More Labeling Tips: Labeling Medications

Medications are some of the most important items in our homes.  Incorrect dosages can be fatal, which is why it is extremely important that medications are labeled with the name and correct dosage. Additional information such as how many capsules/tablets are in each bottle and how many refills are available can also be helpful. I found loads of helpful tips in my new book called ‘Label It!’ by Judy Dixon.

There are a number of ways to label prescriptions, both through tactile and audio methods. The one that I found easiest was to transfer the drugs to a larger bottle, a 40-gram bottle works excellently since it is rather large and allows room for an extensive label, labeled with all the information. Then, each time you get a refill on that particular prescription, simply drop it into the bottle. Another easy method is to put the prescription bottle in a zip-lock bag that is labeled on the outside with all pertinent information such as the RX number, dosage, number of tablets/capsules, etc. Alternatively, you can Braille this information onto an index card and slip it inside the bag. Then, you can simply feel the Braille through the plastic.

My ideal method however is mail-order prescription companies.  Many of the larger mail-order companies offer Braille labeling as part of their services. This means that not only would my prescriptions come pre-labeled, averting the hassle of doing it myself, but would also save me a trip to the pharmacy. And, considering that I have difficulty walking and everything takes longer for me, this is definitely an added bonus. There are a growing number of pharmacies who provide this service; one of them is CVS.

There are also a number of audio labeling methods. One is called RX by Maxi-Aids, which is a recording device that fits on the bottom of a standard prescription bottle and can record short messages about the prescription. However, my favorite is Scrip-Talk, made by En-Vision America.  This is a hand-held scanner, which reads the information from a prescription label to you. However, there is one drawback to this method. The labels must be printed on specialty labels that can be read by the device and only a few pharmacies have that capability. However, the manufacturer is negotiating with several large pharmaceutical companies and hopes to soon be able to bring readable Scrip-Talk labels to a pharmacy near everyone.

I have given you a few tips on labeling medications but there are many more. If you’d like the complete array, you can purchase ‘Label-It!’ at http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/LABELIT.html. It has certainly proven to be an invaluable resource for me.