Patent Publication Number: US-8973755-B2

Title: Compliance aid labeling for medication containers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/511,817, filed on Jul. 26, 2011, titled “Reminder Packaging for Improving Adherence for Self-Administered Medications,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application is directed generally to labels, and more specifically to medication container labels that function as a compliance aid for proper usage of the medicine. 
     BACKGROUND 
     More than three billion prescriptions are written each year in the United States, and an estimated $18 billion is spent on over-the-counter medications. Both prescription and over-the-counter medications are intended to be consumed by a patient according to specific instructions for dosage and frequency. Non-compliance with these instructions has been identified as a major obstacle to the effective delivery of health care. Compliance typically means consuming the correct dosage at the correct frequency as specified in the prescription or on the over-the-counter medication packaging. According to the World Health Organization, only about half of patients with chronic diseases living in developed countries comply with their medication instructions. The reasons for non-compliance are varied, ranging from simple forgetfulness, to confusion, to ambivalence. However, the effects of non-compliance are staggering, resulting in an estimated $290 billion dollars per year in avoidable medical expenses. Additionally, studies have shown that non-compliance results in about 125,000 deaths annually in the United States, and leads to 10-25 percent of hospital and nursing home admissions. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application is directed to patient compliance aids for a medication container and methods for patient compliance with a regimen for administration of medication. An exemplary patient compliance aid may comprise a base label adhered to a medication container, and day of week indicia disposed on the base label. A time of day indicia may be associated with the day of week indicia and may also be disposed on the base label. The patient compliance aid may further comprise a top label covering at least a portion of the base label. 
     According to additional exemplary embodiments, the present application may be directed to methods for patient compliance with a regimen for administration of medication from a medication container. An exemplary method may comprise adhering a base label to the medication container, and displaying an indicator on the base label. The indicator may include a symbol or character representing that medication remains in the medication container. A receiving mechanism may be associated with the indicator. The receiving mechanism may be adapted to receive an entry when the medication is removed from the medication container and consumed by the patient. At least a portion of the base label may be covered with a top label. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of an exemplary label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is a back view of an exemplary label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of an exemplary label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a back view of an exemplary label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a leading edge of an exemplary label affixed to a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates an exemplary label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary base label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a leading edge of an exemplary top label affixed to an exemplary base label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary top label affixed to an exemplary base label and partially wrapped about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary top label with a window affixed to an exemplary base label and partially wrapped about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary top label with a window secured about a container and a portion of a base label visible through the window according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 12A  is a front view of a top label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 12B  is a front view of a base label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 13  is a front view of a base label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 14  is a front view of a base label according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 15A  illustrates an exemplary base label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 15B  illustrates an exemplary base label and top label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 15C  illustrates an exemplary base label and top label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates a markable base label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a scratchable base label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 18A  illustrates an exemplary base label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 18B  illustrates an exemplary top label with a window affixed to an exemplary base label and secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 19A  illustrates an exemplary base label and top label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 19B  illustrates an exemplary base label and top label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary base label and top label secured about a container according to various embodiments. 
         FIG. 21  is an exemplary flow diagram of a method for patient compliance with a regimen for administration of medication according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present application is directed to patient compliance aids for a medication container and methods for patient compliance with a regimen for administration of medication. An exemplary patient compliance aid may comprise a base label adhered to a medication container, and day of week indicia disposed on the base label. A time of day indicia may be associated with the day of week indicia and may also be disposed on the base label. The patient compliance aid may further comprise a top label covering at least a portion of the base label. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates various embodiments of a front surface  108  of a base label  100  for an object, such as a medication container, according to various embodiments. The base label  100  comprises a leading edge  102  and a trailing edge  104 . While the leading edge  102  is oriented to the left and the trailing edge  104  is oriented to the right as presented in  FIG. 1 , the orientation of the leading edge  102  and the trailing edge  104  could be reversed depending on which edge is first applied to the object. Both orientations are within the scope of the present disclosure. Base label front surface  108  may comprise writing or other indicia  106  thereon. 
     As used herein, the leading edge refers to the first edge to be affixed to the object and the trailing edge refers to the second edge to be affixed to the object or the overlapping leading edge. Depending on the orientation of the label and the object when the label is affixed to the object, either edge of the label may be the leading edge. The orientations presented in the figures are for convenience and are not intended to be limiting in any way. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates various embodiments of a back surface  206  of the base label  100 . In various embodiments, the base label back surface  206  comprises two strips of adhesive  202  and  204  on or immediately adjacent to the leading and trailing edges,  102  and  104 , respectively. Base label leading edge adhesive  202  may have a boundary  208  defined as its limit on the base label back surface  206 . Base label trailing edge adhesive  204  may also have a boundary  210 . While  FIG. 2  illustrates that the adhesive strips  202  and  204  are generally close to the base label leading and trailing edges  102  and  104 , respectively, it is understood that the adhesive strips  202  and  204  may be continuous or discontinuous, and may extend across any portion of the base label back surface  206 , including the entire base label back surface  206 . In various embodiments, a length of the base label  100  may be selected to be slightly longer than a circumference of the object on which it is placed, such that the trailing edge  104  overlaps the leading edge  102 , and the trailing edge  104  is affixed to the leading edge  102 . In various embodiments, the length of the base label  100  may be selected to be approximately the same as the circumference of the object on which it is placed, such that the leading edge  102  and the trailing edge  104  do not overlap. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates various embodiments of a front surface  306  of a top label  300 . Top label  300  comprises a leading edge  302  and a trailing edge  304 , and indicia  308  may be imprinted on the top label front surface  306 . 
     Various embodiments of a back surface  402  of the top label  300  are illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The top label back surface  402  may comprise various indicia  408  printed thereon, as well as two strips of adhesive  404  and  406  on or immediately adjacent to the leading and trailing edges,  302  and  304 , respectively. Top label leading edge adhesive  404  may have a boundary  410  defined as its limit on the top label back surface  402 . Top label trailing edge adhesive  406  may also have a boundary  412 . While  FIG. 4  illustrates that the adhesive strips  404  and  406  are generally close to the top label leading and trailing edges  302  and  304 , respectively, it is understood that the adhesive strips  404  and  406  may be continuous or discontinuous, and may extend across any portion of the top label back surface  402 , including the entire top label back surface  402 . In various embodiments, the adhesive strips  404  and  406  are confined to areas near the leading and trailing edges  302  and  304 , respectively, so as not to obscure or interfere with the top label back surface indicia  408 . 
     The base label adhesive  202 ,  204  and the top label adhesive  404 ,  406  may be applied in a variety of patterns as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The adhesive  202 ,  204 ,  404 ,  406  may be applied in strips, dots, droplets, circles, rectangles, squares, triangles, lines, and the like, as well as combinations of patterns. 
     A length of the top label  300  may be selected to be slightly longer than a circumference of the object on which it is placed, such that the top label trailing edge  304  overlaps the top label leading edge  302 , and the top label trailing edge  304  is affixed to the top label leading edge  302 . In various embodiments, the length of the top label  300  may be selected to be approximately the same as the circumference of the object on which it is placed, such that both the leading edge  302  and the trailing edge  304  do not overlap and are affixed to the base label front surface  108 . 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates the application of the base label  100  to an exemplary container  500  according to various embodiments. The container  500  may be a glass or plastic bottle, or other type of container, such as a metal can or a cardboard receptacle. The container may be round, rectangular, square, or any other shape known in the art. The term “container” is used here for convenience to describe exemplary embodiments. It is understood that the container may be any object, including non-containers. Container  500  may comprise a cap  502  removably secured to a body  504 . Various embodiments of the body  504  may have an exterior surface  506  that comprises a upper label panel  508 , a lower label panel  510 , and a recessed surface  512  interposed between the upper label panel  508  and the lower label panel  510 . As discussed below, the base label  100  may be applied to the container  500  at the recessed surface  512  between the upper label panel  508  and the lower label panel  510 . 
     In various embodiments, the top label  300  may be rotatable about the base label  100 , as discussed below. In these embodiments, the upper label panel  508  and lower label panel  510  may function to restrict upward and downward movement of the top label  300  in relation to the container  500 , such that the top label  300  generally remains in a position covering at least a portion of the base label  100 . 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates the container  500  with the base label  100  affixed to the container  500 . Initially, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , base label leading edge  102  is placed in contact with the recessed surface  512  of the container  500  and affixed to the container  500  by the leading edge adhesive strip  202 . With relative motion between the container  500  and the base label  100 , the base label  100  may be wrapped around the container  500  with the base label trailing edge  104  now overlapping the base label leading edge  102 , such that the leading edge adhesive strip  202  holds the base label leading edge  102  to the container  500  while the trailing edge adhesive strip  204  holds the base label trailing edge  104  to the overlapped base label leading edge  102 . 
     In various embodiments, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the length of the base label  100  may be substantially the same as a circumference of the recessed surface  512  of the container  500 , which may allow the base label leading edge  102  and base label trailing edge  104  to abut rather than overlap. However, it is also possible that the length of the base label  100  may be shorter than the circumference of the recessed surface  512 , resulting in a gap  702  between the base label leading edge  102  and the base label trailing edge  104  when the base label  100  is affixed to the recessed surface, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In both of these instances, the base label trailing edge adhesive strip  204  may adhere to the recessed surface  512  of the container  500 , rather than the base label leading edge  102 . 
     In various embodiments, the base label adhesive strips  202 ,  204  may comprise a permanent adhesive. In general, a permanent adhesive is one that does not readily release from a surface to which it adheres after the adhesive dries or cures. Using the base label  100  as an example, the permanent adhesive  202 ,  204  will tend not to release from the recessed surface  512 , nor will it tend to release the base label leading edge  102  or trailing edge  104  once dried or cured. In order to remove the base label from the recessed surface  512 , the base label  100  may have to be torn from the adhesive, or the adhesive strips  202 ,  204  may have to be fractured, which may leave some of the adhesive on the recessed surface  512  and some of the adhesive on the base label leading edge  102  or trailing edge  104 . Once the surfaces affixed with the permanent adhesive are separated, they may not be reattached. 
     In  FIG. 8 , the base label  100  is already affixed to the recessed surface  512  of the container  500 , and the application of the top label  300  over the base label  100  is illustrated according to various embodiments. The top label leading edge  302  may be placed in contact with any portion of the base label front surface  108  and affixed to the base label front surface  108  by the top label leading edge adhesive strip  404 . With relative motion between the container  500  and the top label  300 , the top label  300  may be wrapped around the container  500  with the top label trailing edge  304  now overlapping the top label leading edge  302  such that the top label leading edge adhesive strip  404  holds the top label leading edge  302  to the base label  100  while the top label trailing edge adhesive strip  406  holds the top label trailing edge  304  to the overlapped top label leading edge  302 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates the operation of the base label  100  and the top label  300  according to various embodiments. Beginning with the container  500  with the base label  100  and the top label  300  in place as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 , the top label trailing edge  304  may be detached from the top label leading edge  302  and at least partially peeled back as shown in  FIG. 9 . The combination of the base label  100  and the top label  300  in this configuration increases the amount of surface area available for viewing by a consumer or user of the container  500 . Prior to detaching the top label trailing edge  304 , the consumer may view the top label front surface  306 . Upon detaching the top label trailing edge  304 , the consumer may now view the top label back surface  402  and the base label front surface  108 , in addition to the top label front surface  306 . 
     One of at least three types of adhesive may be used for the top label leading edge adhesive  404 . A first type of adhesive is the permanent adhesive as described above for the base label  100 . When a permanent adhesive is used for the top label leading edge adhesive  404 , the top label leading edge  302  generally cannot be detached without inflicting damage to one or both of the top label  300  or the base label  100 . This may be desirable for various embodiments where the top label  300  is not intended to be removed from the container  500 . 
     A second type of adhesive that may be used for the top label leading edge adhesive  404  is a releasable adhesive. A releasable adhesive is one that will release from a surface to which it is attached once a sufficient mechanical force is applied. A releasable adhesive may be used, for example, when the top label back surface  402  comprises a coupon for a subsequent purchase of a product. The releasable adhesive may allow the consumer to easily remove the top label  300  for later use. In various embodiments, the releasable adhesive may be a breakaway adhesive. A breakaway adhesive may have limited ability to withstand shear stresses. Shear stresses may cause the adhesive bond created between the label (e.g., top label  300 ) and the surface to which it is affixed (e.g., the base label  100  or container  500 ) to fail along the adhesive. In general, a releasable or breakaway adhesive may not re-attach to a surface once removed. 
     A third type of adhesive that may be used for the top label leading edge adhesive  404  is a resealable adhesive. A resealable adhesive may release from a surface to which it is attached once a sufficient mechanical force is applied, similar to the releasable adhesive described above. However, the resealable adhesive may be re-attached to a surface by applying pressure. A resealable adhesive may be desirable when the top label back surface  402  or the base label front surface  108  comprise information that may be needed only on occasion. Thus, the consumer or user may detach the top label  300  when the information is needed, then re-attach the top label  300 . 
     In various embodiments, the top label trailing edge adhesive  406  may be a releasable adhesive or a resealable adhesive, depending on the intended use of the top label  300 . As described above, if the surfaces  108 ,  402  comprise information that is intended to stay with the container, the top label trailing edge adhesive  406  may be a resealable adhesive. In contrast, if the top label  300  is intended to be removed from the container  500 , a releasable adhesive may be desirable. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates various embodiments of the top label  300  comprising a window  1002 . The window  1002  may comprise a void in the top label  300  such that a portion of the base label  100  may be visible through the window. In various embodiments, the window  1002  may have a transparent covering (not shown). In various other embodiments, the window may comprise a transparent section of the top label  300  itself rather than a void.  FIG. 10  illustrates the top label  300  partially wrapped about a container  1000 , and base label  100  already in place on the container  1000 . As shown, the top label leading edge adhesive  404  maintains the top label  300  coupled to the base label  100 . The top label  300  may then be moved from the position illustrated in  FIG. 10  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 11  to secure the top label  300  about the container  1000 . Top label trailing edge adhesive  406  may couple to the top label leading edge  302  if the top label leading edge  302  and trailing edge  304  overlap; otherwise, the top label trailing edge adhesive  406  may be coupled to the base label front surface  108 . 
     Once the top label  300  is in position on the container  1000  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 , at least a portion of the base label front surface indicia  106  may be visible through the window  1002 . This may allow viewing of a first portion of the base label  100  without removing the top label  300 . In various embodiments, the top label leading edge adhesive  404  may be a breakaway adhesive. Rotation of the top label  300  relative to the base label  100  may exert shear stresses on the breakaway adhesive, causing the adhesive bond affixing the top label leading edge  302  to the base label  100  to fail. The top label  300  may then be freely rotatable about the base label  100 , and a second portion of the base label  100  may be visible when the top label  300  is rotated to a second position. The window  1002  may be rectangular as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , or any other shape as needed for a particular application. For example, the window  1002  may be a slit that reveals an alphanumeric string on the base label  100 . In various embodiments, the top label  300  may comprise more than one window  1002 . Various embodiments in which the top label trailing edge adhesive  406  is a resealable or releasable adhesive may allow the top label  300  to be peeled back to reveal the top label back surface  402  and essentially the entire base label front surface  108  or to be removed from the container  1000 , in addition to being rotatable. 
     One skilled in the art will readily recognize that labels may be applied to containers using a variety of methods and that there may be a variety of single-label and multi-label systems other than those described above. Any such application methods or label systems may be used with the present disclosure. The above descriptions are exemplary and not to be construed as limiting in any way. Examples of other application methods and label systems may be disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,884,421, 6,086,697, 6,237,269, 6,402,872, 6,631,578, 6,649,007, 7,087,298, and 7,172,668. 
       FIG. 12A  illustrates various embodiments of a top label  300  and  FIG. 12B  illustrates various embodiments of a base label  100  comprising a patient compliance aid that may be used, for example, on a medication container. The base label indicia  106  may comprise a plurality of indicia corresponding to days of the week indicia  1205 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12B , the day of week indicia  1205  range from Day 1 to Day 20. 
     Various embodiments of the present invention may comprise a patient compliance aid that may be used, for example, on a medication container  1501 . The patient compliance aid may comprise the base label  100  and the top label  300 . The base label  100  may contain indicia  106  selected to correspond to a prescribed number of days and frequency per day the medication should be consumed.  FIG. 12B  illustrates exemplary day of week indicia  1205  indicating “Day 1,” or the first day the medication should be consumed, through “Day 20,” or the last day the medication should be consumed. Alternatively, the day of week indicia  1205  may comprise Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc., repeating for as many days as necessary to consume the medication. Various embodiments of the day of week indicia  1205  may also comprise days of the month, such as March 1, March 2, March 3, etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the day of week indicia  1205  may comprise a variety of indicators, and that the day of week indicia  1205  may be customized for each medication container. For example, the day of week indicia  1205  may correspond to the number of days the medication should be consumed (for example, 20 days as illustrated in  FIG. 12B ), or the days of the month the medication should be consumed (for example, the day of week indicia  1205  may run from March 1 to March 20 for the same 20-day period). 
     In various embodiments, the base label indicia  106  may comprise time of day indicia  1210 , either in conjunction with the day of week indicia  1205  as illustrated in  FIG. 12B , or independently. The time of day indicia  1210  may indicate the time of day the medication should be consumed. The time of day indicia  1210  may comprise a variety of symbols as illustrated in  FIG. 12B . For example, a circle may indicate that a dose of the medication should be consumed in the morning; a triangle may indicate that a dose should be consumed at noon; a square may indicate that a dose should be consumed in the evening; and a pentagon may indicate that a dose should be consumed at bedtime. In various embodiments, the symbols may also comprise a letter within the symbol to further indicate the time of day the medicine should be consumed. For example, the letter “M” may be placed within the circle to indicate morning, the letter “N” may be placed within the triangle to indicate noon, and so on. Alternatively, all the symbols may be the same (such as circles or ovals) with the appropriate letter within each symbol. 
     The day of week indicia  1205  and the time of day indicia  1210  may be placed along both a top edge and a bottom edge opposite the top edge of the base label as illustrated in  FIG. 12B . In various embodiments, the indicia  1205 ,  1210  may be placed along one of the top edge or the bottom edge of the base label  100 . 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that any number of symbols may comprise the time of day indicia  1210 . For example,  FIG. 13  illustrates three symbols that may correspond to consuming the medication in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. Similarly,  FIG. 14  illustrates time of day indicia  1210  comprising two symbols, which may indicate that the medication should be consumed in the morning and the evening. Other symbols, letters, numbers, and like may be used as is known in the art. 
     Returning to  FIG. 12B , the base label  100  may have a blank portion  1215  along the leading edge  102  that is essentially void of any indicia  106 . As described previously, the trailing edge  104  may overlap the leading edge  102  when the base label  100  is applied to the container. The blank portion  1215  provides a space for attachment of the trailing edge without obscuring any of the indicia  106 . 
     The patient compliance aid may further comprise top label  300  according to various embodiments. Top label  300  may comprise indicia  308  relaying medication-related information, patient-related information, medical-provider related information, and the like. Additionally, the top label may comprise a legend  1220  identifying the time of day indicia  1210 , and reminder indicia  1225 , which may be used to indicate the next time of day for consumption of the medication as described further below. 
     The top label  300  may have a height H 2  and base label  100  may have a height H 1  as illustrated in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , respectively. In various embodiments, the height H 2  of the top label  300  may be selected to be less than the height H 1  of the base label  100 , such that either the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the top edge of the base label  100  are visible, or the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the bottom edge are visible, depending on the placement of the top label  300 . 
       FIGS. 15A-15C  illustrate the base label  100  and top label  300  on a medication container  1501  according to various embodiments. In  FIG. 15A , the base label  100  is positioned on the medication container  1501 , and the base label  100  comprises indicia  1205 ,  1210  along both the top edge and the bottom edge.  FIG. 15B  illustrates the top label  300  in place over the base label  100 . As described previously, the top label  300  may be applied such that the top label  300  is rotatable around a circumference of the medication container  1501  and slidable up and down along at least a portion of a length of the medication container  1501 . In  FIG. 15B , the top label  300  has been slid downward in the direction of the arrow revealing the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the top edge of the base label  100  and covering the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the bottom edge of the base label  100 . Similarly,  FIG. 15C  illustrates the top label  300  slid upwards in the direction of the arrow, thus revealing the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the bottom edge of the base label  100  and covering the indicia  1205 ,  1210  along the top edge of the base label  100 . 
     In  FIG. 15B , the top label  300  may be rotated such that the reminder indicia  1225  lines up with the time of day indicia  1210  corresponding to the time the next dose should be consumed. As illustrated in  FIG. 15B , the reminder indicia  1225  indicates that the next dose should be consumed in the morning of Day 6. Similarly, when the top label  300  is slid upward, as illustrated in  FIG. 15C , the reminder indicia  1225  may be used to indicate the appropriate time of day indicia  1210  along the bottom edge of the base label  100 . After each dose is consumed, the patient may rotate the top label  300  so that the reminder indicia  1225  lines up with the next symbol of the time of day indicia  1210 . 
     The day of week indicia  1205  and the time of day indicia  1210  may be markable with a writing instrument, such as a pen or pencil.  FIG. 16  illustrates various embodiments in which the time of day indicia  1210  are markable with a writing instrument. The patient may mark the appropriate symbol of the time of day indicia  1210  after taking each dose of the medication. In the example of  FIG. 16 , the patient has just consumed the evening dose on Day 6 and is marking the square symbol corresponding to the evening dose with a writing instrument  1601 . The patient may then rotate the top label  300  until the reminder indicia  1225  lines up with the symbol for the Day 6 bedtime dose. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the indicia  1205 ,  1210  may comprise, or alternatively may be coated with, a scratchable substance  1701 . In various embodiments, the patient may scratch off the scratchable substance  1701  at the symbol corresponding to the day of week indicia  1205  or time of day indicia  1210  corresponding to a dose consumed by the patient. In various embodiments, the scratchable substance  1701  may not be a coating, but rather may be the base label  100  itself. For example, the base label  100 , or a portion of the base label  100  where the indicia  1205 ,  1210  are located, may comprise the scratchable substance  1701  that darkens when scratched. In the example of  FIG. 17 , the patient has scratched off the scratchable substance  1701  at the time of day indicia  1210  corresponding to the Day 6 noon dose. 
     As discussed previously, the top label  300  may comprise a transparent window  1002  to allow writing  106  (other than the day of week indicia  1205  or the time of day indicia  1210 ) on the base label  100  to be visible when the top label  300  is in place.  FIG. 18A  illustrates various embodiments of writing  106  on the base label  100  positioned between the indicia  1205 ,  1210  at the top and bottom edges of the base label  100 . When the top label  300  is placed on the medication container  1501  over base label  100 , the window  1002  may allow the writing  106  to be visible through the window  1002 . As the top label  300  is rotated around the medication container  1501  as indicated by the arrows, the writing  106  positioned along the base label  100  may appear in the window  1002 . 
       FIG. 19A-B  illustrate various embodiments of a patient compliance aid for a medication container  1501  comprising a base label  100  and top label  300 . The base label may comprise an indicator  1901  that displays a symbol or character that may function to indicate the presence of medication within the medication container  1501 , or may function to indicate a quantity of medication removed from the medication container  1501  and administered to a patient. In the examples of  FIGS. 19A-B , the top label  300  indicates that the medication container  1501  contains  100  tablets. The indicators  1901  along the top and bottom edges of the base label  100  may correspond to the number of tablets in the medication container  1501 . In this example, the indicators  1901  along the top edge of the base label  100  may correspond to number 1 through 50, and the indicators  1901  along the bottom edge may correspond to number 51 through 100. The top label may be slidable upwards and downwards as described previously to reveal the indicators  1901  along the top and bottom edges of the base label  100 . 
     The indicators  1901  may comprise a receiving mechanism associated with the indicators  1901 , the receiving mechanism capable of receiving an entry when medication is removed from the medication container  1501 . Similar to the indicia  1205 ,  1210  described previously, the receiving mechanism may comprise a markable surface capable of receiving a mark from a writing instrument such as a pen or pencil, or a scratchable surface. Each time medication is removed from the medication container  1501 , one of the symbols or characters comprising the indicator  1901  may be marked or scratched. 
       FIG. 20  illustrates the 100 tablet medication container of  FIG. 19  with the numbers 1-11 of the indicator  1901  marked. This may indicate that 11 tablets have been removed from the medicine container and administered to the patient. Alternatively, marking of the indicator  1901  could have started at 100 and counted backward as each tablet is removed from the medication container  1501 . In this example, the next number of the indicator  1901  after the last marked number indicates the number of tablets remaining in the medication container  1501  and available to be administered to the patient. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates a general flow chart of various embodiments of a method  2100  for patient compliance with a regimen for administration of medication from a medication container. A base label  100  may be applied to a medication container  1501  (step  2105 ). An indicator  1901  comprising a symbol or character may be displayed on the base label  100  (step  2110 ). The symbol or character may represent that medication remains in the medication container  1501 . A receiving mechanism may be associated with the indicator  1901  (step  2115 ). The receiving mechanism may comprise a markable or scratchable substance capable of receiving an entry when the medication is removed from the medication container  1501  and administered to the patient. At step  2120 , at least a portion of the base label  100  may be covered with a top label  300 . In various embodiments, a time indicator may be associated with the indicator  1901  on the base label  100 , the time indicator representing a time when the medication should be taken by the patient. 
     In various embodiments, the day of week indicia  1205 , time of day indicia  1210 , writing  106 , and indicator  1901  may be imprinted, embossed, or molded directly on the medication container in place of all or a portion of the base label  100 . 
     Spatially relative terms such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper”, and the like, are used for ease of description to explain the positioning of one element relative to a second element. These terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to different orientations than those depicted in the figures. Further, terms such as “first”, “second”, and the like, are also used to describe various elements, regions, sections, etc. and are also not intended to be limiting. Like terms refer to like elements throughout the description. 
     As used herein, the terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising”, and the like are open ended terms that indicate the presence of stated elements or features, but do not preclude additional elements or features. The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural as well as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
     The present invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.