What the Patient Counseling Script Generator actually produces

COUNSELING SCRIPT — Metformin ER 500mg (Basic Literacy)

=== OPENING === "Hi, I'm your pharmacist. I want to take a few minutes to talk about your new medicine, metformin ER. This will only take a few minutes. Is that okay?"

--- 1. WHAT IS THIS MEDICINE FOR? ---

• "This medicine is called metformin ER. It's in a group of medicines called biguanides, used to treat type 2 diabetes."
• "It helps keep your blood sugar at a healthy level, along with your diet and exercise."
• Teach-back: "Can you tell me in your own words what this medicine is for?"

--- 2. HOW SHOULD YOU TAKE IT? ---

• "Take this medicine WITH a meal — like breakfast or dinner. Do not take it on an empty stomach. Food helps stop stomach upset."
• "This is an ER pill, which means 'extended release.' Swallow it whole. Do not crush, chew, or split it."
• "Take it at the same time every day, so it becomes part of your routine — like taking it right when you sit down to eat."
• "Store it at room temperature, away from moisture, like out of the bathroom."
• "If you ever need an X-ray or scan with dye (called 'contrast'), tell that doctor or the imaging center that you take metformin. You may need to stop it for a short time before and after the test. Your doctor or the imaging center will tell you exactly when to stop and when to start again — follow their instructions."
• Teach-back: "Can you tell me how and when you plan to take this each day?"

--- 3. WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT? (New Start / High-Risk Focus) ---

• "In the first few weeks, it's common to have an upset stomach, gas, loose stools, or feel a little sick. Taking it with food helps this. This often gets better over time."
• "Call the pharmacy if stomach upset doesn't get better after a couple of weeks, or if it's so bad you can't keep eating normally."
• "This medicine alone usually does NOT cause low blood sugar. But if you take other diabetes medicines too, you could get low blood sugar. Signs of low blood sugar are: feeling shaky, sweaty, dizzy, confused, or very hungry. If this happens, eat or drink something with sugar right away, like juice, and check your blood sugar if you're able to."
• "There is also a rare but serious problem called lactic acidosis. This is different from low blood sugar and needs emergency care right away. Warning signs include: unusual muscle pain or cramping, trouble breathing, feeling very tired or weak, feeling cold, stomach pain, or a fast or irregular heartbeat."
• "If you have any of those lactic acidosis warning signs, stop the medicine and call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away — do not wait."
• "Also call your doctor right away, or go to the ER, if you ever have chest pain, vomiting blood, black or bloody stools, a sudden severe headache, fainting, or thoughts of harming yourself — these are always emergencies, no matter the cause."
• Teach-back: "Can you tell me back the difference between what low blood sugar feels like and what the serious warning signs are that mean you need to call for help right away?"

--- CLOSING ---

"Do you have any questions about how to take this, what to expect, or what to watch for? I'm also going to give you a written sheet to take home."

• ALWAYS take metformin ER with a meal (never on an empty stomach) — this helps prevent stomach upset. Swallow whole; do not crush, chew, or split.
• Mild stomach upset, gas, or loose stools are common in the first few weeks. Call the pharmacy if it doesn't improve or gets severe.
• Know the difference: Low blood sugar = shaky, sweaty, dizzy, confused, very hungry → treat with fast sugar (like juice). Lactic acidosis (rare, serious) = muscle pain, trouble breathing, feeling very tired/cold, stomach pain, irregular heartbeat → STOP medicine and get emergency care right away.
• Before any imaging test that uses dye/contrast, tell the doctor or imaging center you take metformin. Follow their exact instructions on stopping/restarting — do not decide this on your own.
• Chest pain, vomiting blood, black/bloody stools, sudden severe headache, fainting, or thoughts of self-harm are always emergencies — seek help immediately regardless of cause.

MY MEDICINE: Metformin ER 500mg (Take-Home Sheet — Easy Read)

WHAT IS IT FOR? This medicine helps control your blood sugar. It is used for type 2 diabetes.

HOW DO I TAKE IT?

• Take it WITH food (like with breakfast or dinner). Do not take it on an empty stomach.
• Swallow the pill whole. Do NOT crush, chew, or cut it.
• Take it at the same time every day.
• Store it at room temperature, in a dry place.

BEFORE AN X-RAY OR SCAN WITH DYE:

Tell that doctor's office that you take metformin. You may need to stop it for a short time before and after the test. Always follow your doctor's exact instructions on when to stop and restart.

WHAT SIDE EFFECTS ARE COMMON? In the first few weeks, you may have:

• Upset stomach
• Gas
• Loose stools (diarrhea)

This often gets better with time. Taking it with food helps.

Call your pharmacy if:

• Stomach problems don't get better after a couple of weeks
• Stomach problems are severe or you can't eat normally

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE — LOW BLOOD SUGAR vs. A SERIOUS PROBLEM

LOW BLOOD SUGAR (may happen if you take other diabetes medicines too):

• Feeling shaky
• Sweating
• Feeling dizzy or confused
• Feeling very hungry

→ What to do: Eat or drink something with sugar right away (like juice). Check your blood sugar if you can.

A RARE BUT SERIOUS PROBLEM (called lactic acidosis) — this is different from low blood sugar:

• Unusual muscle pain or cramps
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling very tired, weak, or cold
• Stomach pain
• Fast or uneven heartbeat

→ What to do: STOP the medicine and call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. Do not wait.

ALWAYS GO TO THE ER OR CALL 911 FOR:

• Chest pain
• Vomiting blood or blood in your stool (black or bloody)
• A sudden, very bad headache
• Fainting
• Thoughts of hurting yourself

These are always emergencies.

QUESTIONS? Call your pharmacy or doctor if you're not sure about anything on this sheet.

Pharmacy phone: _____________________ Doctor's phone: _____________________