How to read a prescription label
A prescription label holds everything you need to take a medicine correctly — if you know what to look for. Here's a quick tour.
The key parts
- Your name — always check it's you.
- Medicine name and strength — e.g., "Lisinopril 10 mg."
- Directions (the "sig") — how much, how often, and when (e.g., "Take 1 tablet by mouth daily").
- Quantity and refills — how many, and how many refills remain.
- Prescriber and pharmacy — who wrote it and where to call.
- Fill and expiration/discard dates.
The warning stickers
Those colored stickers matter: "take with food," "may cause drowsiness," "avoid alcohol," "finish all medication," or "avoid sunlight." Don't ignore them.
Common abbreviations
- PO = by mouth · QD/daily = once a day · BID = twice a day · TID = three times · PRN = as needed · HS = at bedtime.
If anything's unclear — the directions, a warning, or an abbreviation — ask your pharmacist. Misreading a label is a common, avoidable cause of medication mistakes.
Check your own medicines free
See how your prescriptions, supplements, and food may interact — organized by the part of the body they affect.
Open the medication tool →Important: This article is educational and not medical advice. It does not replace your pharmacist or prescriber. Always confirm decisions about your medicines with a qualified professional, and call your local emergency number for emergencies. In the U.S., Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.