Understanding Your Prescription Labels

Medication safety starts with understanding what you're taking. Your prescription label contains vital information that ensures you get the full benefit of your medicine while minimizing risks. However, all those numbers and abbreviations can sometimes be confusing.

Decoding the Label

Every prescription label is required to show specific information. Here's a breakdown of the most critical parts:

• Patient Name: Always verify this is your name to avoid mix-ups.
• Drug Name & Strength: Shows what the medication is (e.g., Lisinopril) and the dosage (e.g., 10mg).
• Directions (Sig): This is the most important part. It tells you how often and how much to take. Look for phrases like "Take 1 tablet by mouth daily."
• Quantity: The total number of pills or amount of liquid in the bottle.
• Refills: Indicates how many times you can get more medication without a new prescription from your doctor.

Common Abbreviations

Doctors often use Latin abbreviations that pharmacists translate onto the label. Knowing these can be helpful:

• QD: Once a day
• BID: Twice a day
• TID: Three times a day
• PRN: As needed
• PO: By mouth

Expiration & Storage

Pay attention to the "Discard After" or expiration date. Medications lose potency over time and can sometimes become harmful. Also, check for "Refrigerate" stickers—keeping meds at the wrong temperature can destroy their effectiveness.

If you ever have any doubt about how to take your medication, don't hesitate to ask us. It's our job to ensure you understand your treatment plan completely.