1.
medicine taken as needed; on-demand medication
Medication that is taken only when symptoms arise, rather than on a regular schedule.
痛いときに頓服薬を飲む。
I take the as-needed medication when I'm in pain.
医者に頓服薬を出してもらった。
The doctor gave me some medication to take as needed.
この頓服薬は一日に三回まで服用できます。
This as-needed medication can be taken up to three times a day.
頓服 by itself means taking medicine on an as-needed basis, and 頓服薬 specifies the medication itself. Common examples include painkillers, sleep aids, and anti-anxiety medication. In medical contexts, this corresponds to the abbreviation PRN (pro re nata, Latin for "as the situation arises").
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 頓服で飲む — to take (medicine) on an as-needed basis
- 頓服処方 — as-needed prescription
- 痛み止めの頓服薬 — painkiller for as-needed use
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 常用薬 — regularly taken medicine (the opposite: medicine taken on a fixed schedule)
- 市販薬 — over-the-counter medicine
- 処方薬 — prescription medicine