Package leaflet of a medicine: How to understand it

The drug leaflet It is a legal and mandatory document for any pharmaceutical product in which a series of data is collected so that the consumer has access to them. However, sometimes reading a drug leaflet it can lead to further confusion.

Parts of a drug leaflet

In general, every pharmaceutical leaflet has well-differentiated parts that answer a series of basic questions:

• What is the medicine
• What is the medicine used for?
• Precautions before taking it
• How to take it
• Adverse drug effects
• Preservation of the drug
• Additional Information

What is the medicine

The first section of drug leaflet It is very simple, it explains to us which drug we are going to take, giving both the commercial name given by the pharmaceutical company that produces it and that of the active principle, that is, the chemical molecule. Sometimes these names coincide if the drug is a generic or EFG.

This section is important because it explains what the indications of this drug are, that is, for which symptoms or diseases the use of the drug has been approved. as a therapeutic agent. If the drug is used to treat any ailment that is not reflected here, it may not be effective or even harm health, so drugs should not be used to treat diseases other than those listed in the file. unless directed by a physician.

What is it for

In the second section of drug leaflet collects a whole series of contraindications and precautions when taking the drug. These warnings may refer to: • Certain diseases • Allergies to drug components • Use of other drugs simultaneously • Consumption of toxic substances •, adolescents and the elderly • Use during pregnancy and