A package insert provides information about a medicine.
A leaflet is a leaflet that accompanies various products and includes information about their composition, instructions for use, usefulness and contraindications. Package inserts are usually included with pharmaceutical products ( medicines or remedies ).
For example: “Before taking any antibiotic, you should read the leaflet carefully” , “The leaflet indicates that this painkiller can cause drowsiness” , “If you have a question, be sure to consult the leaflet, but it is best to get advice with a trusted doctor.”
Content of a prospectus
The prospectus - a term from the Latin prospectus ( "to examine" ) - can include data of various types. Among the contents that are not usually missing, are the identification of the medicine (the trade name and the active ingredient), its composition and pharmaceutical form, the identification of who authorized the product, the therapeutic indications, the precautions for use , the special warnings. , the dosage, the frequency of administration and the description of possible adverse reactions.
It is worth mentioning that reading the prospectus is not always enough to understand the information it provides us. When it is a medication that is sold by prescription, it is normal for the doctor to give us the necessary instructions to consume it appropriately; However, many times we buy over-the-counter pharmaceutical products and we encounter a large number of concepts that are difficult to understand. Let's look at some of the main points of a prospectus, explained below:
- Composition : lists all the substances that make up the medicine, as well as its name, quantity and how it is presented (in syrup, tablets, capsules, etc.). This includes the active ingredients (substances that produce an action on the body) and excipients (non-active substances, such as sugar in syrups, dyes and starch). It is important to check the components in case of allergy.
- Indications : these are the symptoms, diseases or situations for which the medication is recommended to be consumed.
- Dosage : specifies the recommended dose of the medication, both per dose and per day, in addition to explaining the differences between the intake for children, adults and the elderly. A specification may also appear based on the patient 's weight or age.
- Contraindications : details all the reasons why the medication should not be taken, such as certain chronic diseases or allergies that make the drug harmful to health. Needless to say, this is a fundamental point for a prospectus.
- Precautions : indicates in which situations you should be especially careful, some of which may lead to the need to interrupt the dose and consult a doctor.
- Side effects : explains the possible unwanted reactions that the drug can generate in the body. Active substances, such as medications, may produce effects that are not related to curing or preventing a disorder. It is worth mentioning that the appearance of mild side effects is normal; In any case, if you notice any type of alteration it is always advisable to go to a doctor or trusted pharmacy to ask for information.
The idea of a prospectus is used in marketing.
The term in marketing
A prospectus can also be a brief presentation about a piece of writing, a work, a commodity, etc. In the field of marketing , the potential client or consumer is known as a prospect.
CRM ( Customer Relationship Manager ) computer programs usually work with information about prospects so that salespeople can complete the operation and transform said prospects into customers : “The manager asked me to send him the list of prospects to determine which ones are the most important.” ” , “Tell Juan that the prospect from Chile has finally given up on the purchase” , “Our sales team can manage more than a hundred prospects simultaneously” .