As the famous saying goes, “Health is wealth,” and investing in your health begins with being careful with what you consume, including medications. If you have ever picked up a prescription, you would have noticed those numbers and words that are printed on them. Have you ever wondered or asked yourself what they mean?
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As the famous saying goes, “Health is wealth,” and investing in your health begins with being careful with what you consume, including medications. If you have ever picked up a prescription, you would have noticed those numbers and words that are printed on them. Have you ever wondered or asked yourself what they mean?
If you are yet to get your head around them, it is nothing you should worry about because we are here to reveal the secrets of pharmacy labels and guide you, our dear friend, on what to look out for.
Let us start from the basics.
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Medicine Name
One of the first things you would notice on a pharmacy label is the name of the medicine. This makes it much easier to identify whatever prescription you have been giving. As such, it is printed clearly with easy-to-read fonts.
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Dosage Instructions
Next is the dosage instruction. This tells you the exact amount or dosage of the medicine that you should take at every given time. It also tells you the frequency, that is, the intervals you should take the medication and the accurate measure.
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Patient’s Name
Yep, that’s your name! Your name should be boldly written as well. That way, wheoever is responsible for dispensing the medication won’t mixup your prescription with another person’s.
This is usually accompanied by the prescription date.
Then there are the “Important Warnings”
In addition to the information we just listed above, there are other equally important information that are printed on pharmacy labels. These are particularly important because they play an important role in guaranteeing your safety.
They include the following:
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Use By Date
Just like every consumable, medicines also have an expiry date. After this date, they lose their potency — what this means is that they may not work as well or could even be harmful.
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Storage Instructions
Most people leave their medicine lying around the house: on the table, inside the fridge, or on the shelves. Well, it is worth mentioning that there is best practice for storing drugs and every medication has its storage needs.
Some medicines are best stored in cold environments, while others are okay at room temperature. You will find this information on the labels as well. So you don’t have to rack your brain over it.
Last but not least is the pharmacy details. This is important because you may need to reach out to them for help.
Still on safety, other things to look out for are:
- Doctor’s Name
- Barcode
- Batch Number: This is like the medicine’s birth certificate. It helps trace where it came from if there’s a problem.
Understanding the Label
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Strength of Medicine
If your medicine has different strengths, this part will tell you which one you’ve got. That way, you don’t have to worry about overdosing and you will be careful not to ignore the instructions given to you.
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Route of Administration
Wondering how to take it? Is it a pill, syrup, or injection? This part reveals the secret.
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Quantity Dispensed
This section of the label shows how many pills or millilitres you’ve got.
Take It Seriously
Cautionary Advice: Look out for warnings about driving or alcohol. Mixing them with your medicine can be like oil and water – they don’t mix well.
Contact Information: If you have questions or need help, the pharmacy’s phone number is your lifeline.
Extra Information
Sometimes, you’ll find extra leaflets with detailed instructions. They’re like the user manual for your medicine.
Stay Informed
Ask Questions: Don’t hesitate to ask the pharmacist if anything on the label puzzles you. They’re like friendly guides on your health journey.
So there you have it, the mystery of a pharmacy label unveiled. It’s like reading a book – each word and number tells a story about your medicine and how to use it safely.