PRINCIPLES OF PRESCRIPTION ORDER WRITING

PRESCRIPTION ORDER Is an important therapeutic transaction between dentist/physician and the patient. It brings into focus the diagnostic acumen and therapeutic proficiency of the dentist/physician with instructions for palliation or restorations of the patient’s health.

PRESCRIPTION ORDER WRITING Proficiency at writing a prescription order accurately and speedily requires practice. The prescription order should be written legibly. It is convenient and the accepted form to have one’s name, address, telephone number, office hours and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registry number printed on the prescription order blank (controlled substance in schedule II)

CHOICE OF DRUG NAME: - Most of drugs can be prescribed by their official names, by their nonproprietary names or by the manufacturers proprietary name is often referred to as the generic name

CHOICE OF A SYSTEM OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURE: Prescription orders should always be written in the metric system. It is necessary only to designate the amount of drug by numbers and to indicate the metric of weight or volume desired

THE METRIC AND APOTHECARIES EQUIVALENTS 1 milligram 1/65 grain 1 gram 15.43 grains 1 kilogram 2.20 pounds 1 milliliter 16.23 minims 1 ounce 31.1 grams 1 minims 0.062 ml 1 fluid ounce 29.57ml 1 pint 473.2ml 1 quart 946.4 ml

HOUSEHOLD EQUIVALENTS 1 teaspoonful 1 dram 5ml 1 tablespoonful 4 drams 15ml 1 wineglass 2 ounces 60ml 1 teacup 4 to 6 ounces 120-180ml 1 glassful 8 ounces 240ml 1 dessert spoonful 2 drams 10 ml

Construction of the Prescription Order: Only one prescription should be written on an other blank. MAJOR ELEMENTS: Date Name, address, and Age of the patient The symbol Rx – is an abbrevation for recipe, the Latin for “take-out.” Drug, strength, and inert additives Direction to the pharmacist Directions to the patient Signature

PARTS OF PRESCRIPTION: SUPERSCRIPTION – Patient’s name, address, and age; and the symbol Rx INSCRIPTION – Name of drug, dosage form, and amount SUBSCRIPTION – Direction to the pharmacist TRANSCRIPTION or SIGNATURE – Directions to the patient

1. Heading – name, address, and phone number of the prescriber - Name, address, age and phone number of the patient - Date 2. Body - the symbol Rx - Name and dosage unit or concentration(liquids) of the drugs - Amount to be dispensed - Directions to the patient 3. Closing - Presciber’s signature - Space for DEA number - refill instructions

Joe A. Doe, D.D.S. 1234 Main Street Phone 123-4567 City, State ________________________________________________________ Patient name_____________ Date:__________ Address:_________________ Age:___________ Rx Mefenamic acid ( Dolfenal ) 500mg/ tab # 9 Sig: Take 1 tab 3x a day as needed for pain. Take in full stomach. Dentist:______________ License Number:__________ PTR:_____________ s2 Number________________

GUIDELINES ON PRESCRIBING MEDICINES BASED ON PRIOR LAWS Only validly-registered medical, dental and veterinary practitioners, whether in private or employed in a private institution/corporation or in the government, are authorized to prescribe drugs. All prescriptions must contain the name of the prescriber, office address, PRC number, Professional tax receipt number, patient’s/clients name, age and sex and date of prescription

HINTS FOR PRESCRIPTION WRITNG: Write legibly in ink Use the metric system Avoid abbreviations Keep a copy of each prescription or transcribe the information to the patient’s record Include complete information for the patient. a. never use “take as directed” unless a written instruction sheet is provided. b. include the intended purpose, for example – “for relief of pain” c. Use precautions to remind the patient of a drug’s side effects, for example, “ caution: Sedation or caution: may cause drowsiness d. add reminder phrases to increase the patient’s compliance Example: To complete for 7 days.

VIOLATIVE ERRONEOUS AND IMPOSSIBLE PRESCRIPTIONS: VIOLATIVE PRESCRIPTION: - Where generic name is not written - Where the generic name is not eligible and a brand name which is legible is written - Where the brand name is indicated and instructions added (such as no substitution) which tend to prevent proper dispensing.

ERRONEOUS PRESCRIPTION: Where the brand name precedes the generic name Where the generic name is the one in parenthesis Where more than one drug product is prescribed on one prescription form

SCHEDULES OF FEDERALLY CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE Abuse potential Examples Handling I Highest Heroin, LSD, marijuana, hallucinogens Experimental or research use only II High Morphine, meperidine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, amphetamine, ssecobarbital,amobarbital Prescriber’s signature required; no refills III Moderate Codeine mixtures (Tylenol) Prescriptions may be telephoned; no more than 5 refills in less than 6 months IV Less Benzodiazepines (Diazepam) V least Some codeine-containing cough syrups Can be bought over the counter in some states

Common abbreviations in Prescription: LATIN DERIVIATION ENGLISH MEANING a.c. Ante cibum Before meals ad To; up to ad lib ad libitum As much as desired; without limit b.i.d. bis in die Twice a day caps capsula Capsules gtt gutta A Drop o.d Omni die Daily, once a day h.s Hora somni At bed time, hour of sleep p.c. Post cibum After meals p.r.n Pro re nata When required, as required q.h Quaque hora Every hour q.d Quaque die Every day, daily q.i.d/ t.i.d Quator in die/ ter in die Four times a day/ 3 times a day stat statim At once, immediately