1.
medicine taken as needed; on-demand medication
Medication that is taken only when symptoms arise, rather than on a regular schedule.
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