Warning Instructions Common In Drug Information Leaflet And Their Meaning

Warning Instructions In Medicine

Reading drug product label is very important before taking any drug. The label explains some of the basics that drug users need to know.

They may be many to non-medical personnel and may seem difficult to comprehend. However, a careful look at it will show otherwise. The reason for this post is for non-medical personnel. The warnings found in drug information leaflets is for them and these warning pieces of information are found in it

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One of the most important drug labels on most medications is the warning label. Unfortunately, this is most at times ignored. It is somehow bold and in a conspicuous location yet most eyes seem to consider it as not important.

Warning labels include conditions, the drug should not be used. It also includes the side effects and potential adverse effects of physical activities to be avoided or encouraged. Also, the time and reasons to consult medical personnel during drug use.

Prescription warning labels are small coloured stickers placed adjacent to the drug label on a prescription that provides important cautionary information. This includes the safe administration of a medicine.

The list of possible warnings and their meaning will be explained today using a table. The warning is the label information that may be found in some drugs. The meaning of such warning is explained in the next column.

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S/N	Warning	Explanation
1	May cause drowsiness	These preparations can cause sleep. It is mostly found in children’s preparations. A child who takes it may sleep longer than normal hence parents should not be scared
2	May cause drowsiness, if affected, do not drive or operate machinery	These preparations can cause sleep also. The difference between this and the first is that the first one is in children preparations. This label is found in adult preparations. The two product may be the same. However, we know children sleep when they feel sleepy and they do not operate machinery. Operating machinery can cause fatal accidents due to loss of consciousness
3	May cause drowsiness, if affected, do not drive, or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drink	These preparations cause sleep hence not suitable for those who want to operate machinery. Also found in adult preparations. In addition, these drugs can be influenced by the presence of alcohol probably negatively. Therefore it is good to stay away from alcohol during these medications
4	Avoid alcoholic drinks	Drugs like metronidazole can be hazardous when mixed with alcoholic drinks. Such combinations can lead to flushing and other fatal conditions as previously discussed in this blog
5	Do not take indigestion remedies at the same time of the day with this medication	This warning if common with drugs with coatings which by-pass the gastric acid. The chemical constituents of antacids (indigestion remedies) can rupture the coating. In addition, antacids have the ability to affect the absorption of some drugs. These sets of drugs should not go with antacids. Time interval should be hours apart
6	Do not take iron preparation or indigestion remedies at the same time of the day with this medication	These preparations should be separated with hour’s interval because the chemical constituents of these drugs (iron preparations and antacids) can reduce drug absorption of the said drug. Iron and calcium-ion in drugs are affected by iron and calcium containing antacids
7	Do not take milk, iron preparation or indigestion remedies at the same time of day as this medicine	Separate intake by some hours because iron, calcium and magnesium are chelated by these drugs reducing their effectiveness. Some other medications contain these elements like iron
8	Do not stop taking this medicine except on your doctors’ advice	Abruptly stopping these medications can cause some adverse undesirable effects. Consult a qualified medical personnel should in the case of these nature. Some drugs may seem not to be working. However, it is recommended to keep taking them
9	Take at regular intervals. Complete the prescribed course unless otherwise directed	Irregular use of some drugs can cause a relapse, resistance to the drug or even total failure of treatment which can be avoided when the drug is taken as prescribed. Irregularity can be taking the drug at the wrong hours like when a drug is meant to be taken 8 hourly for a day and the patient takes it 6 hourly in which case the day's dose is completed in 18 hours time. the next day's dose will be separated by about 14 hours. Such difference can be dangerous in these medications
10	Warning. Follow the printed instructions you have been given with this medicine	Take as prescribe otherwise it make cause unforeseen side effects
11	Do not take remedies containing aspirin while taking this medicine	Two sets of drugs that fall into this category. Drugs that have the same effect with aspiring and drugs that their activities is reduced by aspirin. It is proper to consult your pharmacist to know those drugs.
12	Avoid exposure of skin to direct sunlight or sun lumps	These drugs can cause phototoxic or photo allergic reactions if the patient is exposed to ultraviolet light
13	Dissolve or mixed with water before taking	These drugs work effectively when in solution. So dissolving them in water will increase their bioavailability which is reduce when patient fail to do it
14	This medicine ay colour the urine or stools	Some drugs may change the colour of the urine during the period of use hence patients should not be scared. A good example is rifampicin that colour urine red and iron tablets that colour stool black. No cause for alarm
15	Caution flammable: Keep away from fire or flames	Drugs coated with alcohol can cause fire when exposed to a naked flame. Such fire can cause bodily injury or property damage
16	Allow to dissolve under the tongue. Do not transfer from this container. Keep tightly closed discard eighth weeks after opening	Dissolving the drug under the tongue increases the rate of adsorption and is not destroyed by such action unlike when it is swallowed which may lead to destruction by the Gastrointestinal Tract. These drugs can loss efficacy when used with a bad container. These container can include plastic etc. Too much air may even shorten the shelf life hence the advice to keep tightly sealed. Their shelf life is also short especially when they have been exposed to light and air. Discard as warned or you may just be causing more harm than good when taking them
17	Do not take more than --- in 24 hours or --- in any one week	Exceeding the maximum daily or weekly dose can lead to side effects.
18	Warning. Causes drowsiness, which may persist the next day. If affected, do not drive or operate machinery. Avoid alcoholic drinks	These drugs have longer sedative effects which can cross the nights into mornings hence those who are taking these should not plan of driving or operating machinery the next day
19	With or after food	Take these drugs during food or after because it can cause gastric irritation. However, some of them are better absorbed when there is food in the stomach
20	Half to one hour before food	If it is an appetite suppressant, hour before food will help the patient reduce food intake. If it an antacid, it improves the acid content of the stomach. So take them before eating especially when you are about to cook. It will help to keep to the instruction
21	An hour before food or on an empty stomach	These drugs are more effective on an empty stomach. An hour before food must be long enough for them to achieve their therapeutic effects before the food comes in
22	Sucked and chewed	Treating disease of the throat, most times require a drug that is sucked gradually to aid local effects on the throat. Also some drugs that are large and will take the time to dissolve in the stomach can be aided by chewing which will increase the absorption rate. So please keep to the instruction
23	Swallowed whole, not chewed	These drugs are mostly sustained release or drugs that have chemicals that can damage the throat when crushed or chewed. The coating will be destroyed when chewed
24	Dissolve under the tongue	Drug adsorption under the tongue is more effective for some drugs hence should never be swallowed. The dissolving drugs under the tongue by pass the effect of drugs in the stomach which may not favour that product
25	With plenty of water	Some people take drugs without liquid. These drugs can stick to the oesophagus hence should be swallowed with water
26	To be applied sparingly	Drugs applied on skin with this warning should be used with small quantity because too much quantity can cause side effects such as local side effects
27	Do not take more than 2 at any one time. Do not take more than 8 in 24 hours	There is a maximum dose per time and a maximum dose per day. Exceeding it may cause some adverse effects

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