When advising patients on how to take medication, simply say, Tome usted... or just Tome…' and fill in the blanks with quantity and frequency, telling them when and how to take it.
You can take the following expressions and make any necessary modifications using what you have learned so far.
1a. La Cantidad (Quantity)
You will first need to tell the patient how much to take.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
one ounce | una onza | oo-nah own-sah |
two ounces, etc. | dos onzas | dohs own-sahs |
...and a half | ...y media | …ee may-dee-ah |
a fourth of... | un cuarto de... | oon k'warr-toe day… |
a third of... | una tercera de... | oo-nah tare-say-rah day… |
a half of... | la mitad de... | la me-todd day |
one tablespoon | una cucharada | oo-nah koo-cha-rah-dah |
two tablespoons | dos cucharadas | dohs koo-chah-rah-dahs |
one teaspoon | una cucharita | oo-nah koo-cha-ree-tah |
two teaspoons | dos cucharitas | dohs koo-cha-ree-tahs |
one drop | una gota | oo-nah go-tah |
two drops | dos gotas | dohs go-tahs |
one dropper full | un gotero lleno | oon go-tay-rah yay-no |
two droppers full | dos goteros llenos | dohs go-tay-rahs yay-nohs |
one applicator full | un aplicador lleno | oon ah-plee-kah-dooryay-no |
two applicators full | dos aplicadores llenos | dohs ah-plee-kah-door-ace yay-nohs |
a liter | un litro | oon lee-troh |
a milliliter | un mililitro | oon me-lee-lee-troh |
a gram | un gramo | oon grah-ma |
a milligram | un miligramo | oon me-lee-grah-moe |
¼ tablet | un cuarto de tableta | oon k'warr-toe day tah-blay-tah |
½ tablet | una mitad de tableta | oo-nah me-todd day tah-blay-tah |
one tablet | una tableta | oo-nah tah-blay-tah |
two tablets | dos tabletas | dohs tah-blay-tahs |
one pill | una píldora | oo-nah peel-door-ah |
two pills | dos píldoras | dohs peel-door-ahs |
one capsule | una cápsula | oo-nah cop-sue-lah |
two capsules | dos cápsulas | dohs cop-sue-lahs |
1b. La Frecuencia (Frequency)
You will also need to tell the patient when to take the medicine.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
once daily | una vez al día | oo-nah base all dee-ah |
twice daily | dos veces al día | dohs bay-sace all dee-ah |
three times daily | tres veces al día | trace bay-sace all dee-ah |
(#) times a day | (#) veces al día | (#) bay-sace all dee-ah |
every other day / every two days | cada dos días | kah-dah dohs dee-ahs |
once weekly / once a week | una vez a la semana | oo-nah base ah la say-ma-nah |
twice weekly / twice a week | dos veces a la semana | dohs bay-sace ah la say-ma-nah |
(#) times a week | (#) veces a la semana | (#) bay-sace ah la say-ma-nah |
until gone | hasta que no hay más | ah-stah kay no eye mahs |
every (#) hours | cada (#) horas | kah-dah (#) oh-rahs |
every four hours | cada cuatro horas | kah-da k'wah-troh oh-rahs |
every six hours | cada seis horas | kah-da sace oh-rahs |
every four to six hours | cada cuatro a seis horas | kah-dah k’wah-troh ah sace oh-rahs |
1c. ¿Cómo? (How?)
You will also need to tell the patient how to take the medicine.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
as directed by your doctor | como dirigido por su doctor | ko-mo dee-ree-he-doe pour sue doke-tore |
as needed… | si la necesite… | see la nay-say-see-tay... |
…for pain | …para el dolor | …pa-rah ale doe-lore |
when you have... (pain, etc.) | cuando tenga...(dolor de, etc.) | k'wann-doe tain-gah… (doe-lore day) |
only when you need it | sólo cuando lo necesite | so-lo k'wann-doe nay-say-see-tay lo |
in the morning / afternoon / evening | por la mañana / tarde / noche | pour la mahn-ya-nah / tar-day / no-chay |
before bedtime | antes de acostarse | ahn-tace day ah-ko-star-say |
right now | ahora mismo | ah-oar-ah meece-mo |
by mouth | por boca | pour bow-kah |
with meals | con las comidas | cone lahs ko-me-dahs |
with food | con un alimento / con comida |
cone oon ah-lee-main-toe / cone ko-me-dah |
after meals | después de las comidas | dace-p'wace day lahs ko-me-dahs |
before meals | antes de las comidas | ahn-tace day lahs ko-me-dahs |
before breakfast | antes del desayuno | ahn-tace dale day-sah-you-no |
after supper | después de la cena | dace-p'wace day la say-nah |
with lunch | con el almuerzo | cone ale all-m'ware-so |
between meals | entre las comidas | ain-tray lahs ko-me-dahs |
on an empty stomach | en ayunas | ain ah-you-nahs |
with water | con agua | cone ah-g'wah |
mixed with food | mezclada con un alimento | mace-klah-dah cone oon ah-lee-main-toe |
mixed with liquids | mezclada con líquidos | mace-klah-dah cone lee-key-dohs |
when you take / eat / drink... | cuando tome... | k'wann-doe toe-may |
1d. ¿Por qué? (Why?)
Often, especially when getting more than one prescription, a patient does not know why they are taking each. This section will help you in explaining the reasons why.
English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
for cough | para la tos | pa-rah la tohs |
for infection | para la infección | pa-rah la een-fake-see-own |
for nerves | para los nervios | pa-rah lohs nair-be-ohs |
for stomach | para el estómago | pa-rah ale ace-toe-ma-go |
for arthritis | para la artritis | pa-rah la are-tree-tiece |
for circulation | para la circulación | pa-rah la seer-koo-la-see-own |
for relaxing the muscles | para relajar los músculos | pa-rah ray-la-har lohs moose-koo-lohs |
for the alleviation of pain | para aliviar el dolor | pa-rah ah-lee-bee-are ale doe-lore |
in order to lower your… | para bajar su… | pa-rah ba-harr sue |
…blood pressure | …presión de sangre | …pray-see-own day sahn-gray |
…blood sugar level | ...nivel de azúcar en la sangre | …nee-bail day ah-sue-car ain la sahn-gray |
…cholesterol | …colesterol | …koh-lace-tay-role |
As you can see, you can put almost anything after para, which means for. You can list a body part, a symptom, a condition, a verb (aliviar = alleviate, relajar = relax, bajar = lower), etc.
[MUSIC PLAYING] This is a tutorial for putting together directions for use. You've already learned the various components. So now let's practice putting them all together.
The most common action verb that you will use in your direction line is [SPANISH], take. It's the [SPANISH] formal command of the verb, [SPANISH]. Since it's the most common, we'll use it to practice. Next, we'll tell the patient how much to take and actually what it is that he or she will be taking. And those phrases appear in blue-- the quantity or [SPANISH].
After the quantity, you'll give the patient the frequency, at which he or she should take that thing. So the frequency, [SPANISH], appears on the screen in red. Next, the patient may need additional instructions about how to take medication. And those appear in purple.
And finally, the patient may need to know why he or she is taking that particular medication, especially if the patient is on multiple medications. The phrases for why the patient is taking the medication appear in yellow. Obviously, these are just a few of the many components that you've learned. So this is not an all inclusive list. This is just a simple list to help get us started in building our own sentences, as that can be challenging for speakers of a new language as they are first learning the language.
But it is not difficult at all. Simply follow the formula. And put together your directions for use adequately, accurately, and with confidence.
Let's try one together. Let's say that the patient, according to the physician's directions, needs to take one tablet every four hours with meals for infection. So let's try to put that together. Take, [SPANISH]-- and then it's one tablet, so [SPANISH]. Every four hours-- [SPANISH], with meals, [SPANISH], for infection, [SPANISH].
And now we have a completed SIG of complete directions for use line OK, now you try one. Take 2 teaspoons two times a day if needed for pain. Again, take 2 teaspoons two times the day if needed for pain. So what would that be?
OK, we'll start with our verb, [SPANISH]. Next, what it is in the quantity, [SPANISH]. 2 teaspoons-- [SPANISH]. 2 times a day would be [SPANISH]. If needed-- [SPANISH]. And then for pain-- [SPANISH]. And there it is, [SPANISH].
[MUSIC PLAYING]
If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact PharmacySpanishSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.
Source: This content has been adapted from "Pharmacy Spanish" by Stephanie Langston.