Patient Information Leaflets
Where to go for information about medicines
You have a right to ask for as much information as you want about the medicines you take. If you have specific questions or concerns or just want to know more about a particular medicine you should:
- talk to your pharmacist. Pharmacists have an extensive knowledge of the medicines they sell and dispense and will be able to provide you with most of the information you need.
- ask your doctor. Your doctor will be happy to answer your questions about the medicines he/she is prescribing for you. Don't be afraid to ask, and never feel your doctor is too busy or too important to answer your questions - it is part of the job.
- ask to borrow or take a photocopy of any available information so that you can read it in your own time. Don't be afraid to ask to have something repeated, and if your doctor or pharmacist uses words you don't understand, ask them to explain what they mean.
- visit the local library. Most public libraries hold copies of textbooks and other publications about medicines. Ask the librarian to help you find the appropriate book.
- contact the pharmaceutical company that markets the medicine. If you don't know who that is, ask the pharmacist, who may also be able to give you the address and phone number of the company
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is information about a medicine written in plain language specifically for consumers. CMI contains details about what the medicine is for, how it should be taken, what side effects can occur, whether there are any special precautions to be taken, correct storage etc.
A medicine data sheet contains detailed information about a medicine. Because it is written for prescribers, it contains complex medical information and terms that may be difficult to understand. However, if there is no CMI available, or you have read the CMI but would still like to know more about the medicine, the data sheet may be a useful source of information.