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 #) and NDC
Número de receta (Rx #) y NDCConfirm 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.
Expiration date and lot number
Día de expiración y número de loteConfirm this field against your prescription and pharmacy directions.
FICTIONAL BOTTLE LABEL
See where the information appears
This example shows a typical arrangement. Real pharmacy labels vary in design and wording.
- Pharmacy name and phone
- Prescription number (Rx #) and NDC
- Patient and prescriber
- Medication, strength, and directions
- Quantity, refills, expiration date, and lot number
- Manufacturer and tablet description on the back
- FDA-required Medication Guide, when applicable in the U.S.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE
“Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily”
“Tome 1 tableta por la boca una vez al día”
For language education only—not an instruction for a specific person or medicine.
MEDICATION GUIDES
Keep and review the information provided with your medication.
Certain medicines must be dispensed with an FDA-approved Medication Guide. Depending on the medicine, you may also receive a Patient Package Insert, Instructions for Use, or other pharmacy information. Review every document you receive for the medication’s uses, storage, dosing instructions, interactions, side effects, and warnings.
If no information is included—or anything is unclear—ask the pharmacist for the current official patient information before using the medication.
FDA Medication Guides and patient-labeling resources →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
Need a bilingual Medication Passport?
Receive an organized English–Spanish document for up to 10 medications, easy to save or print.
Official sources and review
Product-specific directions always take priority. This general guide is based on official U.S. consumer information.