Prescription Labels and How to Read Them

The look and information on your prescription label will depend on your pharmacy but most labels will include the following important information:

• Your pharmacy name, address, and phone number
• Your prescription number (RX#)
  
  • Number assigned to this specific prescription fill
  • This is the easiest way to identify the prescription for renewals to your pharmacy
• Your name
• The date your prescription was filled
• The name of the prescriber
  
  • Most commonly:
    
    • Family doctor
    • Pharmacist
    • Nurse practitioner   
    • Veterinarian
    • Optometrist
    • Dentist
• How much the prescription was written for
  
  • Number of tablets
  • Grams if a cream or ointment
  • Millilitres if it’s a liquid
• The name and strength of your medication
  
  • Brand and generic name will appear
    
    • In Nova Scotia the generic name will always appear first
• The drug identification number of your medication (DIN)
  
  • A number given to that specific drug by Health Canada
• The date your prescription expires
  
  • The date the medication expires may also appear on your label
• The number of refills or remaining tablets on your prescription
• The directions of how to take/use the medication
• At times the pharmacist may then add auxiliary labels
  
  • This can include more specific information about your medication
    
    • Examples: take with food, take with plenty of water, keep refrigerated