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.
痛みが出たら頓服を飲んでください。
Please take the as-needed medicine when you feel pain.
この薬は頓服として処方されている。
This medicine is prescribed as an as-needed medication.
頓服の鎮痛剤をもらったが、なるべく使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 is a medical/pharmaceutical term that patients commonly encounter when receiving prescriptions. It contrasts with 定期服用 (regular/scheduled medication). The instruction 頓服 on a prescription label means the patient should take the medicine only when needed.
The word 頓 here means "immediate/sudden" and 服 means "to take (medicine)."
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 頓服薬 — as-needed medicine
- 頓服として処方する — to prescribe as an as-needed medicine
- 頓服で対応する — to manage with as-needed medication
RELATED WORDS:
- 服用 — taking medicine
- 処方 — prescription
- 鎮痛剤 — painkiller