If you take prescription medication, you aren’t alone. According to Georgetown University, more than 131 million adults in the United States take at least one prescription medicine.
Those in their 30s may fill only a handful of prescription medications each year. By the time people reach their 60s, though, that number is much higher. As we age and develop chronic medical conditions, many people take multiple medications on a regular basis to manage those conditions.
If you have a prescription or two, knowing how to read the label on those bottles is an important part of managing your health. Jeremy Garcia, a pharmacist with University Health, shares the seven points you need to know about your medicine label.
Reading a Prescription Label
When you think about taking good care of your health, you might think about healthy lifestyle habits or regular visits with a primary care provider. Those are important tools for maintaining good health — and taking your medications correctly is another.
When you’re prescribed a new medication, talk with your pharmacist about how it should be taken. That’s also your opportunity to ask questions about everything from that specific medication and drug interactions to ways to afford your prescriptions.
“Before leaving the pharmacy, you should understand what the medication is, how it should be taken and anything that should be avoided while taking it,” says Dr. Garcia. Much of that information can also be found on your prescription label.
Here are the basics:
Pharmacy Information
Near the top, you’ll find information about the pharmacy where your prescription was filled. This will include the name, address and phone number of the pharmacy.
Prescription Number
The label will also contain a prescription number. This is a unique identifier attached to your prescription that is used to look up the prescription in the pharmacy’s records. You’ll reference this number if you refill your prescription.
Medication Information
In the middle of the label, you’ll find information about the medication you’re receiving. This will include the name of the medicine, its dosage and directions on how to take your medication.
If you’ve been prescribed the generic form of a medication, the label may also note the brand name of that medication.
Refills Available
If your medical provider included refills on the prescription, the label would note the number of refills available and when they expire. This date is not when the medication expires — it’s when the prescription written by your provider can no longer be used. Most prescriptions expire one year after the date they were written
Medicine Expiration
The prescription label will also include the medication's expiration date. This expiration date is one year from the date the medication was dispensed by the pharmacy.
On your bottle, it will usually say something such as “discard after” with the expiration date noted. Dr. Garcia advises that while it may be tempting to hold on to prescription medications in case you need them again, it’s best to discard them after the date noted on the bottle.
After that time, the medication may no longer be fully potent or safe. Take steps to safely dispose of your prescription medications when you’re no longer taking them or they’re expired.
Medication Warnings
Your bottle also includes labels about specific dos and don’ts for taking the medication. These warning labels may differ somewhat in appearance depending on the pharmacy filling the medication.
In some cases, they may be brightly colored stickers, while in others, they may be part of the label itself. These labels contain important information about taking a prescription medication correctly.
When the medication was first dispensed, the pharmacist probably reviewed the information on these warning labels with you, but it’s a good idea to review them yourself when you first take any new prescription medication. They will note specifics, such as whether medications can be crushed or chewed, whether to take a medication with or without food, or if you should avoid certain foods that can interact with the medicine.
Medication Description
The final bit of information on your prescription label can be helpful if you ever drop a pill and aren’t sure what it is. Each prescription label contains identifying information about the prescription medicine, such as its shape, color and numbers or letters printed on the pill.
“If you ever notice that your medication doesn’t match the description on the bottle, let your pharmacist know,” says Dr. Garcia.
University Health Pharmacies
Looking for a convenient location to fill out your prescriptions? Find a University Health Pharmacy location that’s convenient for you!
In our pharmacies, we offer prescription medications and provide community members with access to other important pharmacy services, including immunizations, smoking cessation sessions, medication therapy reviews, and health and wellness education.
