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Prescription medicine labels explainedPrescription medicine labels explained
Every time you buy a prescription medicine, the pharmacist puts a label on the medicine's container that provides important information about the medicine and when and how to take it.
Two names
Prescription medicines have two names: the active ingredient (or generic name) and a brand name.
The brand name is usually on the top line of the label. It is the name the manufacturer has given to their brand of the medicine, and is often the name with which people are most familiar.
Equally important, however, is the active ingredient, which lies below the brand name, because it is the actual name of the medicine. If your medicine was dispensed at a hospital pharmacy, only the active ingredient name may appear on the label.
On the label shown, the brand name is Zocor, and the active ingredient is simvastatin. Other brands of simvastatin produced by different companies include Zimstat, and Chemmart simvastatin.
Strength
Many medicines come in different strengths. The label shown tells you that the Zocor tablets contain 10 milligrams (or mg for short) of simvastatin. Zocor tablets are also available in strengths of 5 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg. Knowing the strength of your medicine, as well as its name, is important.
Instructions and warnings
The instructions tell you when to take the medicine and how much to take.
There may also be additional instructions that are important for the particular medicine. For example, you may be told to 'Discard one month after opening' (eye drops) or 'Take until all tablets taken' (antibiotics).
Elsewhere on the pack
The packaging (not the label put on by the pharmacist) will also tell you the name of the company that produced it, the batch number and expiry date. These details are important if the batch of medicine is ever recalled.
For more information
The label gives you lots of information, but it doesn't tell you everything. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist any questions you may have, or read the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) leaflet.
MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter for consumers written by consumers about using medicines wisely. Subscribe to the hard copy version using our online ordering system, or write to MedicinesTalk, National Prescribing Service Limited, PO Box 1147, Strawberry Hills, NSW 2012.
Date published: 2006-09-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
