Prescriptions and Medicines

Part 1. A2. Elementary.

The Doctor Wrote a Prescription

The doctor wrote me a prescription for antibiotics.
The prescription came to my phone as a code.
Is this prescription valid for a month?
I cannot read the doctor's handwriting at all.
Which pharmacy is open late tonight?

At the Pharmacy Counter

Here is my prescription, please.
Do you have this medicine in stock?
It comes in a pack of twenty tablets.
Is there a cheaper generic with the same ingredient?
Can I pay by card, please?

Reading the Package

Take one capsule every eight hours.
Shake the bottle well before use.
Keep this medicine out of reach of children.
Store it in the fridge after opening.
The expiry date is printed on the bottom of the box.

Quick reminder: every phrase sounds twice.
Repeat it out loud after me, do not just listen.
The Russian translation stays on the screen all the time.

Tablets, Drops and Ointment

These are tablets, and those are capsules.
Put three drops in each eye at night.
The ointment goes on the skin twice a day.
The syrup is for my daughter, not for me.
Do I swallow this tablet or let it melt?

The Medicine Cabinet at Home

My medicine cabinet is in the bathroom.
We keep plasters, a thermometer and painkillers there.
Half of these boxes are already expired.
I never throw old pills into the bin.
Where can I return unused medicines?

Remembering to Take It

I set an alarm for every dose.
This pill box has a section for each day.
I missed my morning dose, what should I do?
Take it with food, or your stomach will hurt.
I feel better, but I will not stop yet.

The Course Is Over

I finished the whole course of tablets today.
I need a repeat prescription for next month.
Can you order it for me by tomorrow?
The pharmacist explained everything very clearly.
Thank you, I will come back next month.

Part 2. B1. Intermediate.

Pills Every Day

I have been on blood pressure pills for two years.
Every month I pick up a new pack at the same pharmacy.
I ran out of tablets three days before my refill.
Skipping a day makes my numbers jump.
Have you ever forgotten whether you took your pill?

Generic or Brand Name

The pharmacist offered me a generic instead of the brand.
It has the same active ingredient at half the price.
Honestly, the cheaper one works just as well for me.
Why does the brand cost three times more?
My mother does not trust anything without the familiar logo.

The Leaflet in Small Print

The leaflet lists twenty side effects, most of them rare.
It says the tablets may cause drowsiness.
I felt dizzy on the first day, then it passed.
Do not drive until you know how it affects you.
Reading the leaflet calmed me down instead of scaring me.

Interactions and Alcohol

Can I have a glass of wine while taking these?
Grapefruit juice does not go with my tablets.
Two painkillers with the same ingredient is an overdose.
I always tell the pharmacist what else I am taking.
Some herbal teas interact with medicines too.

Medicine for a Child

The children's dose depends on weight, not on age.
I measure the syrup with the syringe from the box.
My son spat it out and made a terrible face.
Is there a strawberry flavour for kids?
Never give a child an adult tablet cut in half.

Medicines on a Trip

I keep my pills in my hand luggage, not in the suitcase.
A copy of the prescription helped me at customs.
With the time difference, when do I take my evening dose?
I ran out of my pills abroad and panicked.
The local pharmacist found the same drug under another name.

Over the Counter: My Own Doctor?

Painkillers and antacids are sold over the counter.
Do not take ibuprofen on an empty stomach.
The pharmacist is the first person I ask about a new symptom.
A week of painkillers is not a treatment plan.
Which of these should I take for a migraine?

Part 3. B2. Upper-Intermediate.

Too Many Pills

My father takes nine different medicines every morning.
Nobody had reviewed his list in years.
Two of the pills were doing exactly the same job.
We asked the doctor to trim the list to the essentials.
Fewer pills means fewer chances to mix them up.

Price, Insurance and Shortages

My insurance covers the drug, but I pay a small co-payment.
The medicine has been out of stock nationwide for weeks.
The pharmacist tracked down the last pack at another branch.
Is there an equivalent that is not on the shortage list?
Rationing my tablets to make them last was a bad idea.

Supplements and Evidence

Half the shelf is supplements with no proof they work.
The label promises immunity, energy and better sleep at once.
Vitamin D was the only supplement my doctor actually recommended.
Expensive urine is how my doctor describes most vitamin packs.
Does this supplement interfere with my prescription drugs?

Online Pharmacies and Fakes

I only order from a licensed online pharmacy.
A price that looks too good to be true usually is.
Counterfeit pills may contain no active ingredient at all.
How do I check that a website is a real pharmacy?
The package arrived without a leaflet, which set off alarm bells.

Why People Quit Treatment

I stopped the pills when I felt better, which was a mistake.
Sticking to a course is harder than starting one.
An app now reminds me and tracks every dose.
Leftover antibiotics in the cupboard are a bad sign.
Do you finish every course, or do you drop it halfway?

Talking to the Pharmacist

Could you go through everything I take and check for clashes?
Is there a slow-release version I can take once a day?
The pharmacist spotted a dosage error before I did.
She suggested taking it at bedtime to avoid the drowsiness.
A good pharmacist is worth a second appointment with the doctor.

When the Medicine Does Not Work

It took three weeks for the tablets to kick in.
The first drug did nothing, so we switched to another class.
The dose was adjusted twice before it finally worked.
I keep a diary of symptoms to show what has changed.
Patience with a treatment is a skill nobody teaches you.