As well as being practical and easy to understand, many other factors need to be considered when creating pharmaceutical labels. The medical industry is heavily regulated and the health and safety of patients and those who come into contact with a drug is paramount, minimizing the risk of accidental misuse.
Every drug needs to be identifiable, not only clarifying the type of medication within but providing plenty of information on how to correctly use the medication. Strict labeling regulations are in place for this reason, ensuring that clear and precise information about the product is provided with a high level of accuracy.
As a general rule of thumb, here are the key pieces of information which must be included within pharmaceutical labeling:
- The name of the product and a summary of its purpose, explaining what symptoms and/or medical condition the drug is designed to treat.
- A full list of the ingredients used within the medication.
- Clear instructions on how to use the drug and how to measure out the correct dose according to a prescription.
- Immediately identifiable warnings to make users aware of potential side effects and what to do should these occur.
- Specific instructions for demographics such as pregnant women and children if the medication is either not suitable for their use or requires different usage instructions.
- Braille versions of the information can be understood by blind and partially sighted users.
All of the above information must remain visible at all times to ensure that the product is used correctly and to avoid mistakes from occurring. To ensure this, it is important to understand that the industry regulations state that a label must be durable enough to last as long as the lifespan of a drug, being adhered to well enough to stay in place and remain legible. Especially for products that are likely to be exposed to extreme conditions during laboratory usage, transit, or storage, extra precautions will need to be taken to ensure the labels can withstand their surroundings. Tests should be carried out to test them against high temperatures, low temperatures, moisture, chemical exposure, UV light, and rough surfaces, ensuring the material is durable enough to withstand the test of time.
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