Abstract: A medication dispensing system including a relatively small, microprocessor-controlled machine that assists in the accurate execution of a physician-prescribed medication regimen is disclosed. The correct dose of each medication that is to be dispensed at a particular time is stored in an individual packet defined in a flexible tape. The machine dispenses each packet of medication in the correct dose at the prescribed time by analysis of the information regarding the medications to be dispensed and other patient information which is printed in text and in barcode on the packets of the flexible tape. The machine can be used as a stand-alone unit, or can be integrated into a centrally-controlled pharmaceutical network.