The medicine label can tell you many things, including:
the proper daily dose
what ingredients are in the medicine
what’s the medicine for
any reasons you should not take it or why you should speak with your health care professional before taking it
how to use the medicine.
The graphic below can show you how to read a label and the important elements that will help you use acetaminophen and other medicines safely.
Over-the-Counter Label
Active Ingredient
This section of the Drug Facts label lists the ingredient or ingredients that make the medicine work. Acetaminophen will be listed here, either by itself or with other active ingredients in the product. It may be highlighted. Always check this section to see if your medicine contains acetaminophen. And if you are taking more than one medicine, make sure you are not taking two medicines that contain acetaminophen at the same time.
Purpose
This section tells you what treatment type—or category—of medicine the product is. For medicines that contain acetaminophen, this includes pain relievers and fever reducers. Acetaminophen also treats pain in cold, flu, and allergy medicines, and in sleep aids.
Uses
This section tells you what symptoms you can expect the medicine to treat. You should only use products that treat the symptoms you have.
Warnings
There are times when you should not take a particular medicine. Individuals who drink three or more alcoholic drinks a day, have liver disease, or are taking warfarin should talk to their doctor before taking acetaminophen. This section also tells you when you need to stop taking a product.
Directions
A medicine’s directions tell you exactly how and when to take a medicine. You should never take more than the label says, or more often or longer than the label says, unless your healthcare professional tells you to. Remember, there is a limit to how much acetaminophen you can take in a day. Taking more than directed is an overdose and can lead to liver damage. Pay special attention to the directions for children under 12 years as those are different from older children and adults. If you have any questions, talk to your child’s doctor.
Other Information
This section tells you other important information about your medicine, such as where to store it and at what temperature. Most medicines should be kept away from heat and humidity to help them stay effective longer. Always keep medicines out of the reach and sight of children.
Inactive Ingredients
This section tells you what is in your medicine in addition to the active ingredients. This can include flavors and preservatives, for example. It is especially important to read if you or the person taking the medicine has a known allergy to an ingredient listed here.
Questions?
Always talk to your healthcare professional if you have any questions. You can also call the toll-free number listed in this section.
Warnings are specific to the medicine you are taking. Always read the warnings before taking your medicine.
Expiration Date
Medicines expire. You should not take a medicine after the expiration date.
Description
A short description of what your medicine looks like might include a description of its shape, size, imprint or color.
Pharmacy Information
Your local pharmacy name, address and phone number and the name of the doctor that has prescribed your medicine will be listed. Contact your pharmacist if you have any questions about your prescription.
Your prescription (Rx) number is unique to your medicine and helps the pharmacist ensure you go home with the correct prescription.
Name and Address
The medicine prescribed should only be used by the person listed on the label. If the name and/or address listed is incorrect, contact your pharmacist immediately.
Directions
The directions tell you how to take your medicine, including how much to take and how often.
Ingredients
This section lists the ingredients that make the medicine work. This is where acetaminophen, "APAP," "Acetam" or other shortened versions of the word will be listed, along with other active ingredients.
Always check this section to see if your medicine contains acetaminophen. Do not take two medicines that contain acetaminophen at the same time.
Quantity and Refill
This section lets you know how much medicine is in your container and how many refills you have left before you need a new prescription from your healthcare professional. Some medicines require authorization from your healthcare professional.
