頓 服(とんぷく)

とんぷく

noun

medicine taken as needed (not on a regular schedule)

1. medicine taken as needed; on-demand medication

Medicine that is taken only when symptoms appear, rather than at regular intervals. Common examples include pain relievers, anti-anxiety medication, and fever reducers. The term is widely used in medical and pharmacy contexts.

痛(いた)みが出(で)たら頓服(とんぷく)を飲(の)んでください。

Please take the as-needed medicine when you feel pain.

この薬(くすり)は頓服(とんぷく)として処方(しょほう)されている。

This medicine is prescribed as an as-needed medication.

頓服(とんぷく)の鎮痛剤(ちんつうざい)をもらったが、なるべく使(つか)わないようにしている。

I received a pain reliever to take as needed, but I try not to use it if possible.

頓服(とんぷく) is a medical/pharmaceutical term that patients commonly encounter when receiving prescriptions. It contrasts with 定期(ていき)服用(ふくよう) (regular/scheduled medication). The instruction 頓服(とんぷく) on a prescription label means the patient should take the medicine only when needed.

The word 頓(とん) here means "immediate/sudden" and 服(ぷく) means "to take (medicine)."

Common collocations

頓服(とんぷく)薬(やく) — as-needed medicine
頓服(とんぷく)として処方(しょほう)する — to prescribe as an as-needed medicine
頓服(とんぷく)で対応(たいおう)する — to manage with as-needed medication

Related words

服用(ふくよう) — taking medicine
処方(しょほう) — prescription
鎮痛剤(ちんつうざい) — painkiller

Related Words

Related: 服用(ふくよう) (taking medicine)

Related: 処方(しょほう) (prescription)

Related: 鎮痛剤(ちんつうざい) (painkiller)

general

Added 2026.3.22 11:38 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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