Package
insert:
Printed materials available in the legal pharmacologic
description of a drug, subject to detailed
regulatoryspecifications, including approved chemical and
proprietary names, description and classification,
clinicalpharmacology, approved indications and usage,
contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse reactions,
drugabuse and dependence information, overdosage discussion, dosage
and administration, formulations, and appropriate references
The first thing listed is usually the brand name and generic
name of the product. The other sections are as follows:
- Clinical pharmacology - tells how the medicine works in the
body, how it is absorbed and eliminated, and what its effects are
likely to be at various concentrations. May also contain results of
various clinical trials (studies) and/or explanations of the
medication's effect on various populations (e.g. children, women,
etc.).
- Indications and usage - uses (indications) for which the drug
has been FDA-approved (e.g. migraines, seizures, high blood
pressure). Physicians legally can and often do prescribe medicines
for purposes not listed in this section (so-called "off-label
uses").
- Contraindications - lists situations in which the medication
should not be used, for example in patients with other
medical conditions such as kidney problems or allergies
- Warnings - covers possible serious side effects that may
occur
- Precautions - explains how to use the medication safely
including physical impairments and drug interactions; for example
"Do not drink alcohol while taking this medication" or "Do not take
this medication if you are currently taking MAOI inhibitors"
- Adverse reactions - lists all side effects observed in
all studies of the drug (as opposed to just the dangerous side
effects which are separately listed in "Warnings" section)
- Drug abuse and dependence - provides information regarding
whether prolonged use of the medication can cause physical
dependence (only included if applicable)
- Overdosage - gives the results of an overdose and provides
recommended action in such cases
- Dosage and administration - gives recommended dosage(s); may
list more than one for different conditions or different patients
(e.g., lower dosages for children)
- How supplied - explains in detail the physical characteristics
of the medication including color, shape, markings, etc., and
storage information (e.g., "Do not store above 95°")