How to read your prescription label

The parts of the label

• Your name. Check it every time. If it isn’t yours, don’t take it.
• Medicine name and strength. It may show the generic name, which has the same active ingredient as the brand.
• Directions. How much, how often and for how long.
• Quantity. How many pills or how much liquid came in the bottle.
• Refills left. How many more times we can fill it without a new prescription.
• Rx number. The number of your prescription at our pharmacy. Give it to us when you ask for a refill.
• Prescriber. The doctor who wrote it.
• Dates. When it was filled and the date to discard it.
• Pharmacy name and phone. Who to call with questions.

The colored stickers

Small extra stickers add warnings, like “may cause drowsiness”, “take with food” or “do not drink alcohol”. They matter as much as the directions.

When something isn’t clear

“Twice a day” with food or without? Morning and night, or any time? If a line confuses you, ask us. We explain your label in English or Spanish, at the counter or by phone. See also Questions to ask your pharmacist.