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Medical English Exercise | Topic: ESL for Pharmacy/Pharmacists 2

Whether you're a pharmacist, work in a pharmacy/drugstore, or a customer, this exercise will make communication easier by teaching you the right vocabulary. Although it's meant for ESL students, it'll be useful to anyone who wants to practice this specialized vocabulary.

Choose the correct response for each of the sentences.

1. A company that produces drugs/medicine is called a __________________________ company.
  pharmacy
  pharmaceutical
  pharmacist

2. If you've had a __________________________ to these pills in the past I don't recommend you take them again.
  nausea
  bad feeling
  bad reaction

3. Are you __________________________ taking any other medication?
  right now
  currently/presently
  present/current

4. You can __________________________ your prescription online or by telephone.
  re-order
  rearrange
  react to

5. I just want to make sure there are no __________________________ with other medication you might be taking.
  interaction(s)
  prescription(s)
  refills

6. In the United States and Canada, there are many __________________________ pharmacies. You can pick up your prescription without even getting out of your car!
  driving
  drive-by
  drive-through

7. A negative reaction = An __________________________ reaction
  adverse
  awesome
  adept

8. __________________________ medicine is medicine that you can buy without a prescription.
  Over-the-counter
  On demand
  Overpriced

9. Are their any potential __________________________ ( = problems) from using the medications together?
  correlations
  complications
  collocations

10. Your prescription usually includes your doctor's __________________________ on how and when to take a medication.
  infractions
  complications
  instructions

(Your answers will be displayed in a new window)

SAMPLE CONVERSATION: Pharmacy

Here's an example of a conversation between a pharmacist and a customer:

CONVERSATION TOPIC: Asking for over-the-counter medication

Pharmacist: Good afternoon. How can I help you?

Client: Hi. I've had a bad headache since this morning.

Pharmacist: I'm sorry to hear that. Have you taken anything for it yet?

Client: No, I haven't. I wanted to ask what you recommend.

Pharmacist: You could try ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Do you have any allergies?

Client: Not that I know of.

Pharmacist: Then either should be fine. Take one tablet every six hours, and make sure you don't exceed the daily limit.

Client: Okay, thank you. Should I take it with food?

Pharmacist: Yes, it's better to take it with food to avoid stomach upset.

Client: Great, I'll do that. Thanks for your help.

Pharmacist: You're welcome. Let me know if the pain doesn't improve.

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Present perfect vs. past simple<br> “I've had a bad headache since this morning.”
→ Present perfect is used because the headache started in the past and continues now.
“Have you taken anything for it yet?”
→ Present perfect is common with yet when asking about experience up to now.
Past simple would be used for a finished time (e.g., “I took ibuprofen yesterday.”)

MATERIALS TO HELP YOU LEARN (AND TEACH!):
BUSINESS ENGLISH GLOSSARY
BUSINESS ENGLISH WORKSHEET COLLECTION

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