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"About the medicine factsheets Each of our medicine factsheets contains key information about the medicine, including how to take it and possible side effects to look out for, all written in a clear and easy to understand way. Each factsheet is produced in a standard format under the headings described in this article, to allow you to locate information easily. The references we use to produce the factsheets are listed at the end of this article. The top right of each factsheet will tell you if the medicine is prescription-only (only available on prescription), pharmacy-only (available to buy from pharmacies) or over the counter (this means available to buy from general retail outlets such as supermarkets). It will also tell you if the medicine is a controlled drug (subject to special laws on supply and possession) and if it is in the World Anti-Doping Code Prohibited List - a list of substances prohibited for use by athletes in competition, published by the World Anti-Doping Committee (WADA). Some medicines marked with this may be permitted for use by athletes with certain medical conditions. It is important to remember that the factsheets have been compiled for information purposes only and are intended to complement and not replace the advice you receive from your doctor or pharmacist. What is the medicine used for?   This section lists the diseases and conditions that the medicine is licensed to treat or prevent.  &amp;#039;Licensed&amp;#039; means that the medicine has been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for these uses, based on the results of clinical trials submitted by the manufacturer. Some medicines also have unlicensed uses listed here. These are &amp;#039;off-licence&amp;#039; uses of the medicine that have not been assessed in clinical trials by the manufacturer, but may be recommended by specialists based on other evidence or experience with the medicine.  How does the medicine work?  Medicines contain one or more active ingredients that produce the therapeutic effect of the medicine. The active ingredient is the generic medicine, eg paracetamol. In this section we explain what type of medicine the active ingredient is and how it works in the body. We often talk about medicines acting on receptors in the body, and the subsequent effects this has.  Receptors are special sites found on the surface of cells in the body. Natural body chemicals bind to these receptors in a similar way to a key fitting into a lock. Each body chemical has its own specific receptor. When a substance binds to its receptor it causes a response in the cell.  Some medicines work by blocking a particular type of receptor and stopping the natural substance from binding to it. This blocks the effect of the natural substance. These types of medicines are called antagonists.  Some other medicines work by mimicking a natural substance and so enhancing its effects. These types of medicines are called agonists.  Medicines may also work in various other ways. For example, hormone supplements work by replacing body chemicals that are deficient, and antimicrobials work by killing invading micro-organisms.  This section explains in detail how the active ingredient works, beginning at the receptor level and explaining the effect this has on the body.  How do I take the medicine?  This section covers some of the key administration instructions for the medicine, such as whether to take it with food or on an empty stomach and what to do if you miss a dose. Although this section gives general advice about taking or using&amp;amp;nbsp;the medicine, it is important to always follow the instructions given by your doctor. There will also be more detailed information in the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine.  Important information about the medicine  This section contains key pieces of information that are important to be aware of when taking the medicine.  Where relevant, this is where you will find warnings about drinking alcohol, eating certain foods or driving while taking the medicine. This is where you will find monitoring requirements, such as blood tests you may need while taking the medicine. It is also where we may mention particular side effects that you should look out for and report to your doctor. This medicine should be used with caution by  This section lists the diseases, conditions, or groups of people in which the medicine may be used, but only with certain cautions. This may be due to one or more of the following reasons:  the medicine may be more likely to cause side effects in the conditions or people listed. the medicine may cause side effects that could worsen the symptoms of the conditions listed. extra monitoring by the doctor may be required in people with these conditions. decreased kidney or liver functions are often included in this section, as these organs are responsible for metabolising (liver) and removing (kidneys) medicines from the body. If there is any impairment to the functioning of these organs, eg due to disease, or the natural decline in function that occurs with age, the medicine may accumulate in the body. This may mean smaller than normal doses are necessary. elderly people or children are also often included in this section as they may require smaller doses or be more susceptible to side effects.  &amp;#039;People with a history of&amp;#039; means people who have ever had the condition referred to, either now or in the past. You should make sure your doctor knows your current and past medical history so that he can decide if a medicine is safe and suitable for you to take. Your doctor will do this by weighing up the benefits of the medicine against any possible adverse effects.  If a factsheet doesn&amp;#039;t contain this section it means there are no diseases, conditions or groups of people in whom special caution is required when using the medicine.   This medicine should not be used by  This section lists the diseases, conditions, or groups of people in which the medicine must not be used because it may be harmful, or because it has not been studied.  Pregnancy and breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby.&amp;amp;nbsp;  This section contains information on the safety or otherwise of using the medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding.  There is often insufficient information to determine the safety of a medicine during pregnancy. This is because drug manufacturers rarely perform clinical trials involving pregnant or breastfeeding women, since this would be unethical.  Most information we get about safety in pregnancy comes from practical experience with the medicine over time. Information may also come from women who have been accidentally exposed to a medicine during pregnancy and from animal studies.  The advice we give in this section may sometimes conflict with that provided by the manufacturers of the medicine. The information we provide comes from widely used, evidence-based, reputable resources including those listed at the end of this article, as well as the pharmaceutical companies themselves. Your doctor or pharmacist will be able to give you more detailed advice tailored to your individual circumstances.  Remember that all medicines should be avoided wherever possible during pregnancy. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.  Possible side effects of the medicine Medicines can affect different people in different ways. All medicines can have side effects, but that does not mean that all people taking medicines will get side effects. This section lists some of the side effects that can be associated with the medicine, together with the likelihood of experiencing them (where this information is available).  Very common (affect more than 1 in 10 people)  These are the side effects experienced by the greatest number of people that take the medicine. Anywhere between 1 and 10 people out of every 10 people that take the medicine may experience these side effects. Although these are the most likely side effects, they still do not affect everyone that takes the medicine.  Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)  You can look at frequencies of side effects in several different ways. Between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people also means that up to 1 in 10 people might get this side effect. This is how many patient information leaflets describe common. But sometimes its hard to picture what up to 1 in 10 people actually means. It can be helpful to imagine a group of people in order to visualise the risk of getting a common side effect. So if 100 people take the medicine, between 1 and 10 of those people could experience the side effects listed under common. It&amp;#039;s important to remember that even if between 1 and 10 out of every 100 people experience the side effects, this also means that between 90 and 99 out of every 100 won&amp;#039;t.  Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)  Uncommon can also be described as up to 1 in 100 people. Or if 1000 people take the medicine, between 1 and 10 of those will experience these side effects. Remember, if between 1 and 10 out of every 1000 experience these side effects, this also means that at least 990 out of every 1000 won&amp;#039;t.  Rare (affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people)  Rare can also be described as up to 1 in 1000 people. It also means if 10,000 people take the medicine, between 1 and 10 of them will experience these side effects. Again, if between 1 and 10 out of every 10,000 experience these side effects, this also means that at least 9990 out of every 10,000 won&amp;#039;t.   There are various factors that can affect the likelihood of getting a side effect. For example, higher doses are more likely to produce unwanted effects than lower doses. If you are elderly or have a condition listed in the caution section you may also be at a higher risk of getting side effects. Sometimes taking other medicines can also increase the risk of getting certain side effects. The risks associated with taking the medicine need to be weighed against the benefits of taking it and the risks of not taking it. If you are worried about potential side effects you can talk about this with your doctor or pharmacist.  What is the yellow card scheme? The yellow card scheme is run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA). It is designed to pick up new side effects or unexpected problems with medicines, vaccines and healthcare products after they reach the market. If necessary these can then be followed up. For instance, if new serious side effects were reported with a medicine it could be taken off the market while the risk is investigated. Some side effects might not come to light until many people have taken a medicine for a long time.  Doctors, nurses, pharmacists and the general public can report suspected side effects to medicines, vaccines, herbal and homeopathic remedies and medical devices using the scheme. If you think you have experienced a side effect from a medicine or vaccine you should check the patient information leaflet. This lists the known side effects and what to do if you get them. You can also get advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If they think it&amp;#039;s necessary they&amp;#039;ll report it for you. You can also report side effects yourself using the yellow card scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. How can the medicine affect other medicines?  When two or more medicines are taken at the same time they may affect each other. This is called an interaction and it is important to be aware of which medicines may interact with the one you are taking. It is not just prescription-only medicines that can interact; over-the-counter medicines and herbal medicines can also affect medicines that you are taking.  This section describes the significant interactions of this medicine with others. It will tell you which medicines are not safe to take in combination with this one, as well as those that may require dose changes or extra monitoring to be performed by your doctor.  Always tell your doctor which medicines you are taking, including over-the-counter and herbal medicines that you have bought, when you are prescribed a new medicine. Similarly, always tell your pharmacist which medicines you are taking before buying treatments over the counter.  Other medicines containing the same active ingredient This section lists other medicines available in the UK that contain the same active ingredient(s) as this one.  What references are used to produce the factsheets? The medicine factsheets are written using the latest pharmaceutical, pharmacological and medical scientific literature. A wide range of reputable reference sources are used to produce the information, including the following (in all cases the most up to date edition at the time of writing or reviewing the factsheet is used):  Summaries of Product Characteristics (SPCs) from the pharmaceutical companies that make the medicine. Patient Information Leaflets from the pharmaceutical companies that make the medicine. British National Formulary (BNF). British National Formulary for children (BNFc). Stockley&amp;#039;s Drug Interactions.  Drug Safety Updates from the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA). Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation - Briggs, Freeman and Yaffe. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed). UK Drugs in Lactation Advisory Service. NICE guidance. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Martindale - The Complete Drug Reference. Therapeutic Drugs - Dollery.  Last updated 11.05.2015 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/a8595/medicine-factsheets-explained/>