diff --git a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/medication-prescribing-workspace.tsx b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/medication-prescribing-workspace.tsx
index 5e6404c0c..14023d501 100644
--- a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/medication-prescribing-workspace.tsx
+++ b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/medication-prescribing-workspace.tsx
@@ -2,12 +2,18 @@
 
 import {
   Activity,
+  Ban,
   CalendarDays,
   CheckCircle2,
   ChevronRight,
   Lock,
   Pill,
+  SearchX,
+  ShieldAlert,
   ShieldCheck,
+  Sparkles,
+  Target,
+  TriangleAlert,
   UserRound,
   type LucideIcon,
 } from "lucide-react";
@@ -18,9 +24,17 @@ import { ModeHomeTemplate, ModeHomeVerificationFooter } from "@/components/mode-
 import { SearchResultsHeaderBand } from "@/components/clinical-dashboard/search-results-header-band";
 import { useSearchCommand } from "@/components/clinical-dashboard/search-command-context";
 import { useMedicationCatalog } from "@/components/clinical-dashboard/use-medication-catalog";
+import {
+  BadgeCluster,
+  ClinicalBadge,
+  type ClinicalBadgeItem,
+  type ClinicalBadgeTone,
+} from "@/components/clinical-dashboard/clinical-badge";
+import { medicationIdentityBadges, type MedicationRecord } from "@/lib/medications";
 import { medicationMatchesCommandScopes } from "@/lib/search-command-surface";
+import { SEMANTIC_TONE_META } from "@/lib/semantic-tone";
 import { isDeployedClinicalKb } from "@/lib/deployed-app";
-import { cn } from "@/components/ui-primitives";
+import { cn, EmptyState } from "@/components/ui-primitives";
 
 type MedicationPrescribingWorkspaceProps = {
   query: string;
@@ -46,17 +60,23 @@ type MedicationResult = {
   dose: string;
   ceiling: string;
   action: string;
+  actionTone: "danger" | "warning" | "neutral";
   tone: "teal" | "blue" | "slate";
   href?: string;
 };
 
+type MedicationRow = {
+  result: MedicationResult;
+  badges: ClinicalBadgeItem[];
+};
+
 type MedicationResultFilter = "best" | "indication" | "safety" | "monitoring";
 
-const medicationResultFilters: Array<{ id: MedicationResultFilter; label: string }> = [
-  { id: "best", label: "Best" },
-  { id: "indication", label: "Indication" },
-  { id: "safety", label: "Safety" },
-  { id: "monitoring", label: "Monitor" },
+const medicationResultFilters: Array<{ id: MedicationResultFilter; label: string; icon: LucideIcon }> = [
+  { id: "best", label: "Best", icon: Sparkles },
+  { id: "indication", label: "Indication", icon: Target },
+  { id: "safety", label: "Safety", icon: ShieldAlert },
+  { id: "monitoring", label: "Monitor", icon: Activity },
 ];
 
 const medicationCapabilities: Capability[] = [
@@ -199,15 +219,26 @@ function MedicationHome({
 function resultMatchesFilter(result: MedicationResult, filter: MedicationResultFilter) {
   if (filter === "best") return true;
   if (filter === "indication") return result.match !== "Related match";
-  if (filter === "safety") return /check|avoid|caution|ceiling|max/i.test(result.action);
-  return /monitor|level|review|renal|hepatic/i.test(`${result.action} ${result.dose} ${result.ceiling}`);
+  // actionTone is source-derived (contraindication vs caution vs monitoring content),
+  // so it is a stronger signal than the text heuristics — any row whose action shows
+  // a safety icon (danger or warning) must be reachable through the Safety chip. The
+  // chips are lenses, not partitions, so warning rows may also appear under Monitor.
+  if (filter === "safety") {
+    return result.actionTone !== "neutral" || /check|avoid|caution|ceiling|max/i.test(result.action);
+  }
+  return (
+    result.actionTone === "warning" ||
+    /monitor|level|review|renal|hepatic/i.test(`${result.action} ${result.dose} ${result.ceiling}`)
+  );
 }
 
 function FilterStrip({
   activeFilter,
+  counts,
   onFilterChange,
 }: {
   activeFilter: MedicationResultFilter;
+  counts: Record<MedicationResultFilter, number>;
   onFilterChange: (filter: MedicationResultFilter) => void;
 }) {
   return (
@@ -215,22 +246,32 @@ function FilterStrip({
       className="flex gap-1.5 overflow-x-auto pb-1 [-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch]"
       aria-label="Medication result filters"
     >
-      {medicationResultFilters.map((filter) => (
-        <button
-          key={filter.id}
-          type="button"
-          aria-pressed={activeFilter === filter.id}
-          onClick={() => onFilterChange(filter.id)}
-          className={cn(
-            "min-h-8 shrink-0 rounded-lg border px-2.5 text-2xs font-semibold transition focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)] sm:px-3 sm:text-xs",
-            activeFilter === filter.id
-              ? "border-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)] text-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]"
-              : "border-[color:var(--border)] bg-[color:var(--surface-raised)] text-[color:var(--text-muted)] hover:border-[color:var(--border-strong)] hover:text-[color:var(--text-heading)]",
-          )}
-        >
-          {filter.label}
-        </button>
-      ))}
+      {medicationResultFilters.map((filter) => {
+        const active = activeFilter === filter.id;
+        const Icon = filter.icon;
+        return (
+          <button
+            key={filter.id}
+            type="button"
+            aria-pressed={active}
+            onClick={() => onFilterChange(filter.id)}
+            className={cn(
+              "inline-flex min-h-8 shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border px-2.5 text-2xs font-semibold transition focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)] sm:px-3 sm:text-xs",
+              active
+                ? "border-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)] text-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]"
+                : "border-[color:var(--border)] bg-[color:var(--surface-raised)] text-[color:var(--text-muted)] hover:border-[color:var(--border-strong)] hover:text-[color:var(--text-heading)]",
+            )}
+          >
+            <Icon className="h-3.5 w-3.5 shrink-0" aria-hidden="true" />
+            {filter.label}
+            <span
+              className={cn("nums text-3xs font-semibold", active ? "opacity-80" : "text-[color:var(--text-soft)]")}
+            >
+              {counts[filter.id]}
+            </span>
+          </button>
+        );
+      })}
     </div>
   );
 }
@@ -240,21 +281,53 @@ function ResultToneIcon({ result }: { result: MedicationResult }) {
   return <IconTile icon={Pill} tone={tone} className="h-9 w-9" />;
 }
 
+const matchBadgeTone: Record<MedicationResult["tone"], ClinicalBadgeTone> = {
+  teal: "clinical",
+  blue: "info",
+  slate: "neutral",
+};
+
 function ResultMatchBadge({ result }: { result: MedicationResult }) {
+  return <ClinicalBadge label={result.match} tone={matchBadgeTone[result.tone]} icon={CheckCircle2} />;
+}
+
+// Small leading icon for the prescribing-action text: contraindication content is
+// a quiet stop signal (Ban, danger colour), monitoring content a check-first
+// caution (TriangleAlert, warning colour). The text itself stays heading-coloured
+// so red remains reserved and readable per the badge governance guide.
+function ActionToneIcon({ tone, className }: { tone: MedicationResult["actionTone"]; className?: string }) {
+  if (tone === "neutral") return null;
+  const Icon = tone === "danger" ? Ban : TriangleAlert;
   return (
-    <span
-      className={cn(
-        "inline-flex min-h-6 w-fit items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md px-2 text-2xs font-semibold tracking-[0.06em]",
-        result.tone === "teal" &&
-          "border border-[color:var(--clinical-accent-border)] bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)] text-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]",
-        result.tone === "blue" &&
-          "border border-[color:var(--info-border)] bg-[color:var(--info-bg)] text-[color:var(--info)]",
-        result.tone === "slate" && "bg-[color:var(--surface-subtle)] text-[color:var(--text-muted)]",
-      )}
-    >
-      <CheckCircle2 className="h-3 w-3" aria-hidden="true" />
-      {result.match}
-    </span>
+    <>
+      <span className="sr-only">{SEMANTIC_TONE_META[tone].ariaPrefix}: </span>
+      <Icon
+        className={cn(
+          "shrink-0",
+          tone === "danger" ? "text-[color:var(--danger-text)]" : "text-[color:var(--warning-text)]",
+          className,
+        )}
+        aria-hidden="true"
+      />
+    </>
+  );
+}
+
+// Highlight the first query token inside the medication name when it is a plain
+// substring match; synonym/expanded matches simply render unhighlighted.
+function HighlightedName({ text, term }: { text: string; term: string }) {
+  const token = term.trim().split(/\s+/)[0] ?? "";
+  if (token.length < 2) return <>{text}</>;
+  const index = text.toLowerCase().indexOf(token.toLowerCase());
+  if (index < 0) return <>{text}</>;
+  return (
+    <>
+      {text.slice(0, index)}
+      <mark className="rounded-sm bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)] px-0.5 text-inherit">
+        {text.slice(index, index + token.length)}
+      </mark>
+      {text.slice(index + token.length)}
+    </>
   );
 }
 
@@ -282,26 +355,52 @@ function MedicationResults({
   const command = useSearchCommand();
   const catalog = useMedicationCatalog(query);
   const [activeFilter, setActiveFilter] = useState<MedicationResultFilter>("best");
-  const visibleMedicationResults = useMemo(() => {
-    const sourceResults =
-      catalog.data?.matches?.map((match) => match.result) ??
-      (catalog.data?.records ?? []).slice(0, 12).map((record) => ({
-        id: record.slug,
-        name: record.name,
-        indication: record.subclass || record.category,
-        match: "Catalogue match",
-        dose: "See reference",
-        ceiling: "See reference",
-        action: "Open full prescribing reference.",
-        tone: "slate" as const,
-        href: `/medications/${record.slug}`,
-      }));
-    const filtered = sourceResults.filter((result) => resultMatchesFilter(result, activeFilter));
+  const { rows, counts, totalAvailable } = useMemo(() => {
+    const governance = catalog.data?.governance;
+    const toRow = (result: MedicationResult, medication?: MedicationRecord): MedicationRow => ({
+      result,
+      badges: medication ? medicationIdentityBadges(medication, governance?.[medication.slug]) : [],
+    });
+    const sourceRows =
+      catalog.data?.matches?.map((match) => toRow(match.result, match.medication)) ??
+      (catalog.data?.records ?? []).slice(0, 12).map((record) =>
+        toRow(
+          {
+            id: record.slug,
+            name: record.name,
+            indication: record.subclass || record.category,
+            match: "Catalogue match",
+            dose: "See reference",
+            ceiling: "See reference",
+            action: "Open full prescribing reference.",
+            actionTone: "neutral" as const,
+            tone: "slate" as const,
+            href: `/medications/${record.slug}`,
+          },
+          record,
+        ),
+      );
     const scopes = command?.commandScopes ?? [];
-    if (!scopes.length) return filtered;
-    return filtered.filter((result) => medicationMatchesCommandScopes(result, scopes));
+    const scoped = scopes.length
+      ? sourceRows.filter((row) => medicationMatchesCommandScopes(row.result, scopes))
+      : sourceRows;
+    const filterCounts: Record<MedicationResultFilter, number> = { best: 0, indication: 0, safety: 0, monitoring: 0 };
+    for (const row of scoped) {
+      for (const filter of medicationResultFilters) {
+        if (resultMatchesFilter(row.result, filter.id)) filterCounts[filter.id] += 1;
+      }
+    }
+    return {
+      rows: scoped.filter((row) => resultMatchesFilter(row.result, activeFilter)),
+      counts: filterCounts,
+      totalAvailable: scoped.length,
+    };
   }, [activeFilter, catalog.data, command?.commandScopes]);
-  const resultCount = visibleMedicationResults.length;
+  const resultCount = rows.length;
+  // The match-quality badge only earns its slot when it differentiates: hide it on
+  // "Exact clinical fit" rows when every visible row says the same thing.
+  const showMatchBadge = useMemo(() => new Set(rows.map((row) => row.result.match)).size > 1, [rows]);
+  const activeFilterLabel = medicationResultFilters.find((filter) => filter.id === activeFilter)?.label ?? "filtered";
 
   return (
     <div className="mx-auto w-full max-w-7xl space-y-3 py-0 sm:py-2">
@@ -320,7 +419,7 @@ function MedicationResults({
         </div>
       </div>
 
-      <FilterStrip activeFilter={activeFilter} onFilterChange={setActiveFilter} />
+      <FilterStrip activeFilter={activeFilter} counts={counts} onFilterChange={setActiveFilter} />
 
       {catalog.loading ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-[color:var(--text-muted)]">Loading medication catalogue…</p>
@@ -330,9 +429,34 @@ function MedicationResults({
         </p>
       ) : null}
 
-      {!catalog.loading && !catalog.error ? (
+      {!catalog.loading && !catalog.error && resultCount === 0 ? (
+        totalAvailable > 0 ? (
+          <div className="space-y-2">
+            <EmptyState
+              icon={SearchX}
+              title={`No ${activeFilterLabel.toLowerCase()} matches for this search`}
+              body="None of the current results carry this signal. Show all matches to keep browsing."
+            />
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              onClick={() => setActiveFilter("best")}
+              className="inline-flex min-h-8 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-lg border border-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)] px-3 text-xs font-semibold text-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] transition hover:bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)]/70 focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)]"
+            >
+              Show all {totalAvailable} matches
+            </button>
+          </div>
+        ) : (
+          <EmptyState
+            icon={SearchX}
+            title="No prescribing matches"
+            body="Try a different medication name, class, or indication."
+          />
+        )
+      ) : null}
+
+      {!catalog.loading && !catalog.error && resultCount > 0 ? (
         <div className="hidden overflow-hidden rounded-lg border border-[color:var(--border)] bg-[color:var(--surface-raised)] shadow-[var(--shadow-soft)] md:block">
-          <div className="grid grid-cols-[minmax(16rem,1.15fr)_minmax(6.5rem,0.42fr)_minmax(8rem,0.48fr)_minmax(16rem,1fr)_2rem] border-b border-[color:var(--border)] px-4 py-2 text-xs font-semibold text-[color:var(--text-muted)]">
+          <div className="grid grid-cols-[minmax(16rem,1.15fr)_minmax(6.5rem,0.42fr)_minmax(8rem,0.48fr)_minmax(16rem,1fr)_2rem] border-b border-[color:var(--border)] bg-[color:var(--surface-subtle)] px-4 py-2 text-3xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-[0.08em] text-[color:var(--text-soft)]">
             <span>Medication</span>
             <span>Dose</span>
             <span>Ceiling</span>
@@ -340,40 +464,49 @@ function MedicationResults({
             <span className="sr-only">Open</span>
           </div>
           <div className="divide-y divide-[color:var(--border)]">
-            {visibleMedicationResults.map((result, index) => {
+            {rows.map((row, index) => {
+              const result = row.result;
               const selected = index === 0 && Boolean(query.trim());
               const rowClassName = cn(
-                "grid w-full grid-cols-[minmax(16rem,1.15fr)_minmax(6.5rem,0.42fr)_minmax(8rem,0.48fr)_minmax(16rem,1fr)_2rem] items-center gap-2.5 px-4 py-2.5 text-left transition focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-inset focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)]",
+                "group grid w-full grid-cols-[minmax(16rem,1.15fr)_minmax(6.5rem,0.42fr)_minmax(8rem,0.48fr)_minmax(16rem,1fr)_2rem] items-center gap-2.5 px-4 py-2.5 text-left transition focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-inset focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)]",
                 selected
-                  ? "bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)]/35 ring-1 ring-inset ring-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]/35"
+                  ? "bg-[color:var(--clinical-accent-soft)]/35 shadow-[inset_2px_0_0_var(--clinical-accent)] ring-1 ring-inset ring-[color:var(--clinical-accent)]/35"
                   : result.href
                     ? "hover:bg-[color:var(--surface-subtle)]"
                     : "cursor-default opacity-80",
               );
               const rowContent = (
                 <>
-                  <span className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2.5">
+                  <div className="flex min-w-0 items-center gap-2.5">
                     <ResultToneIcon result={result} />
-                    <span className="min-w-0">
+                    <div className="min-w-0">
                       <span className="block break-words text-base-minus font-semibold text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
-                        {result.name}
+                        <HighlightedName text={result.name} term={query} />
                       </span>
                       <span className="block break-words text-xs font-medium text-[color:var(--text-muted)]">
                         {result.indication}
                       </span>
-                      <span className="mt-1 flex flex-wrap gap-1">
-                        <ResultMatchBadge result={result} />
-                      </span>
-                    </span>
+                      {showMatchBadge || result.match !== "Exact clinical fit" || row.badges.length > 0 ? (
+                        <div className="mt-1 flex min-w-0 flex-wrap items-center gap-1">
+                          {showMatchBadge || result.match !== "Exact clinical fit" ? (
+                            <ResultMatchBadge result={result} />
+                          ) : null}
+                          <BadgeCluster items={row.badges} compact limit={3} showOverflowCount />
+                        </div>
+                      ) : null}
+                    </div>
+                  </div>
+                  <span className="nums text-sm-minus font-semibold text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
+                    {result.dose}
                   </span>
-                  <span className="text-sm-minus font-semibold text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">{result.dose}</span>
                   <DoseCeiling value={result.ceiling} />
-                  <span className="break-words text-sm-minus font-medium leading-[1.4] text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
-                    {result.action}
+                  <span className="flex min-w-0 items-start gap-1.5 text-sm-minus font-medium leading-[1.4] text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
+                    <ActionToneIcon tone={result.actionTone} className="mt-0.5 h-3.5 w-3.5" />
+                    <span className="min-w-0 break-words">{result.action}</span>
                   </span>
                   {result.href ? (
                     <ChevronRight
-                      className="h-4 w-4 justify-self-end text-[color:var(--text-soft)]"
+                      className="h-4 w-4 justify-self-end text-[color:var(--text-soft)] group-hover:text-[color:var(--clinical-accent)] motion-safe:transition motion-safe:group-hover:translate-x-0.5"
                       aria-hidden="true"
                     />
                   ) : (
@@ -412,7 +545,8 @@ function MedicationResults({
       ) : null}
 
       <div className="grid gap-2 md:hidden">
-        {visibleMedicationResults.map((result, index) => {
+        {rows.map((row, index) => {
+          const result = row.result;
           const selected = index === 0 && Boolean(query.trim());
           const cardClassName = cn(
             "min-w-0 w-full rounded-lg border bg-[color:var(--surface-raised)] p-2 text-left shadow-[var(--shadow-inset)] transition focus-visible:outline focus-visible:outline-2 focus-visible:outline-offset-2 focus-visible:outline-[color:var(--focus)]",
@@ -428,18 +562,24 @@ function MedicationResults({
               <div className="min-w-0 space-y-1.5">
                 <div className="min-w-0">
                   <p className="line-clamp-2 break-words text-base-minus font-semibold leading-5 text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
-                    {result.name}
+                    <HighlightedName text={result.name} term={query} />
                   </p>
                   <p className="break-words text-xs font-medium text-[color:var(--text-muted)]">{result.indication}</p>
                 </div>
-                <span className="flex max-w-full flex-wrap gap-1.5">
-                  <ResultMatchBadge result={result} />
-                </span>
+                {showMatchBadge || result.match !== "Exact clinical fit" || row.badges.length > 0 ? (
+                  <div className="flex max-w-full flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5">
+                    {showMatchBadge || result.match !== "Exact clinical fit" ? (
+                      <ResultMatchBadge result={result} />
+                    ) : null}
+                    <BadgeCluster items={row.badges} compact limit={2} showOverflowCount />
+                  </div>
+                ) : null}
                 <div className="flex max-w-full flex-wrap items-center gap-1.5 text-sm-minus font-semibold text-[color:var(--text-heading)]">
-                  <span className="break-words">{result.dose}</span>
+                  <span className="nums break-words">{result.dose}</span>
                   <DoseCeiling value={result.ceiling} />
                 </div>
                 <p className="break-words text-pretty text-xs leading-[1.45] text-[color:var(--text-muted)]">
+                  <ActionToneIcon tone={result.actionTone} className="mr-1 inline-block h-3.5 w-3.5 align-[-0.15em]" />
                   {result.action}
                 </p>
               </div>
diff --git a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/use-medication-catalog.ts b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/use-medication-catalog.ts
index 074812a5c..1daf2f744 100644
--- a/src/components/clinical-dashboard/use-medication-catalog.ts
+++ b/src/components/clinical-dashboard/use-medication-catalog.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type MedicationCatalogResponse = {
   records: MedicationRecord[];
   matches?: MedicationCatalogMatch[];
   total: number;
+  governance?: Record<string, { sourceStatus: string; validationStatus: string }>;
   demoMode?: boolean;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/lib/medications.ts b/src/lib/medications.ts
index 56965521c..d5ad31e2e 100644
--- a/src/lib/medications.ts
+++ b/src/lib/medications.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ export type MedicationSearchMatch = {
 
 export type MedicationResultTone = "teal" | "blue" | "slate";
 
+export type MedicationActionTone = "danger" | "warning" | "neutral";
+
 export type MedicationSearchResult = {
   id: string;
   name: string;
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ export type MedicationSearchResult = {
   dose: string;
   ceiling: string;
   action: string;
+  actionTone: MedicationActionTone;
   tone: MedicationResultTone;
   href: string;
 };
@@ -144,28 +147,77 @@ export function medicationIndication(record: MedicationRecord) {
   );
 }
 
+// Take the first sentence without mangling decimals ("1.5 mg") or common
+// abbreviations ("e.g.", "i.e.", "etc.") the naive split(".")[0] used to cut
+// mid-parenthesis ("Any hepatic impairment (e").
+export function firstClinicalSentence(value: string): string {
+  const text = value.trim();
+  const periods = /\./g;
+  let match: RegExpExecArray | null;
+  while ((match = periods.exec(text))) {
+    const next = text[match.index + 1];
+    if (next !== undefined && !/\s/.test(next)) continue;
+    const before = text.slice(0, match.index);
+    if (/(?:^|[\s(])(?:e\.g|i\.e|etc|vs|approx)$/i.test(before)) continue;
+    return before.trim();
+  }
+  return text;
+}
+
 export function medicationUsualDose(record: MedicationRecord) {
   const quickDose = quickValue(record, "usual dose");
-  if (quickDose) return quickDose.replace(/\*\*/g, "").split(".")[0]?.trim() ?? quickDose;
+  if (quickDose) return firstClinicalSentence(quickDose.replace(/\*\*/g, "")) || quickDose;
   const doseRow = sectionByType(record, "dose")?.rows[0];
-  return doseRow?.val?.replace(/\*\*/g, "").split(".")[0]?.trim() ?? "See dosing";
+  const doseValue = doseRow?.val?.replace(/\*\*/g, "");
+  return doseValue ? firstClinicalSentence(doseValue) || "See dosing" : "See dosing";
 }
 
 export function medicationCeiling(record: MedicationRecord) {
   return statValue(record, "max dose") || statValue(record, "ceiling") || "See reference";
 }
 
+// The action tone is derived from which source field supplied the text (not from
+// output-text heuristics): avoid/contraindication content is a hard stop (danger),
+// monitoring/laboratory content is a check-first caution (warning), and summary or
+// fallback text is neutral reference material.
+export function medicationActionDetail(record: MedicationRecord): { text: string; tone: MedicationActionTone } {
+  const sources: Array<{ raw: string; tone: MedicationActionTone }> = [
+    { raw: quickValue(record, "avoid"), tone: "danger" },
+    { raw: firstRowValue(record, "contra", "absolute"), tone: "danger" },
+    { raw: firstRowValue(record, "summary", "clinical focus"), tone: "neutral" },
+    { raw: firstRowValue(record, "mon", "laboratory"), tone: "warning" },
+  ];
+  const picked = sources.find((source) => source.raw) ?? {
+    raw: "Review full prescribing reference.",
+    tone: "neutral" as const,
+  };
+  const text = firstClinicalSentence(picked.raw.replace(/\*\*/g, "")) || "Review full prescribing reference";
+  return { text, tone: picked.tone === "danger" ? avoidTextTone(text) : picked.tone };
+}
+
+// Avoid/contraindication fields are heterogeneous: hard stops ("Contraindicated
+// in ...", "Severe respiratory depression, paralytic ileus"), explicit
+// no-contraindication statements ("NONE — ...") and caution-only guidance
+// ("Pregnancy Category B2", "requires pharmacist review and dose reduction").
+// Only hard stops may carry the danger icon / "Do not use" prefix. Condition
+// lists without any keyword stay danger — under-warning is the failure mode to
+// avoid — so downgrades are keyed to explicit none/caution phrasing only.
+const HARD_STOP_PATTERN = /contraindicat|do not\b|avoid\b|hypersensitiv|anaphylax|never\b|must not/i;
+const CAUTION_ONLY_PATTERN =
+  /pregnancy category|\bcategory [ab]\d?\b|pharmacist|dose reduction|reduce dose|requires?\b[^.]*\breview|generally (?:considered )?safe/i;
+
+function avoidTextTone(text: string): MedicationActionTone {
+  if (/^(?:none\b|no\s+(?:absolute\s+)?contraindication)/i.test(text)) {
+    return /caution/i.test(text) ? "warning" : "neutral";
+  }
+  if (!HARD_STOP_PATTERN.test(text) && CAUTION_ONLY_PATTERN.test(text)) {
+    return "warning";
+  }
+  return "danger";
+}
+
 export function medicationAction(record: MedicationRecord) {
-  return (
-    quickValue(record, "avoid") ||
-    firstRowValue(record, "contra", "absolute") ||
-    firstRowValue(record, "summary", "clinical focus") ||
-    firstRowValue(record, "mon", "laboratory") ||
-    "Review full prescribing reference."
-  )
-    .replace(/\*\*/g, "")
-    .split(".")[0]
-    ?.trim();
+  return medicationActionDetail(record).text;
 }
 
 export function medicationResultTone(record: MedicationRecord, score: number): MedicationResultTone {
@@ -176,6 +228,7 @@ export function medicationResultTone(record: MedicationRecord, score: number): M
 
 export function medicationToSearchResult(match: MedicationSearchMatch): MedicationSearchResult {
   const { medication, score } = match;
+  const action = medicationActionDetail(medication);
   return {
     id: medication.slug,
     name: medication.name,
@@ -183,7 +236,8 @@ export function medicationToSearchResult(match: MedicationSearchMatch): Medicati
     match: score >= 12 ? "Exact clinical fit" : score >= 6 ? "Good clinical fit" : "Related match",
     dose: medicationUsualDose(medication),
     ceiling: medicationCeiling(medication),
-    action: medicationAction(medication) ?? "Review full prescribing reference.",
+    action: action.text,
+    actionTone: action.tone,
     tone: medicationResultTone(medication, score),
     href: `/medications/${medication.slug}`,
   };
diff --git a/tests/medications.test.ts b/tests/medications.test.ts
index a78790969..0ac77dcc2 100644
--- a/tests/medications.test.ts
+++ b/tests/medications.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,30 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
 import { getMedicationRecord, loadMedicationSnapshot } from "@/lib/medication-snapshot";
-import { rankMedicationRecords } from "@/lib/medications";
+import {
+  firstClinicalSentence,
+  medicationActionDetail,
+  medicationToSearchResult,
+  rankMedicationRecords,
+  type MedicationRecord,
+} from "@/lib/medications";
+
+function buildRecord(overrides: Partial<MedicationRecord>): MedicationRecord {
+  return {
+    slug: "test-med",
+    name: "Test Med",
+    class: "",
+    subclass: "",
+    category: "",
+    accent: "#0f766e",
+    tag: "",
+    schedule: "",
+    stats: [],
+    sections: [],
+    quick: [],
+    ...overrides,
+  };
+}
 
 describe("medications catalogue", () => {
   it("loads the full reviewed export snapshot", () => {
@@ -42,3 +65,147 @@ describe("medications catalogue", () => {
     expect(record?.quick.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
   });
 });
+
+describe("medication action tone", () => {
+  it("marks quick avoid guidance as danger", () => {
+    const record = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "**Severe renal impairment.** Check creatinine first." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record)).toEqual({ text: "Severe renal impairment", tone: "danger" });
+  });
+
+  it("marks absolute contraindications as danger", () => {
+    const record = buildRecord({
+      sections: [
+        {
+          title: "Contraindications",
+          type: "contra",
+          rows: [{ key: "Absolute", val: "Known hypersensitivity. Do not rechallenge." }],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record)).toEqual({ text: "Known hypersensitivity", tone: "danger" });
+  });
+
+  it("keeps summary clinical-focus text neutral even when monitoring rows exist", () => {
+    const record = buildRecord({
+      sections: [
+        {
+          title: "Summary",
+          type: "summary",
+          rows: [{ key: "Clinical focus", val: "Supports abstinence maintenance." }],
+        },
+        {
+          title: "Monitoring",
+          type: "mon",
+          rows: [{ key: "Laboratory", val: "Check LFTs at baseline." }],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record)).toEqual({ text: "Supports abstinence maintenance", tone: "neutral" });
+  });
+
+  it("marks laboratory monitoring guidance as warning", () => {
+    const record = buildRecord({
+      sections: [
+        {
+          title: "Monitoring",
+          type: "mon",
+          rows: [{ key: "Laboratory", val: "Check LFTs at baseline and 3 months." }],
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record)).toEqual({
+      text: "Check LFTs at baseline and 3 months",
+      tone: "warning",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to a neutral reference prompt", () => {
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(buildRecord({}))).toEqual({
+      text: "Review full prescribing reference",
+      tone: "neutral",
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("threads actionTone into search results", () => {
+    const record = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "Severe renal impairment." }],
+    });
+    const result = medicationToSearchResult({ medication: record, score: 15, reasons: [] });
+    expect(result.actionTone).toBe("danger");
+    expect(result.action).toBe("Severe renal impairment");
+  });
+
+  it("flags acamprosate's renal contraindication as danger from the snapshot", () => {
+    const record = getMedicationRecord("acamprosate");
+    expect(record).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record as MedicationRecord).tone).toBe("danger");
+  });
+
+  it("does not mark explicit no-contraindication text as danger", () => {
+    const none = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "NONE — No absolute contraindications in respiratory depression." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(none).tone).toBe("neutral");
+
+    const noAbsolute = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "No absolute contraindication in life-threatening anaphylaxis." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(noAbsolute).tone).toBe("neutral");
+
+    const noneWithCaution = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "None strictly absolute, but severe caution in respiratory failure." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(noneWithCaution).tone).toBe("warning");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps naloxone's explicit NONE contraindication off the danger tone from the snapshot", () => {
+    const record = getMedicationRecord("naloxone");
+    expect(record).toBeTruthy();
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(record as MedicationRecord).tone).not.toBe("danger");
+  });
+
+  it("downgrades caution-only avoid guidance to warning", () => {
+    const pregnancyCategory = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "Pregnancy Category B2." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(pregnancyCategory).tone).toBe("warning");
+
+    const doseReview = buildRecord({
+      quick: [
+        { label: "Avoid if", value: "Liver disease requires pharmacist/doctor review and possible dose reduction." },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(doseReview).tone).toBe("warning");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps condition-list and setting-based hard stops on danger", () => {
+    const conditionList = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "Severe respiratory depression, paralytic ileus." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(conditionList).tone).toBe("danger");
+
+    const unmonitoredSetting = buildRecord({
+      quick: [{ label: "Avoid if", value: "Unmonitored environments without airway equipment." }],
+    });
+    expect(medicationActionDetail(unmonitoredSetting).tone).toBe("danger");
+  });
+
+  it("keeps fexofenadine and loratadine caution rows off the danger tone from the snapshot", () => {
+    for (const slug of ["fexofenadine", "loratadine"]) {
+      const record = getMedicationRecord(slug);
+      expect(record).toBeTruthy();
+      expect(medicationActionDetail(record as MedicationRecord).tone).toBe("warning");
+    }
+  });
+
+  it("does not cut action text at abbreviations or decimals", () => {
+    expect(firstClinicalSentence("Any hepatic impairment (e.g. cirrhosis). Review LFTs.")).toBe(
+      "Any hepatic impairment (e.g. cirrhosis)",
+    );
+    expect(firstClinicalSentence("Start 1.5 mg NOCTE. Titrate weekly.")).toBe("Start 1.5 mg NOCTE");
+    expect(firstClinicalSentence("Rash, nausea, etc. may occur. Stop if severe.")).toBe("Rash, nausea, etc. may occur");
+    expect(firstClinicalSentence("No trailing period")).toBe("No trailing period");
+  });
+});