How to Read Prescription Labels: A Simple Guide for Nigerians Who Care About Their Health

The first time I collected a prescription from a pharmacy, I remember staring at the small white label stuck to the drug pack. Lines of words, numbers, and abbreviations I barely understood. Something like:

“Take 1 tab BD × 5/7 after food.”

I had no idea what “BD” or “5/7” meant.

 Understanding your prescription label is just as important as taking the medicine itself.

Let’s talk about how to read prescription labels, especially in Nigeria, where not every pharmacy label looks the same, but the message behind each one always matters.

Why You Should Know How to Read Your Prescription Labels

Every time you collect medicine from a pharmacy, the pharmacist places a label on it, and that label is your personal guide.

 It tells you what you’re taking, how to take it, and how to stay safe while using it.

 Ignoring it or misreading it can easily lead to mistakes like overdosing, mixing drugs wrongly, or stopping treatment too early.

Prescription labels in Nigeria may vary slightly in format compared to those in other countries, but the essential information and safety guidelines remain universal.

Information like the name of the patient, name of the medicine/drug, dosage instructions, etc.  

Let’s break it down together, in simple language, and in a way that makes sense to everyday Nigerians.

1. Your Name and Details

This one sounds obvious, but it’s easy to miss. Always check that the name on the label is yours. In homes where several people use medication, one wrong label can cause confusion. 

Your label might look like this:

Name: Mary Okafor Date: 8/10/2025

 DOB: 01/07/1992

If it’s not your name, don’t assume it’s the same medicine your doctor prescribed. Double-check. Your date of birth is a clear identification marker, and every prescription should carry this, because the possibility of 2 people answering the same first, middle, last name and D.O.B. is highly slim.

 Also, do not use any medication prescribed for another person. This counts as self-medication and can lead to serious health risks or drug resistance.

2. The Name of the Medicine

You’ll see either the brand name or the generic name, or both.

• Example:  Brand: Augmentin Generic: Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid

Why this matters: Sometimes the pharmacy might change the brand when they restock. Knowing the generic name helps you recognize it’s still the same drug, just a different company label.

3. The Dosage Instructions

This is where most people get lost, especially from the Doctor’s handwriting or with those doctor-style abbreviations. 

A randomized controlled trial conducted by Obehi A. Akoria and Ambrose O. Isah found that many prescriptions in Benin City lacked important details and were often not clearly legible. Interestingly, when doctors were given interventions such as group seminars, there was noticeable improvement, especially in public hospitals.

This shows that while progress is being made, prescription clarity is still a challenge, which makes it even more important for patients to understand what their labels say.

• BD – twice a day (morning and night)

• TDS – three times a day

• OD – once daily

• QID – four times a day

• 5/7 – for five days

• PRN – when necessary

• NOCTE – at night

• MANE – in the morning

So, if your label says:

“Take 1 tab BD × 5/7 after food,” it means: “Take one tablet in the morning after eating, and at night after eating for five days.”

When you understand that, you’re already halfway to safe medicine use.

4. Route of Administration

This simply tells you how to use the medicine.

• Oral: swallow or take by mouth

• Topical: rub on the skin

• Otic: ear drops

• Ophthalmic: eye drops

• Inhalation: breathe it in

If you ever see a label and you’re unsure, ask the pharmacist before leaving. Many drug errors happen because someone applied or swallowed what should have been used differently.

5. Warnings and Precautions

In Nigeria, some pharmacies write them, others simply say them aloud. You might hear or see things like:

• “Take after food.”

• “Avoid alcohol.”

• “May cause drowsiness.”

Please, take these seriously. They exist to protect you from side effects or drug interactions.

6. Dispensing Date and Quantity

This helps you track when you started treatment and when you might need a refill — especially for long-term conditions like high blood pressure, HIV, TB, or diabetes. 

Example:

Dispensed: 8/10/2025 

Qty: 30 tablets

That means you have about one month’s supply if you take one per day. However, this is uncommon in Nigeria, as most prescriptions are written for the full course of treatment required, eliminating the need for refills.

7. Pharmacy and Prescriber Details

Your label should include the pharmacy’s name, address, and sometimes your doctor’s name or hospital. If something goes wrong, say maybe you experience side effects or need a clarification, this is who you call.

Also, make sure the pharmacy is registered under the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). They usually display their certificate inside the store.

8. Refill or Expiry Information

Although this has been addressed clearly above, it wouldn’t harm to buttress the point. 

Some labels may say:

“Refill x2 before December 2025” 

This means you can collect more doses without going back to the doctor, up to two more times.

Always check that your medicine hasn’t expired. Outdated drugs may lose their strength or become unsafe.

9. NAFDAC Approval

While the pharmacy label itself might not show the NAFDAC number, the drug packaging should. If you are not sure how to verify a medication through its NAFDAC number, check here. 

 That number confirms the medicine is approved for use in Nigeria. If you ever get a drug without one, especially from an unfamiliar pharmacy, don’t use it. It could be counterfeit.

Prescription labels are not decorations; they’re your instructions for safety. Whether printed or handwritten, every line tells you something vital about how to take your medicine correctly. So, the next time you collect a drug and see that tiny white label, don’t just toss it aside. Read it.

 Ask questions if you’re not sure. Do not worry about the tone, or being perceived as ignorant. Your pharmacist’s job is to make sure you understand, your job is to make sure you ask.

Because when it comes to your health, understanding comes before swallowing.