Medication labels: Nursing pharmacology

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.