Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Drug Facts labels have the necessary information to help you decide if an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine is right for you or the person you are considering treating.

It is important that you understand and follow the Drug Facts label – that’s why OTCsafety.org offers the interactive Drug Facts label that you see below. Scroll over the different sections of the label to learn important information about each label section.

Before taking or administering any OTC medicine, you should always read and follow the label exactly as directed. Most importantly, check with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any questions.

You should be especially diligent in reading the label when it comes to giving medicines to your children, as guidelines have changed in the last year. If you have questions specifically about administering OTC medicines while treating your kids, be sure to check out OTCsafety.org’s Parents section.

Drug Facts labels always list information in the same order. You should always read every section carefully before taking, or giving a medicine because each section contains valuable information.

Active Ingredients
This section lists the ingredient or ingredients that make the product work. It is especially important to pay attention to this section if you are taking more than one medicine—whether OTC or prescription—to make sure you are not taking too much of the same active ingredient. Too much of an active ingredient can be harmful.

Purpose
This section tells you what type—or category—of medicine it is, such as an antacid or antihistamine.

Uses
The uses section explains the symptoms or illnesses for which the product should be used. Only use products that treat the symptoms you have. If you need help choosing a product, ask your pharmacist or other healthcare professional.

Warnings
There are times you should not take a medicine. The warnings section explains these times, and also tells you when a doctor or other healthcare professional needs to be consulted, possible side effects, and when to stop taking a product. If in doubt, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.

Directions
This section tells you exactly how and when to take a medicine. Remember that these directions are not suggestions or recommendations; they should be followed exactly, except under a doctor’s specific advice, because taking more of a medicine or for longer than labeled can be dangerous.

Other Information
This section contains information about how to store the product and additional information that is required by the FDA about certain ingredients, such as the amount of calcium, potassium, or sodium a product contains.

Inactive Ingredients
The inactive ingredients section also includes important information, especially if you or a loved one has a known allergy.