Patient information leaflets (PILs) are leaflets included with medicines that provide users with information about the product's medical conditions, doses, side effects, and safe and effective use. PILs are written by pharmaceutical companies and must be included with all licensed medicines. They should include essential information without being too long or having small text. Common language should be used to make the information understandable. PILs must be regularly reviewed and updated to reflect current medical knowledge. They provide identification of the medicine, therapeutic uses, precautions, administration instructions, what to do if a dose is missed, side effects, interactions, and storage information.

1. PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLETS
[PIL]
Dr. Merrin Joseph
Department of Pharmacy Practice

2.  PILs are leaflets containing specific information about
medical conditions, doses, side effects that are packed
with medicines to give the user information about the
product.
 It is written by the manufacturing pharmaceutical
company.
 All licensed medicines need to carry such a leaflet
 PILs are used to outline key information to assist patients
and their caregivers in the effective and safe use of a
medicine.

3. PROPERTIES
 PILs should include all essential information without
making the document too lengthy or the typeface to small.
 Common usage terms should be used for medical
indications and written to be understood by people with
basic reading ability.
 All sheets need to be regularly reviewed and updated to
reflect current knowledge and practice.

4. Content Of Information
1. Identification of the medicine
2. Therapeutic Indications
3. Precautions or Contraindication
4. Administration Advice
5. Information on the action required if a dose is missed.
6. Common and Serious side effects.
7. Medicine Interactions
8. Action to be taken if a side effect is experienced
9. Storage Information
10. Additional Information

5. Layout and Design
 Line in a PIL should be 50-89 mm long
 2.5 mm separation between two lines
 Unjustified lines are easier to read
 Serif type of letter face
 Letter type- atleast 12 points
 Indenting the first line of a paragraph increases the
reading speed.
 Titles all in capital are harder to read
 Italics impair comprehension
 Points should be positive

6.  Heading-different type or extra space
 Arabic numerals are easier than Roman
 Pictures will be helpful.

7. Advisory Labels
 For providing advice regarding medication use.
 For warning consumers regarding undesirable effect
The label provide advice on:
 Timing of doses in relation to food
 Completing course of treatment
 What has to be done if a dose is missed
 Correct storage of medicine
The label provides warning about:
Effect of drug on driving or work
Foods or Medicines that should be avoided

8.  Avoidance of exposure of skin to sunlight
 Medicines that can discolour the urine
Eg:
DO NOT CHEW OR CRUSH SWALLOW WHOLE
DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICINE ABRUPTLY
UNLESS OTHERWISE ADVISED BY YOUR DOCTOR