Whenever you use an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, reading the
drug label is important for taking care of yourself and your
family. The label tells you what a medicine is supposed to do,
who should or shouldn't take it, and how to use it. OTC medicine
labels have always contained usage and safety information for
consumers, but now the information will be more uniform and
easier to read and understand. Most OTC drug manufacturers were
required to begin using the new, standardized label on the
products beginning on May 16, 2002. The OTC regulation was
finalized in March 1999, and manufacturers were given until the
May 2002 effective date to change product labels. Manufacturers
may still distribute products bearing older labels until their
product inventories are exhausted. The OTC labeling rule applies
to more than 100,000 OTC drug products. Most OTC medicines
manufactured after May 2002 will carry the new Drug Facts label.
But certain OTC products, such as sunscreens, aren't required to
use the format until