What auxiliary label is required for suspensions?

• A. Shake Well
• B. Shake Before Use
• C. Keep Refrigerated
• D. Store in a dark place

Answer: (A)

Suspensions have solid drug particles dispersed in liquid, and those particles settle over time. To ensure every dose has the same amount of drug, you must re-suspend the settled particles before use. The label "Shake Well" tells the patient to mix the bottle thoroughly so the dose drawn up is uniform and predictable. Without shaking, dosing can become inconsistent, leading to under- or over-dosing and variable absorption.

Other labels like refrigerating or storing in a dark place address storage conditions, not the need to re-disperse the suspension before dosing, so they don’t directly ensure proper dosing. While similar wording like "Shake Before Use" conveys the same idea, the essential point is the instruction to re-suspend the suspension prior to administration.