Labels and Labelling

What is a label?

A label is the written, printed or graphic information fixed to the container or pack of a medicine. Labelling is the wider term: it covers everything written on the container, the outer carton and any leaflet inside.

For the patient, the label is often the only instruction they will read again at home, days after leaving the pharmacy. That makes it one of the most important safety tools in dispensing.

Functions of a label

A label:

• identifies the medicine: name, strength and dosage form;
• tells the patient how to use it: how much, how often, for how long and by which route;
• warns about precautions and special risks;
• gives storage instructions and the expiry date;
• gives legal and traceability information, such as the manufacturer, batch number and registration number;
• shows who the medicine is for and who supplied it;
• helps prevent errors by letting the patient, the nurse and the pharmacist check the medicine at any time.

Qualities of an ideal label

An ideal label is:

• Legible: easy to read, in clear print or neat handwriting.
• Accurate: exactly matches the prescription.
• Complete: has all the required information.
• Clear and simple: uses plain words the patient understands.
• Permanent: the ink does not smudge or fade, and it is not spoiled by moisture.
• Firmly attached: it stays on the container for the whole life of the medicine.
• Well placed: it does not cover the expiry date or the manufacturer's information.

Types of label

The dispensing label

A dispensing label normally includes:

1. Name and address of the pharmacy
2. Date of dispensing
3. Patient's name
4. Name and strength of the medicine
5. Directions for use, in plain words
6. Quantity supplied
7. Any auxiliary label or special instruction needed
8. "Keep out of the reach of children"

Auxiliary labels

An auxiliary label gives one short, clear message. Common ones are:

Special instructions

Special instructions are extra directions added for one patient when the standard label is not enough. Examples are a reducing dose ("Take 4 tablets daily for 2 days, then 2 tablets daily for 2 days") or "Use only in the left ear". Write them in plain words and check them with the pharmacist.

Worked example: writing a dispensing label

Prescription: Amoxicillin 500 mg capsules, 1 capsule tds for 5 days.

1. Translate the abbreviation: tds means three times a day.
2. Work out the quantity: 1 capsule × 3 times × 5 days = 15 capsules.
3. Choose the auxiliary label: Complete the full course.
4. Write the label:

[Pharmacy name and address]
Date: (date of dispensing)
Patient: (full name)

AMOXICILLIN 500 mg CAPSULES
Take ONE capsule THREE times a day for 5 days.
Quantity: 15 capsules

Complete the full course.
Keep out of the reach of children.

Checking and common label errors

Read the label against the prescription at least three times: when you take the medicine from the shelf, when you write the label, and before you hand the medicine over.

Common mistakes to watch for:

• the wrong patient's name on the label;
• the wrong strength or dosage form;
• directions that do not match the prescription;
• abbreviations or Latin terms the patient cannot read;
• a label stuck over the expiry date or the manufacturer's information;
• labelling the lid instead of the container, since lids get swapped;
• two similar-looking products labelled at the same time and mixed up.