This document discusses advisory labels that pharmacists add to dispensed medications to provide additional information to patients. It notes that these labels reinforce essential information and advise on proper use but are not a substitute for counseling. The document then provides examples of label wording to advise on timing of doses with food, completing treatment, missed doses, storage, dissolution, and dose limits. It also gives examples of warning label wording regarding effects on driving, foods/medicines to avoid, sun exposure, and discolored urine.
2. INTRODUCTION
• An Auxiliary label or Cautionary and Advisory label (Cals) are sometimes added (with the
dispensing label) to a medicine dispensed by the pharmacist to the patient.
• Standard cautionary and advisory labels offer advice but are not exhaustive.
• The labels are not a substitute for adequate counselling by prescribers and dispensers(most
medicines are dispensed by pharmacists) but are intended to reinforce essesntial information the
patient needs to know.
3. Advisory labels on medication
• BEFORE FOOD: To be given atleast half an hour before any food, or two hours after a meal, to
ensure the absorption of the drug is not reduced or stopped by the presence of food in the stomach.
• WITH OR AFTER FOOD:the presence of food helps to reduce the chance of Sideffects such as
indigestion and protect the stomach lining from drugs that may cause ulcers.
• SWALLOW WHOLE/DO NOT CHEW: To ensure special tablet coatings are not destroyed before
swallowing.These coatings may protect the mouth/throat/stomach from ulcers or reduce the
number of times it is administered daily. Anyone chewing this formulations should be prescribed
an alternatives
4. TWO TYPES OF CALs :
 Providing advice regarding medication use.
Warning consumers about undesirable effects.
5. Recommended label wording can offer advice about
 Timing of doses in relation to food.
 Completing the course of treatment
 What has to be done if a dose is missed
 The correct storage of a medicine.
 Dissolution of the medicine in water before taking it
 Limits to the number of tablets that should be taken in a given time
6. Recommended label wording can offer warnings about
• Effects of the medicine on driving or work ( drowsiness)
• Foods or medicines that should be avoided
• Avoidance of exposure of the skin to sunlight or sun lamps
• Medicines that can discolour the urine