Start with the ingredients, not the box colour
A medicine has a brand name and an active ingredient name. The brand is often more prominent, but the composition line matters when matching a prescription. Copy the complete line: combination products contain more than one active ingredient.
Make two columns: “prescription” and “package”. Compare ingredients, strength and dosage form in that order. A resemblance to a search-engine photograph is not enough; a brand may have multiple strengths and presentations.
Sources: fda.gov
Strength is not pack size
“25 mg” and “30 tablets” describe different things: ingredient strength per stated unit and the number of tablets. A number on the package does not automatically tell you how many tablets to take daily.
For a combination keep both strengths in order, such as “400 mg + 100 mg”. This identifies composition, not a treatment plan. Record your prescribed schedule separately.
Sources: fda.gov
What “generic” means
A generic references an existing medicine and matches its active ingredient and key characteristics. FDA approval requires, among other things, pharmaceutical equivalence and bioequivalence. These are requirements in a specific regulatory system, not automatic approval of every product with the same ingredient.
Different brand names alone establish neither superiority nor poor quality. Manufacturer information, documentation and the relevant market authorisation concern the specific product.
A compact comparison table
Use this order to turn an unclear field into a specific question. It is a comparison aid, not a treatment suitability decision.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Composition | Every active ingredient |
| Form | Tablets, capsules, solution or other stated form |
| Strength | Value and unit for each ingredient |
| Pack | Tablet or vial count, or volume |
| Batch and dates | Details from the package actually received |
Sources: fda.gov
Expiry belongs to the actual package
A general catalogue image does not establish remaining shelf life. That depends on the date on the actual batch. Obtain a readable date photograph, then compare it with the carton and container received.
Expiry assumes the stated storage conditions. Look separately for temperature requirements and any instructions after opening or reconstitution. Do not copy another medicine’s storage rules because its box looks similar.
Where the full leaflet fits
Look for the source and leaflet for the exact brand, form and strength. A short active-ingredient overview is not the complete leaflet for a particular brand.
Bookmark administration, interactions, adverse effects and storage. Write questions next to the relevant passage. This makes the discussion specific instead of leaving you with an impression from a long list of unfamiliar terms.