How to Read a Prescription

What is a Prescription? A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or device for a patient. The word "prescription" also comes from the Latin "praescriptus" and is made up of "prae," before + "scribere," to write, so that prescription meant "to write before." This reflected the historic fact that a prescription had traditionally to be written before a drug could be prepared and then administered to a patient..

Parts of the prescription. The superscription or heading with the symbol "R" or "Rx", which stands for the word recipe (meaning, in Latin, to take) The inscription, which contains the names and quantities of the ingredients; The subscription or directions for compounding the drug; and The signature which is often preceded by the sign "s" standing for signa (Latin for mark), giving the directions to be marked on the container.

Parts of the Prescription, cont. Patient information Superscription Inscription Subscription Signa Date Signature lines, signature, degree, generic substitution Prescriber information DEA# if required Refills Warnings Aged (required on triplicate) Weight Optional

SAMPLE PRESCRIPTION FORM

Patient Information Name Address Age (Required on triplicate) Weight (optional)

Superscription RX Traditional symbol for prescription

Inscription What does the pharmacist take off the shelf? Dose = Quantity of drug per dose form Dose Form = The physical entity ingested, i.e. tablet, suspension, capsule Simple Vs compound prescriptions Manufactured Vs compounded prescriptions

Subscription What is the pharmacist to do with the ingredients? Dispense how much medicine to put in the bottle For controlled substances write in numbers and letters

Signa, signature or transcription Instructions for the patient Number of dosage units per dose (Take one Tablet, give two teaspoonfuls, etc. Route of administration by (mouth, rectally, nasally, etc.) Frequency of dosing (every six hours, once a day, etc.) Duration of dosing (… for seven days,..until gone, ..if needed for pain) Purpose of the prescription (goes on label) Special instructions (shake well, refrigerate, etc.) Warnings

Signature of the prescriber Makes the prescription a legal document Include degree Two signature lines required Dispense as written Substitution permitted

Date prescribed Scheduled II drugs can only be dispensed within 7 days of data on RX All prescriptions expire after one year CV-CIII can be filled for 5 times in 6 months maximum

Prescriber identification Name For controlled substances: Address Phone DEA printed or stamped on the RX Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)-US Government

Renewal instructions or refill information Indicate either no refills or the number of refills you want Proper use insures patient gets the amount of drug you intend

To obtain any benefit from a prescription The prescription order must be filled The patient must take the medication The patient is monitored for untoward reactions

How Often To Take Medication Abbreviations Meaning ad lib freely, as needed bid twice a day prn as needed q every q3h every 3 hours q4h every 4 hours qd every day qid four times a day qod every other day tid three times a day

When to Take Your Medication Abbreviations Meaning ac before meals hs at bedtime int between meals pc after meals

How Much Medication To Take Abbreviations Meaning caps capsule gtt drops i, ii, iii, or iiii – the number of doses (1, 2, 3, 4) mg milligrams ml milliliters ss one half tabs tablets tbsp tablespoon (15 ml) tsp teaspoon (5 ml)

How to Use Your Medication Abbreviations Meaning ad right ear al left ear c or o with od Right eye os left eye ou both eyes po by mouth s or  without sl sublingual top apply topically sig Before directions on the pres. (let it be labeled.

How to Read a Prescription Sample 1 Diagnosis is high cholesterol Zocor 10 mg. This is the name of the medication and the dose. Sig: i po qhs Your instructions are to take 1 pill, by mouth, at bedtime. Dispense #90 You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months. Refill 0 times Your doctor has indicated no refills, most likely because she would like to check your blood cholesterol and then decide if you need more medication or a different dose. DAW left blank Your pharmacist will most likely give you simvastatin, the generic version of Zocor.

How to Read a Prescription Sample 2 Diagnosis is type 2 diabetes Glucophage 500 mg. This is the name of the medication and the dose. Sig: i po bid pc Your instructions are to take 1 pill, by mouth, twice each day, after meals - this means that you should take this medication right after breakfast and right after dinner. Dispense #90 You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months. Refill 3 times Your doctor has indicated 3 refills, enough medication for one year. This may mean that your diabetes is "stable" and well controlled on this medication. DAW left blank Your pharmacist will most likely give you metformin, the generic version of Glucophage

How to Read a Prescription Sample 3 Diagnosis is high blood pressure Diovan 40 mg. This is the name of the medication and the dose. Sig: i po qd Your instructions are to take 1 pill, by mouth, once each day - you most likely can take this medication either before or after a meal since your doctor did not say otherwise. Dispense #90 You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months. Refill 0 times Your doctor has indicated no refills, most likely because she would like to check your blood pressure and then decide if you need more medication or a different dose. DAW left blank Your pharmacist will give you Diovan since there is no generic available for this drug