Medicine Strip (Dawai Ka Patta): Generic Name, Strength, Expiry (Video)

2:21 min

Read the full written guide: Medicine Strip (Dawai Ka Patta): Generic Name, Strength, Expiry →

In this video we show you how to read the brand, generic name, strength and expiry on a medicine strip, and why the small print matters more than the big logo. Follow practical habits like keeping the original carton, counting tablets before travel, and noting generic names to prevent accidental double dosing. This is a guide, not medical advice.

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Transcript

Did you know the tiny print on your pill strip decides your dose?

Did you know the tiny print on your pill strip decides your dose?

Reading Medicine Strips

Learn how to decode the tiny details on a medicine strip so you never double-dose by mistake. We'll walk through brand, generic name, strength, expiry and why keeping the carton matters.

What’s on the strip

The strip usually shows three lines. First, the big brand name, that's marketing. Below it, the generic name tells you the actual drug. Right after comes the strength, like 500 mg.

Expiry month

The EXP code on the strip is the expiry month and year. For example, 08/2027 means you can use the tablets safely until the last day of August 2027, if stored properly.

Strength matters

Strength numbers look similar but matter a lot. A 5 mg tablet isn’t the same as a 10 mg one, and a 500 mg painkiller differs from a 650 mg version. Always match the number on the new strip to your prescription.

Remember the simple rule: read the small print, not the big print. The tiny text tells you the real drug, its strength and expiry, everything you need to use it safely.

Tablets per strip

Most strips contain ten tablets, but some come in fourteen, fifteen or even six. Before a trip, count the tablets you have so you don’t run out unexpectedly.

Keep the carton

Keep the original carton whenever you can. The box holds the full expiry date, batch number and storage instructions that a cut strip often loses. Storing strips in their cartons prevents mix-ups.

The one mistake to avoid

The one mistake to avoid is taking the same drug twice under different brand names. If two strips share the generic name, they’re the same medication, don’t double up unless a doctor says so.

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Read the full guide

The full guide is on thecareonline.com. General information only, so check with your doctor for your own case.

Nothing on The Care Online is medical advice. Traditional practices are described as tradition, not as fact. Take a persistent or serious concern to a qualified professional. See how videos and posts are made on our methodology page.