Hear your prescription label
Dhruani is for anyone who has trouble reading a pill bottle, including people who are blind or have low vision. It's free for patients, and short videos below show you how it works.
What you need
A phone with NFC
Any Android phone with NFC and a supported version of Android can download the app and read tags. On iPhone, an XS or later works best, and a 7, 8, or X can scan from inside the app.
Or a Windows PC
Prefer a computer? Use the free Windows app with a USB NFC reader, which you buy separately. Open the app, scan your bottle on the reader, and your computer reads the label aloud.
A tagged bottle
Ask your pharmacy whether it offers Dhruani tags. They'll ask for your consent, add the tag, and give you your patient code.
The apps are free for patients. They aren't available to download yet, but they're coming soon.
How-to videos
Each video is narrated in English, with captions and a written version in the language you choose. They're illustrations, because the app is still in development.
Getting started
Read the transcript: Getting started
Step one. Install the free Dhruani app on your iPhone or Android phone. Open Settings, then enter the patient code your pharmacy gave you. Pharmacy staff can enter it for you. This code unlocks your tags. It stays on your device and is never sent anywhere.
Hearing your label
Read the transcript: Hearing your label
Your tag is behind the label, or on the bottom of the bottle. Your pharmacy can show you where. Hold the tag against the back of your phone. On most iPhones, the best spot is near the top. On Android, it varies. On iPhone, a notification appears. Tap it to open the app. The app reads your label aloud. You can stop it, or hear it again, at any time.
If something goes wrong
Read the transcript: If something goes wrong
If a label does not open, check your patient code in Settings. If it is correct, call your pharmacy. If the app warns that a tag can't be verified, don't rely on it. Call your pharmacy before taking the medication. Your printed label is always the official label. Your pharmacist can answer any questions.
Keeping your tag safe
Read the transcript: Keeping your tag safe
Anyone with the app and your patient code could hear your label. So keep your code private, and your bottle as safe as any medication. A tag belongs to one prescription. Don't move it to another bottle or cap. Tags can't be erased. Before throwing a bottle away, peel off the tag and cut it in half.
For caregivers
Read the transcript: For caregivers
Helping someone else? In Settings, choose Add another patient code, then enter their code. The app tries each saved code, so you can hear every label you help with. Ask the patient first, and keep their code private.
Dhruani in 30 seconds
Read the transcript: Dhruani in 30 seconds
Can't read your prescription label? Dhruani reads it aloud. Your pharmacy writes the label to a small tag, from a phone or Windows computer. The tag goes behind the label, or on the bottom of your bottle. Hold the bottle to your phone. The app checks the tag came from an approved pharmacy. Patient: John Doe. Lisinopril, 10 milligrams. Take one tablet by mouth daily. Dhruani. Free on iPhone, Android, and Windows.
What your label includes
The tag holds the same details as your printed label.
- Your name, and the drug name and strength
- Directions, quantity, and refills remaining
- Rx number, Rx date, and expiration date
- Your prescriber's name and up to 3 warnings
- Your pharmacy's name and phone number
Using a screen reader?
The apps are being designed to work with VoiceOver on iPhone, TalkBack on Android, and screen readers on Windows, and we plan to test them with people who use them.
Every page on this site can also be read aloud. Choose your language, then Listen to this page at the top. Press the Escape key or choose Stop to end it.
Common questions
What is a patient code?
A 16-digit code your pharmacy creates when it registers you. Enter it once in Settings, or ask pharmacy staff to enter it for you. Your labels won't open without it. If you lose it, ask your pharmacy.
Does it cost anything?
No. Reading your labels is free. Your pharmacy may have its own policy on offering tags, so ask them.
Does the app save my prescription?
No. Your label stays on the tag. The app reads it from the tag each time and doesn't send it to us.
Who else can hear my label?
Anyone with the app and your patient code. That's stronger than a name or ZIP code, but it isn't a guarantee, so keep your code private and your bottle as safe as any medication.
Can I use a computer instead of a phone?
Yes. The Windows app reads tags with a USB NFC reader. You buy the reader yourself, and we'll list the readers we've tested when the app is released. Reading is free, and you don't need pharmacy access.
Do I need the internet?
The app connects now and then to update its list of approved pharmacies. If it hasn't seen a pharmacy yet, it asks you to connect and scan again.
What if my prescription changes?
A tag can't be updated after it's written. Your pharmacy writes a new tag for the new prescription, and you should destroy the old tag.
Can my label be read in my language?
Yes. Pharmacies write labels in English, and you can choose Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, or Arabic in the app's Settings. Your device translates the directions and warnings by machine, which can make mistakes. The app tells you when a label is translated and can read the English label instead, so confirm with your pharmacist. Your device also needs a voice for that language, and most devices let you add one for free.
Where can I get help?
Ask your pharmacist about your medication or your tag.