When a prescriber writes "do not label" on a prescription, what information is excluded from the dispensing label?

When a prescriber indicates "do not label" on a prescription, the primary concern is about the information that would typically appear on the dispensing label that is intended for the patient. In this context, the drug name is the information specifically excluded from the label.

This practice is often employed to protect patient privacy or in cases where the drug is sensitive in nature, such as with controlled substances or treatments for specific conditions. By instructing the pharmacy not to label the medication with the drug name, the prescriber seeks to ensure that sensitive information remains confidential and does not inadvertently disclose a patient's medical condition or treatment plan.

The prescriber’s name, patient’s address, and instructions for use, while important, are typically still required on a dispensing label and may not be included in the "do not label" instruction, making the exclusion of the drug name distinctly significant in this scenario. This illustrates the importance of understanding regulatory requirements and the ethical considerations surrounding patient privacy in pharmacy practice.