Intermediate · B1 / B2 · Health

At the Pharmacy

Your goal: describe symptoms, ask about medication, and understand dosage and side-effect warnings.

Survival Phrases

Describing symptoms

I've had a bad headache for two days — paracetamol isn't touching it.
It's a dry cough, worse at night.
I've got a sore throat and a slight fever.

Asking for medication

Do you have something for hay fever that won't make me drowsy?
Is there a generic version of this?
Can I take this with my blood pressure tablets?

Dosage & children

How often can I take it?
Is this safe for a six-year-old?
What's the dose for a child of 20 kilos?

Side effects & advice

What side effects should I watch for?
If it's not better in three days, what then?
Should I see a doctor if the fever goes above 38?

Model Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud twice — once for each speaker. Notice how B picks up A's words and adds something.

Pharmacist: Morning — how can I help?

Marina: Hi. I've had a bad headache for two days — paracetamol isn't really touching it.

Pharmacist: Any other symptoms — nausea, vision changes, stiff neck?

Marina: No, just the headache, and it's behind one eye.

Pharmacist: OK, that's common. I'd suggest ibuprofen with food. But if it's still there in 48 hours, or you get any of those symptoms, see a doctor.

Marina: Can I take it with my blood pressure tablets?

Pharmacist: Ibuprofen can push blood pressure up a touch — best check with your GP if it's daily. For now, one with food, every eight hours, max three a day.

Marina: Got it. And is there a generic version?

Pharmacist: Same active ingredient, half the price — I'll give you that.

Register: formal vs informal

Situation	More formal	More informal / natural
Describing	I've had a headache for two days, and paracetamol isn't helping.	Headache two days, tablets not working.
Asking safety	Is this safe to take with my blood pressure medication?	Can I mix this with my BP tablets?
Asking dose	How often should I take it, and what's the maximum?	How many a day?
Asking next steps	If it's not better in three days, what would you advise?	What if it's not gone in three days?

At B1/B2 the line between formal and informal is often tone and softeners (just, a bit, possibly), not different words. Soften requests when the stakes are higher.

Typical Mistakes (B1/B2 & Portuguese interference)

I am with headache. → I've got a headache. / I have a headache. ((with → have got))
I have two days with headache. → I've had a headache for two days. ((for, duração))
Can I take this with my tablets of pressure? → Can I take this with my blood pressure tablets? ((tablets of → BP tablets))
It is not passing. → It's not getting better. / It isn't shifting. ((passar → improve/shift))
How many times I take? → How often should I take it? ((how often))
I want a medicine for cough. → I'd like something for a cough. ((want → I'd like; a cough))

Culture Note

Pharmacists in the UK/EU are trained clinicians for minor ailments — they'll ask screening questions before selling certain drugs.
'With food' isn't decoration; ibuprofen on an empty stomach can cause real irritation.
Generic and brand-name drugs have the same active ingredient — asking for the generic is normal and cheaper.
Pharmacists will tell you the red-flag symptoms that mean 'see a doctor' — listen and note them.

Practical Task

Rebuild the dialogue with a cough or a rash and a different medication conflict.
Record both roles, describing symptoms precisely.
Write down the dosage as you'd repeat it back.
Real-life mission: read a real medicine leaflet in English and find three terms (dose, contraindication, active ingredient).

Before you finish, can you…

☐describe symptoms with how long and what helps?
☐ask about safety with other medication?
☐confirm dosage and max per day?
☐ask about red-flag symptoms and next steps?

Bring your dialogue — the teacher plays a cautious pharmacist who asks three screening questions.