The proper reading of a prescription drug label is an important part of disease management. The information on the label is a mixture of information from the prescribing physician and the pharmacist.The patient or caregiver must understand how to store and when to administer the medication. Some drugs are meant to be given on a routine schedule while others are given only as needed. Improper medicine use can lead to medical complications, hospitalization or death.
Basic Information
Step 1
Find the patient's name is on the label. Pharmacies occasionally give medication to the wrong customer or confuse two people with similar names. The address or date of birth may be on the label to further indicate that the medication is intended for the patient.
Step 2
Check that the correct doctor's name is on the label. This is an indicator that the prescription is the one that was written for the patient.
Step 3
Read the name of the medication. It should be familiar to the patient or caregiver. If it is unfamiliar, ask the pharmacist or physician before administering it.
Step 4
Verify the expiration date. Do not take medicine beyond the expiration date. Some medications will have a time frame for use beyond the date they are opened. In that case, attach a note with the day the container was first opened and do not use beyond the time frame given.
Administration Instructions
Step 1
Determine how much medicine to take and when to take it. The bottle may indicate that one tablet should be taken twice a day or it may say to take 1 tbsp. four times a day. Drugstore.com explains that the patient should take medication based on a 24-hour day unless directed otherwise. If the medicine label states that it should be taken three times a day, it should be taken roughly every 8 hours.
Step 2
Know the correct route for administering the medication. "Take one tablet" means taking the tablet by mouth, but liquids can be more confusing. Read the label carefully to know whether to give someone liquid orally or topically.
Step 3
Understand whether the medicine is to be taken regularly or only as needed. Pain medication with a label that reads, "Take every four hours as needed" should be taken only when pain is felt, but medication with a label that reads, "Take every six hours" should be taken whether symptoms are experienced or not. If the instructions seem different than what the physician explained, call her for clarification.
Handling and Storage
Step 1
Look for an indication to whether refills are available. For medications that are taken regularly instead of only as needed, refills should be obtained and the medicine use continued until directed otherwise by the physician. Some medications will not need to be refilled. This is frequently the case with antibiotics. Medications that are taken only as needed may or may not have refills available. The Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that medicine labels indicate whether refills are available and until what date.
Step 2
Look carefully for special instructions and follow them precisely. Pharmacists often stick small labels with important instructions onto the container. Common instructions include "do not operate machinery while taking this medicine," "do not crush medication," "take with food" or "stay out of direct sunlight."
Step 3
Read storage instructions for the drug. It may need to be kept in the refrigerator or out of direct light.
Tips and Warnings
- Call the physician or pharmacist with any questions regarding the drug label. When calling the pharmacy, ask to speak to the pharmacist directly. Have the patient's name, date of birth, address and prescription number ready for the pharmacist.
- Never allow anyone to take someone else's prescription medicine. Keep it out of the reach of children, even if has a child-proof cap.
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