Asking for Cold & Flu Medication
A customer describes their symptoms (e.g., runny nose, sore throat, cough) and asks the pharmacist for an appropriate over-the-counter cold and flu medication.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
under the weather
This idiom means feeling slightly ill or not well, often used to describe mild sickness like a cold. It's a polite way to say you're not feeling good without being too specific.
runny nose
A nose that is producing a lot of liquid mucus, common in colds. Use this when describing allergy or cold symptoms to a doctor or pharmacist.
sore throat
A throat that feels painful or irritated, often from a cold or infection. It's a basic symptom word useful in medical conversations.
persistent cough
A cough that continues for a long time and doesn't go away easily. 'Persistent' means ongoing or stubborn, helpful for explaining ongoing health issues.
fever
A high body temperature, often a sign of illness like the flu. Always mention if you have one when seeking medical advice.
decongestant
A type of medicine that reduces swelling in the nasal passages to relieve a stuffy or runny nose. Common in cold remedies; ask for it in pharmacies.
side effects
Unwanted or unexpected effects from taking medicine, like tiredness. It's important to ask about these before using any drug.
dosage
The amount and frequency of medicine you should take. Always check the dosage to avoid taking too much.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and was hoping you could recommend something for a cold.
This is a polite way to start a conversation about feeling ill. 'Under the weather' is an idiom for mild sickness, and 'was hoping' shows polite expectation. Use it when asking for advice in a pharmacy or doctor's office.
Can you tell me a bit more about your symptoms? What exactly are you experiencing?
This question gathers more details from the patient. 'A bit more' softens the request, and 'what exactly' seeks specifics. Pharmacists or doctors use this to understand the problem better; learners can use it to ask for clarification too.
Well, I have a really runny nose, a sore throat, and a persistent cough. I'm also feeling pretty tired and achy.
This lists symptoms clearly using 'and' to connect them. 'Really' and 'pretty' add emphasis. It's useful for describing your health issues in detail during consultations.
Based on those symptoms, it sounds like a common cold or possibly the flu.
This gives a diagnosis based on information. 'Based on' means 'using as a foundation,' and 'it sounds like' expresses an opinion. Use this pattern when suggesting causes for problems.
I'd suggest a multi-symptom cold and flu medication. Something like this one, it contains a pain reliever, a decongestant for your runny nose, and a cough suppressant.
This recommends a product with explanations. 'I'd suggest' is a polite way to recommend, and the sentence uses 'contains' to list ingredients. Helpful for explaining medicine options to customers.
Are there any common side effects I should be aware of?
This asks about risks politely. 'Be aware of' means 'know about and watch for.' It's a key question in any medical discussion to ensure safety.
The dosage is two tablets every four to six hours, as needed, but do not exceed eight tablets in 24 hours.
This explains how to take medicine. 'As needed' means only when symptoms occur, and 'do not exceed' warns against overuse. Grammar uses imperative 'do not' for instructions; read labels like this.