Before implementing a labeling system, try using any of the following organizational systems:
- Whenever possible, keep medication in the original bottle or container.
- Organize medications in alphabetical order.
- Separate medications by location: keep breakfast pills in the kitchen and evening pills on the bedroom nightstand.
- The size and shape of a pill can help with identification. The visually impaired person can practice feeling different pills until he/she can recognize and differentiate them.
- The size and shape of some containers may be enough of a clue to help the visually impaired person recognize them. Some over-the-counter medications—certain brands of cough syrups and topical creams, for example—are recognizable by their unique shape, size, or texture.
- If there are no children in the home, ask your pharmacist for a conventional pill bottle instead of the child-proof variety.
- Ask the pharmacist to place medications in a blister package to help keep them organized.
- Separate medications used infrequently from those taken every day.
- Place each medication on a separate shelf in the medicine cabinet. (This method is not advisable for people experiencing memory problems.)
- Use a dark-colored tray when organizing medications. The contrast with the medication containers will help with identifying them. Also, a tray’s raised edge can prevent dropped pills from rolling onto the floor.
- Maintain a listing of current medications and dosages. Include all vitamin supplements and over-the-counter medicines.
- Keep all medications away from excessive sunlight, heat, and humidity, such as in the bathroom or on a windowsill in the kitchen.
- Dispose of old or outdated medications promptly.
Information for Pharmacists and Patients: Format-Specific Best Practices
Audible Prescription Drug Labels:
- For dedicated equipment, select devices that provide independent, easy to use start/stop operation, with volume control and earbud access for privacy.
- If using a voice recorder, speak in a clear voice.
- Record information in a setting that minimizes background noise and maintains patient privacy.
- Offer to teach the patient how to operate the audible prescription drug container label.
- Braille Prescription Drug Container Labels:
- Electronic delivery method: Acquire an electronic delivery method using RFI tags, QR codes, or other processes to provide electronic text of the prescription drug container label upon request. Consumers with electronic braille equipment may then access electronic text in braille format.
- When embossing hard copy braille prescription drug container labels:
- Use contracted (Grade 2) braille.
- Emboss braille labels on transparent material in order to preserve the legibility of print container labels. Affix braille label to the prescription drug container with strong adhesive.
- Do not fold braille labels.
- Printing Large Print Labels (Hard Copy):
- Print label in 18-point bold font.
- Use non-glossy paper or other material that is durable and a size that is easy to manipulate.
- Use print with highest possible contrast between text and background color (ideally black text on a white or pale yellow background). If printing on both sides, use material that does not print bleed-through from one side to the other.
- Use sentence case, with the initial capital letter followed by lower-case characters.
- Use non-condensed, sans-serif font, such as Arial.
- Provide 1.5-line spacing.
- Use horizontal text only.
- Securely affix the large print label to the prescription drug container. When covering a large print label with protective tape, use non-glossy, transparent tape.