How we create and review our guides

Last updated: November 15, 2026

Our goal

Layman Drugs explains medicines the way a pharmacist would at the counter: in plain language, without jargon, and focused on what matters to you. Every guide answers the same questions: what the medicine is for, how to take it, what side effects to expect, what to be careful with, and when to get help.

Who reviews our content

Every medicine guide is reviewed by a licensed pharmacist before it is published. The pharmacist checks that the information is accurate, complete and safe, and that nothing important is missing or misleading. A guide is not published until it has passed this review.

How a guide is made

• 1. Research. We start with official, trusted sources (see below), not forums, blogs or marketing materials.
• 2. Writing. We write the guide in plain language, with short sentences, everyday words and clear headings. Drafts may be prepared with the help of writing tools, including AI tools. These tools never decide what is published.
• 3. Pharmacist review. A licensed pharmacist checks every fact against the sources, edits the guide and approves it.
• 4. Publishing. Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed, and lists the sources used.

Sources we use

• Health Canada product monographs and the Drug Product Database
• Canadian clinical practice guidelines, such as those from Diabetes Canada, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society and CANMAT
• Government and public health agencies, such as Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada
• Trusted reference sources, such as the U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus and DailyMed)

Keeping guides up to date

Medicine information changes. We review our guides regularly and update them sooner when there is an important safety warning, a new guideline or a change to the official product information. The “Last reviewed” date on each guide shows when a pharmacist last checked it.

Corrections

If we make a mistake, we want to fix it quickly. If you think something on our site is wrong, please tell us through our Contact page. Include the page and what looks wrong. A pharmacist reviews every correction request, and we update the guide if needed.

Independence

• Our content is not written, paid for or approved by drug companies.
• We don’t publish sponsored content, and we don’t recommend one brand over another.
• If this ever changes, for example if we add advertising, we will say so clearly and keep advertising separate from our health information.

What our guides are not

Our guides give general information. They are not medical advice and can’t take into account your health history, other medicines or allergies. Always talk to your doctor, nurse practitioner or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing a medicine. In an emergency, call 911.