1. How to Read a Prescription

2. 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..

3. 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.

4. 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

5. SAMPLE PRESCRIPTION FORM

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

7. Superscription RX
Traditional symbol for prescription

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. 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

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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. 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)

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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