“Just like when our customers are hungry or thirsty, if they come to our stores feeling ill, they have an immediate need they want fixed fast,” says 7-Eleven spokesperson.

When shoppers visit a 7‑Eleven store, they are typically on a mission—a snack if they’re hungry, a drink if they’re thirsty, fuel if their gas tank’s empty, a lottery ticket if they’re feeling lucky. But for those suffering from a headache, allergies, indigestion or the like, what they want most of all is relief.

7‑Eleven, which has long offered single-dose blister packs of the most popular, national brand over-the-counter (OTC) medications for years, has entered the private-label drug business with its own 7-Select-branded, non-prescription medicines, at a savings of up to 85% per pill or ounce for equal to or better quality. Participating stores carry 7-Select OTC remedies in five major categories:

Pain relief

Cold-flu-allergy

Gastro-intestinal upset

Cough/throat

Sleep aids

“With recent changes in healthcare, an aging population and the transition from prescription to the OTC status of some popular medicines, more people are looking for ways to self-treat minor ailments,” said Rebecca Frechette, 7‑Eleven senior vice president of merchandising.

“Just like when our customers are hungry or thirsty, if they come to our stores feeling ill, they have an immediate need they want fixed fast,” she said. “With the new 7-Select high-quality alternatives to popular OTC drugs, we can offer them relief from their ailment with great products at value prices.”

Regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), private-label OTC drugs must meet or exceed the same efficacy guidelines and standards of their national-brand counterparts, including product strength, dosing directions and package labeling.

The retailer has partnered with Perrigo, the largest generic medication supplier in the U.S., to create its assortment.

Most 7‑Eleven stores will continue to carry popular national brands in single-dose and larger packages alongside its 7-Select options. Some stores may choose to carry only the new value-priced, private-brand children’s pain, cold and allergy remedies.

Participating stores now carry some or all of the following 7-Select high quality OTC medications:

Pain

Ibuprofen Brown Caplets – 24 and 50 count (compare to Advil)

Extra Strength Acetaminophen Caplets, 500 mg. – 24 count (compare to Tylenol ES)

Migraine Caplets – 24 count (compare to Excedrin Migraine)

Naproxen Sodium Caplets or Tablets, 220 mg. – 24 count (compare to Aleve)

Coated Aspirin – 100 count (compare to Bayer)

Chewable Low Dose Adult Aspirin Tablets – 36 count (compare to St. Joseph)

Cold/Flu/Allergy

Day Cold & Flu Relief – 16 count (compare to Dayquil Liquicaps)

Night Cold & Flu Relief – 16 count (compare to Nyquil Liquicaps)

Night Time Cold & Flu Liquid – 12 oz. (compare to Nyquil Liquid)

Daytime Cold & Flu Liquid – 12 oz. (compare to Dayquil Liquid)

Loratadine Allergy, 10 mg., 24-hour Tablets – 10 count (compare to Claritin)

Diphedryl Allergy Tablets – 24 count (compare to Benadryl)

Cetrizine Allergy Relief Tablets, 10 mg. – 14 count (compare to Zyrtec)

Fexofenadine HCL 180 mg. Allergy Tablets – 10 ct. (compare to Allegra)

Child and Adult Cough Relief – 3 oz. (compare to Delsym)

Decongestant Nasal Spray – 1 oz. (compare to Afrin)

Saline Nasal Spray – 1.5 oz. (compare to Ocean)

Gastro-Intestinal

Maxi-Strength Ranitidine Heartburn Relief Tablets, 150 mg. – 24 count (compare to Zantac)

Max Strength Pink Bismuth Stomach Relief – 8 oz. (compare to Pepto-Bismol)

Famotidine Acid Reducer Tablets – 8 count (compare to Pepcid)

Anti-diarrheal Loperamide Caplets – 12 count (compare to Imodium A-D)

Stomach Relief Chews – 30 count (compare to Pepto-Bismol)

Chewable Antacids – 96 count (compare to Tums)

Sleep Aids

Night-time Sleep Aid, Berry – 6 oz. (compare to ZZZQuil)

Night-time Sleep Aid Tablets – 16 count (compare to Unisom)

Ibuprofen PM Caplets – 20 count (compare to Advil PM)

Extra Strength Acetaminophen PM – 50 count (compare to Tylenol PM)

Children’s

Children’s Pain Relief Oral Solution Grape, 160 mg. – 4 oz. (compare to Children’s Tylenol)

Child Ibuprofen Berry Suspension, 100 mg. – 4 oz. (compare to Children’s Advil)

Cetirizine Children’s Allergy Relief Grape, 5 mg. – 4 oz. (compare to Children’s Zyrtec)

Child Diphedryl Allergy Relief Cherry – 4 oz. (compare to Children’s Benadryl)

Dibromm Child Cold & Allergy Grape Elixir – 4 oz. (compare to Children’s Dimetapp)

7‑Eleven is one of the first convenience retailers to carry its own extensive line of private-brand OTC medicines—up to 34 varieties—with more planned for the future.

“As popular prescription drugs transition to over the counter, we will refine and add to our OTC selection if it makes sense to include in our selection,” Frechette said. “OTC medication is a $30 billion business and, in some categories, private-brands account for more than half of these sales. More people are becoming accustomed to choosing private brand OTC drugs, and as our 7-Select brand is gaining recognition, this seemed a natural extension for us.

“We are trying to create convenient solution centers for our customers,” Frechette said. “That means carrying tissues and eye drops next to allergy medicines, lip balms and Vitamin C with cold and flu remedies, or hand sanitizer, topical medicated sprays and elastic bandages next to pain relief.”

7‑Eleven introduced products sold under the 7-Select banner in 2004, and today its stores carry up to 300 different items under its private brand.