Being prescribed a new medication always means learning about what side effects there may be, and how the medication should be taken. This is why patient information leaflets are a vital part of the pharmaceutical industry. (However much they annoy me as they get in the way of the tablets when opening the box.)

Imagine my surprise when I opened the box for my latest medication, Labetalol, to find that the Patient Information Leaflet was, in fact, a Notice: Information de l’utilisateur. Yes, my medication information is all in French. This has never happened to me before. I can only assume that it is because there is a shortage of it from the manufacturer for the Irish market.

Fortunately, I was able to find the relevant information via the Health Products Regulatory Authority.

And then, upon reading it, I find that patients with a history of asthma should not take the medication. So, I’m going to consult with the medical and nursing team tomorrow before I actually start taking the medicaiton.