Which date must appear on Rx labels as part of the medication information?

Which date must appear on Rx labels as part of the medication information?

• A. Date of issue
• B. Date of prescription
• C. Expiration date
• D. Date of filling

Answer: (D)

The date of filling is the date the medication is actually dispensed to the patient. This date on the Rx label records when therapy begins and provides a precise reference for dispensing history, refills, and safety monitoring. The date the prescription was issued by the prescriber can differ from the dispensing date and isn’t the event the label is documenting for the patient. Expiration dates are important too, but they indicate how long the drug remains potent, not when it was dispensed.

The date of filling is the date the medication is actually dispensed to the patient. This date on the Rx label records when therapy begins and provides a precise reference for dispensing history, refills, and safety monitoring. The date the prescription was issued by the prescriber can differ from the dispensing date and isn’t the event the label is documenting for the patient. Expiration dates are important too, but they indicate how long the drug remains potent, not when it was dispensed.