Medication Summary Guide

This template will be best used for medications that patients may need to be counselled on. The sections are intended to be completed with information that you would provide to patients (real or during your OSCEs) when explaining these medications.

Section Breakdown

How it works: A one sentence summary of what the medication does as you would explain to a patient. Don't use medical terminology - keep it simple!

How to take it: Is it a tablet, a liquid formulation, injection? You may also want to write down whether the medication needs to be taken in the morning/night, before/after food when it applies.

How long for: Patients like to know how long they'll have to keep taking a medication. Is it indefinite or will it not be needed after the course is complete?

Side effects: Write down the most import and most common side effects. Medications have huge lists of side effects, so make sure to pick out the most important ones.

Tests: Some medication require testing prior to beginning treatment and others require monitoring. The patient will need to be aware of what the test is, how it is done, when and how often.

Contraindications: You'd want to make the patient aware of the main interactions with the medication, including checking they are not taking any medications that directly interact. Some medications interact with some food. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are also factors you'd want to consider when relevant to a patient so consider whether the medication is appropriate.

Additional advice: This would include whether patients need to make any lifestyle changes or should report any unusual/dangerous side effects.

Example