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Patient drug advice

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

In order to derive benefit from modern medicine and to escape harm, patients need to have certain basic information. A survey in Southampton, England, discovered that seven core points were regarded as being particularly important:

  • when and how to take the medicine
  • unwanted effects and what to do about them
  • precautions e.g. effects on driving
  • problems with alcohol and other drugs
  • the name of the medicine
  • the purposes of treatment
  • what to do if a dose is missed

Reference:

  • (1) Doon M, Walsh JB (1995). Use of chloramphenicol as a topical eye medication, time to cry a halt?. BMJ, 310, 12178.
  • (2) Walker S et al (1998). Lack of evidence of toxicity following topical chloramphenicol use. Eye, 12, 8759.

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