Reading a medicine label – what every part means

Almost every box carries two names. The large one is usually the brand — the manufacturer's trade name. The smaller one, often underneath and in a plainer typeface, is the generic name: the actual active ingredient. The generic name is the one that tells you what you are taking.

• Strength. The number with mg or ml is the amount of active ingredient per tablet or per measure. The same medicine comes in several strengths, so "one tablet" means nothing on its own.
• Dose and frequency. How much, how often, and the maximum in 24 hours. That maximum is the number that matters most.
• The schedule. South African medicines carry a schedule number that indicates how tightly they are controlled — from those sold openly through to prescription-only.
• Expiry date. Usually month and year, meaning the end of that month.
• Batch number. Worth noting if you ever need to report a problem or check a recall.
• Storage instructions. Some need a fridge; almost all need to be kept away from heat and damp.
• The registration number, which shows the product is registered with the regulator.

The folded paper in the box is the approved patient information leaflet. It is long because it is a legal document, but three parts of it are worth finding every time you start something new.

1. 1"Do not take if…" — the conditions and combinations that rule this medicine out. Read this before the first dose, not after a reaction.
2. 2"Tell your doctor if you are taking…" — the interactions. Check it against everything else you take, including anything bought over the counter, herbal or traditional.
3. 3"When to seek medical help" — the side effects that are not just unpleasant. Knowing these in advance is what turns a serious reaction into a same-day clinic visit.

• Approved leaflets for medicines registered in South Africa are published online by the regulator, so a lost leaflet is recoverable.
• "Take with food" and "take on an empty stomach" are not suggestions — they change how much of the medicine reaches you.
• A long side-effect list is not a warning that all of them will happen. It lists everything ever reported, including the rare.

• What is this for, and how will I know it is working?
• What is the maximum I can take in a day?
• Does it interact with anything else on my list?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?
• Is it safe with alcohol, and can I drive on it?
• How long should I take it, and what happens when I stop?