Activity 12: Parts of a Drug Guide

Drug Guides are important in the practice of pharmacy. It provides accessible

technical information for the pharmacist. This activity aims to familiarize the
students with the basic parts of a drug guide.
General Instructions:
DO NOT change the format (font style, size, etc.)
Copy paste MAY destroy the format
Avoid usage of .com and .org references on the definition
Identify the parts (typed or image) based on your downloaded drug label
GENERIC NAME:
Definition: the chemical name of a drug. A term referring to the
chemical makeup of a drug rather than to the advertised brand name under
which the drug is sold.
Example based on your downloaded label: "Diazepam" is an example of
the chemical (generic) name of a sedative. It is marketed by some
companies under its generic name and by other companies under brand
names such as Valium or Vazepam.
Reference:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?
articlekey=10127
BRAND NAME:
Definition: this is given to a medicine by the pharmaceutical company it
is developed by.
Example based on your downloaded label: For example, sildenafil is the
generic name of a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. However,
the company that makes sildenafil, Pfizer, sells it under the brand name
Viagra.
Reference:http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Medicinesinfo/Pages/Brandname
sandgenerics.aspx
DOSAGE FORM:
Definition: A term for the physical characteristics of a drug producte.g.,
tablet, capsule or solutionwhich contains the drug substance and
almost invariably other ingredients, such as excipient, fillers, flavors,
preservatives, emulsifiers, etc.
Example based on your downloaded label: Parenteral medications are
injected or placed into the body tissues and do not pass through the liver
before entering the bloodstream. This can include injections, topical and
inhalation routes. Generally in pharmacy, parenteral refers to injection.
Topical and inhalation routes are separated into their own routes of
administration.
Reference: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dosage+form

 DOSE STRENGTH:
Definition: The proportion of active drug substance to excipient,
measured in units of volume or concentration. The strength of a drug
product, which indicates the amount of active ingredient in each dosage.
Example based on your downloaded label: (e.g. 500 mg capsule, 250
mg/5 mL suspension).
Reference:
http://medicaldictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dosage+strength
DOSING INSTRUCTIONS:
Definition: Dosage instructions are written on the doctor's prescription or
hospital chart, and on the pharmacy label of a prescribed medicine.
Dosage instructions are also found on the packaging and inserts of overthe-counter medicines.
Example based on your downloaded label: The dose is the amount of
drug taken at any one time. This can be expressed as the weight of drug
(e.g. 250 mg), volume of drug solution (e.g. 10 mL, 2 drops), the number
of dosage forms (e.g. 1 capsule, 1 suppository) or some other quantity
(e.g. 2 puffs).
Reference: http://www.drugs.com/dosage/
DRUG CATEGORY: (e.g. Anti-malarial)
Definition: A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active
ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each
drug can be classified into one or more drug classes.
Example based on your downloaded label: Stimulants, Hallucinogens and
Depressants.
Reference: http://www.drugs.com/drug-classes.html

INDICATION:
Definition: For a drug refers to the use of that drug for treating a
particular disease.
Example based on your downloaded label: Labeled indications and Offlabel indications
Reference:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?
articlekey=20732
CONTRAINDICATION:
Definition: A contraindication is a specific situation in which a drug,
procedure, or surgery should not be used because it may be harmful to
the person.

 Example based on your downloaded label: Relative contraindication

means that caution should be used when two drugs or procedures are
used together. (It is acceptable to do so if the benefits outweigh the risk.)
Absolute contraindication means that event or substance could cause a
life-threatening situation. A procedure or medicine that falls under this
category should be avoided.
Reference: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002314.htm
PRECAUTION:
Definition: Methods or procedures intended to prevent or avoid adverse
outcomes.
Example based on your downloaded label: Peppermint oil is non-toxic
and non-irritant in low dilutions, but sensitization may be a problem due
to the menthol content.
It can cause irritation to the skin and mucus membranes and should be
kept well away from
the eyes. It should be avoided during pregnancy
and should not be used on children under seven.
Reference:http://www.drugs.com/dict/precautions.html,
http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/peppermint.htm
SIDE EFFECTS:
Definition: Problems that occur when treatment goes beyond the desired
effect. Or problems that occur in addition to the desired therapeutic
effect.
Example based on your downloaded label: A hemorrhage from the use of
too much anticoagulant (such as heparin) is a side effect caused by
treatment going beyond the desired effect.
Reference:
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?
articlekey=5489
DRUG INTERACTION:
Definition: Drug-drug interactions occur when a drug interacts, or
interferes, with another drug. This can alter the way one or both of the
drugs act in the body, or cause unexpected side effects. The drugs
involved can be prescription medications, over-the-counter medicines
and even vitamins and herbal products.
Example based on your downloaded label: Calcium-rich dairy products
(such as milk, cheese and ice cream), antacids and vitamins containing
iron can all lessen the effectiveness of antibiotics, particularly
tetracycline. Mixing any of these with a prescription antibiotic can cause
a much slower absorption rate of the antibiotic into the blood
stream/body, causing it to have a decreased effect.
Reference: http://www.bemedwise.org/quiz_facts/facts.htm
MANUFACTURER:

 Definition: Entity that makes a good through a process involving raw

materials,
components, or assembles, usually on a large scale with
different operations divided among different workers.
Example based on your downloaded label: OraTech LLC
Reference:
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/manufacturer.html

DISTRIBUTOR:
Definition: A distributor is a person engaged in distributing information
about products. A distributor provides services to the Company's clients
in the matters of purchasing the Company's products, attracts for the
Company new prospects as concerns the distributing activity.
Example based on your downloaded label: Company's ideas and
philosophy, a training instructor in sales and recruiting, a partner for the
Company in solving important issues.
Reference: http://english.vipgroup.net/business/distribute/

EXPIRY DATE:

 Definition: The expiration date is the final day that the manufacturer
guarantees the full potency and safety of a medication. Drug expiration
dates exist on most medication labels, including prescription, over-thecounter (OTC) and dietary (herbal) supplements.
Example based on your downloaded label: for example, for a headache,
hay fever, or mild pain, it may also be safe to take it, although drug
potency might not be 100 percent. Research has shown many military
stockpile medications retained 90 percent of their potency in their
original stock bottle.3 However, storage conditions of these medications
were optimized for temperature and humidity, and probably do not mimic
the typical storage conditions of the average household prescription
bottle.
Reference: http://www.drugs.com/article/drug-expiration-dates.html
MANUFACTURING DATE:
Definition: Date on which a product becomes the item it is supposed to
be, or as it is described in its specifications or technical literature.
Example based on your downloaded label:
Reference:
MANUFACTURING BATCH:
Definition: A manufacturing process in which components or goods are
produced in groups or batches and not in continuous stream.
Example based on your downloaded label:
Reference:
MANUFACTURING LOT:
Definition: The production lot is a particular production unit of an
assembly which is planned and manufactured with reference to a number.
The number of the production lot is a WBS element which the system
produces whilst creating the number.
Example based on your downloaded label:
Reference:
BAR CODE:
Definition: A bar code is a small image of lines (bars) and spaces that
is affixed to retail store items, identification cards, and postal mail to identify
a particular product number, person or location.
Example based on your downloaded label:
Reference:

 NET CONTENT:
Definition: An actual, computed, or estimated weight of a good without
its container and/or packaging. Gross weight less tare weight equals net
weight.
Example based on your downloaded label:
Reference:
CONCLUSION:

These are sample photos of drug with its complete label.

(Indication,
precaution,
dose,
recommended
storage,
pharmaceutical company, bar code, etc.)