, hobby, and healthcare aisles. The Precision Tips will be especially useful when cleaning out infants’ outer ears, nostrils, and eyes, in addition to applying ointment to small cuts or abrasions on any age. No more need to pull off and waste some of that “normal” cotton swabbing to reach tiny places.

• Nature Made VitaMelts.

Nature Made continues its largest expansion in more than 40 years with the introduction of VitaMelts. These vitamin “dissolve tablets” melt smoothly in the mouth. With no water or other liquid needed to swallow a tablet or softgel, the new formulation lessens any chance of one missing a dose; they are conveniently carried along anywhere, anytime in their portable flip-top pack. The tasty VitaMelts come in natural flavors like creamy vanilla, honey lemon, and green tea mint. Initial product offerings: Zinc for immune support, Vitamin D for bone and immune support, Vitamin C for immune support, Relax (L-theanine), Energy (vitamin B-12), and Sleep (melatonin).

• Spenco TotalSupport Footwear.

Based on its wildly popular PolySorb Total Support Insole, Spenco has developed and released recovery sandals and shoes, using the same PolySorb Total Support technology. The sandals, introduced this spring, feature orthotic and metatarsal arch support, including non-marking rubber outsole to provide gripping and stable support. For fall, Spenco has added Cold Snap Footwear, also based on the Total Support Insole and the Full-Contact Comfort Footbed. This combination improves alignment and helps reduce over-pronation – a common problem that causes foot, leg, and back pain. The Siesta Unstructured Casual sandal has extra volume in the toe box for a generous, comfortable fit. Both men’s and women’s style are available.

• Vicks ZzzQuil.

Procter & Gamble has entered a new product category with ZzzQuil, a non-habit forming, over-the-counter (OTC) sleep-aid that provides relief for occasional sleeplessness. Unlike some other OTC products that combine ingredients to relieve minor aches and pains with a sleep aid, ZzzQuil works solely to aid sleep through its single active ingredient, diphenhydramine HCI. ZzzQuil helps reduce the time it takes for a person to fall asleep, while allowing him or her to sleep soundly. As the product literature states, “It’s not for colds, it’s not for pain, it’s just for sleep.” Available as both a liquid (Warming Berry Flavor) and a LiquiCap form, it is intended for adults and children 12 years of age and older.