Medication Labels Reading Medication Labels Medication labels vary
Medication Labels
Reading Medication Labels • Medication labels vary in appearance from manufacturer to manufacturer • The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does regulate what information must be included on the label but not the format in which the information is displayed
Reading Medication Labels • The following slide is an example of an antibiotic label • Each label must show the following – Name of drug and total amount of drug in the container – How this medication can be administered to the client • Orally, IV, Rectally etc. – How to reconstitute, if in a powder form – How much of the drug is found in each milliliter (m. L) • i. e. – amount of milligrams per 1 milliliter – Usual dose to be given and how it is to be stored
Bottle Labels for Tablets • The image to the right is the following information – Name of drug – Trade and generic • Lanoxin (digoxin) – Number of tablets in bottle • 1000 – Amount of drug in each tablet • 250 mcg (0. 25 mg_
Bottle Labels for Tablets • The image to the right is for Percocet – Percocet actually contains 2 different drugs: Oxycodone 5 mg and Acetaminophen 325 mg • There 100 tablets in the bottle
Use of Stock Bottles • The 2 previous labels are examples of labels found on Stock bottles – Stock bottles are used by pharmacists to fill multiple prescriptions/orders – These are usually not seen on patient floors/units in an institution • However RNs working in small hospitals Emergency Departments may see these when there is not a pharmacist on duty 24/7 – This is why you need to know how to figure how many doses are in a bottle for you math competency exam
Label Information from Previous Slide • Veetids 125 is the name of the drug product; this is the Trade name given to the product by the specific manufacturer • Penicillin B Potassium is the Generic name • This is an oral suspension when reconstituted • When the drug reconstituted there a total of 200 m. Ls in the container • After reconstitution of the powder each 5 m. Ls contains 125 mg
Label Information from Slide (con’t) • It label also gives specific instructions on how to reconstitute the drug – What solution is to be used – Total amount of solution to be added – How the solution is to be added to the container • In this example 117 m. Ls of water is to be added to the container and then the container is to be shaken to dissolve the powder • NOTE: When the powder is dissolved, there are 200 m. Ls of drug solution as stated on the label not 117 m. Ls. This is because there are inert materials in the powder which add to the total volume of the solution. You calculate your total amount of drug based on the 200 m. Ls - not the 117 m. Ls used to reconstitute the powder
Why Should You know how to Reconstitute Medications • Many times when working in a large institution, the medications will be sent to the floor already reconstituted and in a single dose amount – However, if working in a small institution where there is not 24/7 pharmacist coverage the RN may have to dose her client from a stock bottle
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