You want to know how to read a medication label because it contains important information you need to safely take the drug. What are some things that you can expect to find on most medication labels? Let’s explore.
Brand Name
There are patent protection rights that are given to the company that will solely market this medication under its brand name, so there won’t necessarily be a generic form of the drug available until this patent protection runs out. Once the patent runs out, other companies can market the drug and may create different brand names for a medication, but you should always be able to see the generic name as well.
Generic Name
Typically, the generic name is found very close to the brand name, usually under it. A drug has only one generic name; it can have multiple brand names, but only one generic name, and it will always be included on a medication label.
Prescription Label Guidelines
Sometimes you may be looking at a prescription label and will only see a generic name; this is often used for medications that have been around for decades and are very well known by that name. These names typically have parentheses around them and are all in lowercase letters.
One helpful thing is that the endings of most generic names tend to be similar within certain groups of medications, which makes it easier to identify the medication being given. For example, the generic names for ACE inhibitors typically end in- pril, like lisinopril, or beta blockers tend to end in lol.
It’s important to know both the brand name and the generic name because a doctor may write an order for the brand name, but the pharmacy supplies the generic name, and you would know it’s the same medication. The reason for this is that the generic form of the drug, whenever it is available, tends to be a lot cheaper than the brand name, saving hundreds to even thousands of dollars, and these medications work the same; it’s just cheaper.
USP
Sometimes next to the generic name you may see the letters USP. That stands for United States Pharmacopeia, and it means the medication has met specific quality standards and has a seal of approval. It doesn’t represent a certain measurement of the drug or how the medication is released in the body.
For example, XR is not a brand name; it is telling you that this is a different release of the medication. XR stands for extended release. There are different types of release; some examples include CR (controlled release), IR (immediate release), EC (enteric coated), and CD (controlled delivery).
It’s very important to look at this part of the medication label to verify what type of release this medication has, because depending on the form the medication may not be able to be crushed or chewed, because if it was crushed or chewed and it was one of these special releases it could alter the rate at which the medication works in the body and could not be very good for the patient.
Supply
Another thing you want to be familiar with is the supplied form of the medication; this tells you how the medication is supplied. For example, medication can be in capsules, but it can also be in tablets, solutions, suspensions, or injection solutions (intravenous or intramuscular); it can also be in topical suppositories, etc.
Next is dosage strength; this is the amount of drug that is in the specific dosage form supplied, and you will see a number with the measurement unit beside it.
Route
Next is the route on the medication label; check whether it specifies how this medication should be given. Capsules and tablets are generally understood to be given orally unless specified otherwise, because some medications may be supplied in tablet form but need to be taken sublingually or via the buccal route. For instance, nitroglycerin: little tabs given to patients who are having chest pain that go underneath the tongue, and on a bottle of nitroglycerin it will actually say sublingual tablets, so always look at that information.
Medication Instructions
Next are the medication instructions. This section, found on most labels, gives detailed instructions on the medication, such as dosages, how to prepare or reconstitute it, storage details, etc. Often, manufacturers include a small fold-out piece of paper with detailed information about the drug, if you need it. It goes into detail about storage, telling you if it needs to be kept refrigerated and to keep it away from light.
Next, you may see the manufacturer and the distributor’s name and address, who made this medication and who is distributing it; it can be the same name or two different names.
