Information sheets
Medicine information sheets in New Zealand
Medicine information sheets come in several forms in New Zealand, and knowing which one to read — and when to ask a professional — makes them far more useful. Here is a practical guide.
Updated 7 October 2026 · ScriptPal NZ
The main types of medicine information sheet
New Zealand produces medicine information in three broad tiers, aimed at different readers.
- Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) — written for patients and carers.
- Medsafe data sheets — the approved technical information for health professionals.
- The New Zealand Formulary (NZF) — the clinical reference used across the health sector.
Choosing the right sheet for you
If you want to understand your medicine as a patient, start with the CMI or a plain-language source. Data sheets are detailed but use clinical language and are not written for a general audience.
For anything about your own dose, whether to stop or start a medicine, or whether it is safe with your other medicines, the right source is always your pharmacist or prescriber — not any sheet on its own.
Keeping information for all your medicines together
The awkward part of information sheets is that each one covers a single medicine. If you take several, you end up with a pile of separate documents. ScriptPal gathers the plain-English explanation for every medicine on your list into one place, right beside your medication list and your blister pack view.
That means the information you need is where you already are — and it travels with you to appointments, alongside a printable summary your doctor can read.
Try it in ScriptPal — free
ScriptPal is a free, NZ-made medication app. Organise your pills, understand what they do, match your blister pack and print a clear summary for your GP.
Frequently asked questions
Where do medicine information sheets come from in NZ?
Mainly Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) for patients, Medsafe data sheets for professionals, and the New Zealand Formulary (NZF) for clinicians.
What is the difference between a CMI and a data sheet?
A CMI is written for patients and carers in plain language; a data sheet is the technical, approved information for health professionals.
Can ScriptPal replace a medicine information sheet?
No. ScriptPal provides plain-English educational summaries drawn from NZ sources to help you understand your medicines. It is educational only and does not replace advice from your pharmacist or prescriber.
Related guides
This guide is for general education and does not replace personalised advice from your pharmacist, GP or prescriber.