Patient name
Nombre del pacienteConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
BILINGUAL EDUCATIONAL GUIDE
How to read a U.S. prescription label
Understand the printed information, compare key English and Spanish terms, and know what to confirm before taking a medicine.
START HERE
Read the complete instruction—not one word by itself.
A label combines the medicine, strength, amount per dose, route, timing, and warnings. Confirm every part.
TEN IMPORTANT LABEL FIELDS
What each field means
The pharmacy name and telephone number help you contact the pharmacy that filled the prescription. The Rx number identifies that specific prescription in the pharmacy system, and the prescriber field identifies the professional who authorized it.
Dispensing pharmacy and phone
Farmacia que dispensó y teléfonoConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Prescription number (Rx #)
Número de receta (Rx #)Confirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Prescriber name
Nombre del prescriptorConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Drug name
Nombre del medicamentoConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Strength
ConcentraciónConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Directions / Sig
IndicacionesConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Quantity
CantidadConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Refills
Repeticiones autorizadasConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
Discard after / Expiration
Desechar después de / VencimientoConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
FICTIONAL BOTTLE LABEL
See where the information appears
This invented example shows a typical arrangement. Real pharmacy labels vary in design and wording.
- Pharmacy name and phone
- Prescription number (Rx #)
- Patient and prescriber
- Medication, strength, and directions
- Quantity, refills, and discard date
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE
“Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily”
“Tome 1 tableta por vía oral una vez al día”
For language education only—not an instruction for a specific person or medicine.
BEFORE LEAVING THE PHARMACY
Confirm anything unclear.
- Correct patient and medicine
- Amount to take each time
- Frequency and timing
- Storage and warnings
- What to do if the label differs from what you were told
KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANIZED
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Official sources and review
Product-specific directions always take priority. This general guide is based on official U.S. consumer information.