Drug labelling

Since the 1800s, legislation has been advocated to stipulate the formats of drug labelling due to the demand for an equitable trading platform, the need of identification of toxins and the awareness of public health.

In February 1999, the introduction of population pharmacokinetics (PPK) in drug labelling established the significance of dose individualization in relation to age, gender, concurrent medication, disease state etc.

[3] The application of PPK became ubiquitous, particularly in pharmacological agents with narrow therapeutic index such as anticancer and anti-infective medications.

[5] Readable drug interactions with intrinsic complexity and accuracy should be provided to healthcare practitioners who may not be expertise in clinical pharmacology.

[7] Such statutory descriptions should be given greater prominence, not being interrupted by supplementary messages or background graphics, particularly the full registered name should be displayed with a minimum of 3 non-opposing faces of carton presentations for effective identification.

[8] The labelling of OTC drugs should include registered indications as part of the statutory information for the self-selection by customers.

[9] Additional labelling may be required in certain drug classes; For example, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as lisinopril should be indicated with "Caution.

[10] For Non-poisons and Part 2 Poison, the dose regimen, route and frequency of administration of the product should be exhibited in both English and Chinese.

Failure of drug identification by medical practitioners was reported in Hong Kong,[11] because of the adoption of non-standardized label formats by physicians in private clinics.

Optimum design of drug labelling is an essential pharmacological goal which helps eradicate adverse events such as withdrawal symptoms, complications and misadventure.

[citation needed] Likelihood of dispensing error can be reduced by adopting Tall Man lettering or other means of highlighting the key component of the drug name.

[8] Examples are as follows Inclusion of Quick Response (QR) codes on labelling can be allowed only if the contents are compatible to the summary of product characteristics, practical for patients and non-promotional,[8] such as diseases information and recommendations for lifestyle modifications.

[13] For example, Chinese patients possessing HLA-B*1502 who are using carbamazepine should not be administered phenytoin due to the strong evidence of developing lethal Stevens-Johnson Symptoms or toxic epidermal necrolysis.