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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Dispensing and Counselling

Patient information leaflet

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

nounCore term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, patient information leaflet means: The printed leaflet inside a medicine pack that explains in plain language what the medicine is for, how to take it, its possible side effects and how to store it.

In Turkish: kullanma talimatı, prospektüs, hasta bilgilendirme broşürü

How it is used

Shortened to PIL and called the package leaflet in EU rules. Health professionals use the more technical summary of product characteristics (SmPC); in the US the professional document is the package insert or prescribing information. Pharmacists encourage patients to keep the leaflet and read it.

Example sentences

  1. All the possible side effects are listed in the patient information leaflet.

  2. The patient information leaflet says to keep the bottle in the fridge after opening.

Common collocations

  • read the patient information leaflet
  • package leaflet
  • summary of product characteristics
  • package insert
  • side effectAn effect of a medicine that is not the main reason for taking it; most side effects are unwanted, such as nausea, drowsiness or a headache.
  • patient counsellingThe conversation in which a pharmacist explains to a patient how to use a medicine, what to expect from it and which side effects or warnings to watch for.
  • contraindicationA condition or situation in which a particular medicine should not be used because the risk of harm is too high, such as pregnancy, an allergy or a certain disease.
  • expiry dateThe date printed on a medicine pack after which the manufacturer no longer guarantees that the product is fully effective and safe to use.

More terms: Dispensing and Counselling

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