Sometimes, All You Need to Know Is on the Label
The Fine Print
Your doctor's desk is probably cluttered with pens, candy dishes, and coffee mugs emblazoned with the names of heavily promoted prescription drugs. But amid all the clutter may be a less showy item that probably deserves more attention. Next time your doc scribbles out a prescription for a new drug, check out the labeling. This long strip of paper contains detailed information on safety and use. The language is written for doctors and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. It has no spin, no hype, just the facts--and you can read it, too.
At first glance, this won't be easy. The label provides head-spinning scientific detail and lots of medical jargon. Plus, the typeface is so small you almost need a magnifying glass to read it. Even doctors often fail to look at it. The FDA is trying to make the labels more inviting and useful: Last December, the agency proposed changing the order of information and adding a "Highlights" section at the top.
It will be months, maybe years, before you see the new format. Meanwhile, here's how to find useful information. David Flockhart, a professor of medicine and pharmacology at Georgetown University, suggests heading first for the section called Dosage and Administration. "This is the most important," he says. "It tells you how often and how much to take." Make sure it jibes with your doctor's instructions. Also check Indications, to be sure this is the right medicine for your condition.
The drug may have side effects--most drugs do. They are listed in the Adverse Reactions section of the label. Often there is a handy chart showing the most common side effects that have been observed among people in clinical trials. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain words like "pruritis," doctor-speak for itching. The Contraindications and Drug Interactions sections let you know if the new drug won't mix well with another medication you are already using or a health condition you have.
You might first see the label when the doctor gives you a free sample of the drug to start your prescription. If not, it should be inside the box you get at the pharmacy. If the pills come in a bottle and the pharmacy only gives you a leaflet of simplified information, which is often written by a separate company, ask for the real thing. The leaflets are not regulated by the FDA and could be missing important safety information.
Reading the label is no substitute for discussing side effects and safety with your doctor or pharmacist, Flockhart says. He recommends that patients tell healthcare providers about other medications they are taking, as well as any supplements--vitamins or herbs. "If they don't ask, tell them if you have any allergies to drugs," he says. "And remember to ask whether you are likely to experience a withdrawal reaction when you stop taking the medication."
This story appears in the February 19, 2001 print edition of U.S. News & World Report.