Understanding Drug Labels CHAPTER 8 Understanding Drug Labels © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Drug Names Brand, trade, proprietary Manufacturer’s name for a drug Generic Established, nonproprietary name © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Brand and Generic Names Brand name is usually most prominent Generic name must be on all drug labels Nurses must cross check medications to prevent errors © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Brand and Generic Names (Continued) Used with permission from Aventis Pharmaceuticals © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Identify the Brand Name Used with permission from Pfizer Inc. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Identify the Generic Name Used with permission from Abbott Laboratories © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Dosage Strength Dosage weight or amount of drug provided in a specific unit of measurement © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Identify Dosage Strength Image courtesy of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Form Structure and composition of drug Solid forms for oral use Injectable Suppositories Creams Patches © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Used with permission from Pfizer Inc. Identify Form Used with permission from Pfizer Inc. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Supply Dosage Both dosage and form Dosage per tablet Dosage per milliliter © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Identify Supply Dosage Used with permission of Roxane Laboratories Inc. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Total Volume Full quantity contained in bottle or vial Total number of tablets or other solids Total fluid volume for liquids © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Image courtesy of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. All rights reserved. Identify Volume Image courtesy of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Administration Route Otic Oral Optic Enteral Topical Sublingual Rectal Refers to the site of the body or method of drug delivery Otic Optic Topical Rectal Vaginal Others Oral Enteral Sublingual Injection © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Administration Route (Continued) Unless specified, tablets, capsules and caplets are intended for oral use © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Identify Administration Route Image courtesy of Baxter Healthcare Corporation. All rights reserved. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Expiration Date Check prior to administration Discard or return to pharmacy if expired © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Locate Expiration Date Used with permission from Lannett Company, Inc. © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Lot or Control Numbers Important if drug is recalled Quickly identifies a particular group of medication packages © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Controlled Substance Schedule Classifies drugs according to potential for use and abuse Schedule I – highest potential for abuse Schedule V – lowest potential for abuse © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Unit or Single-Dose Labels Dose strength is understood as per one © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Combination Drugs Different substances are combined Usually prescribed by number of tablets, capsules, or milliliters, not dosage strength © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Other Parts of Label Manufacturer National Drug Code Bar Code © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Checking Labels Six Rights of medication administration Right patient Right drug Right amount Right route Right time Right documentation © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Checking Labels (Continued) Check drug label Against medication order on MAR Before preparing the medication After preparing medication and before administering it © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Label Alert Warnings may be printed on packaging or added by pharmacy before dispensing Look for special storage alerts such as Refrigerate at all times Keep in a dry place Replace cap and close tightly before storing Protect from light © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

Label Alert Reconstituted suspensions may be dispensed already prepared for use Directions may instruct the health care professional to “shake well before using” as a reminder to remix the components Read and follow all label instructions carefully © 2013 Delmar Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied, duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.