The term prospectus comes from the Latin "prospectus" and means examine, most of the time it is the brochure that various products have and that includes the necessary information on its composition, the way it is used, as well as contraindications. Generally the leaflets are included in the drugs.
A prospectus can contain various pieces of information. The most common or must-have contents are: the identification of the drug that consists of the commercial name and the active principle, its composition and pharmaceutical form, the identification of the entity that authorized the marketing of the drug, the therapeutic indications, the contraindications, warnings, dosage, possible side effects, among others.
It is important to note that reading the prospectus will not always do enough to understand the information that is indicated there. Medicines that are sold under a medical prescription, it is usual for the doctor to give the necessary indications for their consumption in an appropriate way, however, many times people buy over-the- counter pharmaceutical products, that is, without a prescription and find a series of difficult to understand concepts. Among the main points of a prospect, they stand out:
- Composition: this is where all the substances that make up the medicine are listed, such as its name, the amount and how it is presented, whether in syrup, tablets, capsules, among others. Likewise, the active principles are included, that is, those substances that produce an action on the organism and the excipients that are those non-active substances, such as, for example, sugar in syrups, dyes and starch.
- Indications: these are what tells how to treat diseases or situations for which it is recommended to consume the drug.
- Precautions: these are the situations in which the individual must be attentive, some of which may lead to the need to interrupt the dose and consult a specialist.
- Side Effects: Here are the possible unwanted reactions that the drug can cause in the body. In the same way, active substances, such as medicines, can produce effects that are not related to the cure or prevention of a disorder. It is important to note that the appearance of mild side effects is normal, but if any type of alteration occurs, it is advisable to contact a doctor for information.
