Reading Medication Labels

Medications come packaged with specific information about the medication on the label, which includes details such as the brand name, generic name, dosage strength, medication form, expiration date, lot number, manufacturer name, bar code, and additional information and directions for use. As a nurse, you'll read the labels of all prescribed medications to ensure safe administration.

Okay, so let's identify the information on this label and what it means. Starting with the medication's brand name, also known as the proprietary or trade name, which you'll find in large, bold letters. This is the commercial name given to a medication by the manufacturer.

The generic name is its nonproprietary name, which is an internationally recognized name based on the medication's active ingredient or chemical structure. You'll find the generic name in smaller, non-bolded letters, typically written below the brand name.

Next, you'll find the dosage strength and formulation. Dosage strength is the amount of medication contained in the medication form, like tablet, capsule, or suspension, and it's indicated by a number with units of measurement.

The formulation may follow the dosage strength or be noted after the generic name.

Then, you'll find the medication's expiration date, or the date after which the medication shouldn't be used anymore, since it may have lost potency. The expiration date is usually abbreviated as "exp" followed by a month and year.

The lot number, which refers to the batch the medication came from during the manufacturing process, is usually found near the expiration date and is a string of numbers, letters, or both. You'll use the lot number to determine if the medication is safe for use in the event a certain lot of medications are recalled due to a manufacturing error.

Then, there's the manufacturer's name, or the company that produced the medication, which might be listed on the label in a logo.

Medication labels also contain a bar code that can be scanned to show the medication's unique identification, lot number, expiration date, and other information.

Finally, information and directions provide administration information, like to take the medication orally; storage instructions, such as to keep the medication in a cool, dry place; or other special considerations for the medication, like whether it can be chewed or crushed. Usually, the information and directions on the label will be accompanied by a more thorough document of instructions within the container.

Okay, let's practice reading some medication labels. Start by looking at this label, where you'll note the brand name of this medication, in large, bold letters, is Zithromax; and the generic name underneath it, in smaller letters, is azithromycin. The dosage strength is 500 mg, and the medication's form is tablets, meaning each tablet contains 500 mg of the medication. The expiration date is August 2024 and lot number is 35H92, which are written next to each other on the side, and the barcode is located on the opposite side. The name of the manufacturer is Pfizer. Lastly, the additional information and directions indicate the medication should be stored between 59 and 86 degrees F or 15 to 30 degrees C.

Let's look at another medication label. Here, the medication brand name is Zofran, and the generic name is ondansetron hydrochloride. This medication has a dosage strength of 4 mg per 5 mL, and the medication's form is an oral solution. This means 5 mL of the solution contains 4 mg of the medication. The expiration date of April 2025 and lot number 543T are shown along the side, next to the bar code, and the name of the manufacturer is GlaxoSmithKline. The information and directions explain the dosage and give directions for storing the medication upright, away from light, and store between 59 to 85 degrees F or 15 to 30 degrees C.

Okay, let's read one more medication label. The brand name for this medication is Depo-Testosterone, and its generic name is testosterone cypionate. The dosage strength is 100 mg per mL, and the medication's form is an injection for intramuscular, or IM, use. Each milliliter contains 100 mg of medication. The expiration date of July 2024 and lot number 6P25W are shown along the side next to the bar code, and the name of the manufacturer is Pfizer. The information and directions include warming and shaking the vial to dissolve any crystals present, to store it at room temperature, between 68 to 77 degrees F or 20 to 25 C, and to protect it from light.

Alright, as a quick recap…. All medication labels provide important details, which include brand name, generic name, dosage strength, medication form, expiration date, lot number, name of the manufacturer, bar code, and information and directions. Nurses must understand how to correctly read medication labels to administer medications safely.