Medicine leaflets
Pill information leaflets in NZ: where to find them
When your pharmacy hands you a box, the leaflet inside can be dense, and sometimes there is none at all. Here is where to find medicine information in New Zealand — and how to make it easier to actually read and keep.
Updated 7 October 2026 · ScriptPal NZ
Where NZ medicine information comes from
New Zealand has several official sources of medicine information, each written for a slightly different audience.
- Medsafe data sheets — the technical information approved for health professionals.
- Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) — the patient-facing version, when one exists.
- Healthify — plain-language NZ health and medicine topics.
- The New Zealand Formulary (NZF) — the clinical reference used by prescribers.
- MyMedicines — a public NZ medicine information service.
Why a leaflet is not always enough
A leaflet covers one medicine in isolation. If you take several, you are left juggling multiple pamphlets in tiny print, with no single view of what you take and why. Leaflets are also not always supplied, and the ones inside the box are often pitched at the clinician rather than at you.
That is the gap ScriptPal fills: instead of hunting for a leaflet per pill, each medicine on your list carries a plain-English education panel covering its drug class, why it is prescribed, what it does in your body, dose range, side effects and when to seek help.
Reading a medicine leaflet well
If you do have the leaflet, a few sections are worth reading first.
- What the medicine is and what it is used for.
- Before you take it — allergies, pregnancy, other conditions.
- How to take it and what to do if you miss a dose.
- Possible side effects — and which ones mean you should get help.
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 can I get a pill information leaflet in NZ?
Ask your pharmacist, or check Medsafe data sheets, Consumer Medicine Information (CMI), Healthify and MyMedicines. ScriptPal also shows plain-English information for each medicine on your list.
What is Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)?
CMI is the patient-facing leaflet about a medicine — explaining what it is for, how to take it and possible side effects, in language aimed at the public rather than clinicians.
Does ScriptPal include official leaflets?
ScriptPal provides plain-English educational summaries drawn from New Zealand sources and links to further trusted resources. It is educational 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.