Unit 2 Notes
Interpretation of Prescriptions
Introduction
By definition, a prescription is an order or medication issued by a physician, dentist, or other properly licensed
medical practitioner. A prescription designates a specific medication and dosage to be prepared and
dispensed by a pharmacist and administered to a particular patient. A prescription may be written on
preprinted prescription forms (traditional prescriptions) or transmitted to a pharmacy by computer (e-
prescription), telephone, or facsimile (FAX) (Ansel & Stockton, 2017).
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the format and components of a typical prescription.
2. Interpret correctly standard abbreviations and symbols used on prescription and/or medical order.
Did you know?
A medical prescription. The symbol "Rx" is usually said to stand for the Latin word
"recipe" meaning "to take." It is customarily part of the superscription (heading) of a
prescription.
Did you know?
Many prescription abbreviations are derived from the Latin through its historical use in
medicine and pharmacy, whereas others have evolved through prescribers’ use of
writing shortcuts.
Did you know?
There are two types of directions found in the prescription, the portion of the prescription presenting directions
to the pharmacist (the subscription) and the directions to the patients (the signa) commonly contain
abbreviated forms of English and Latin terms as well as Arabic and Roman numerals. The correct
interpretation of these abbreviations and prescription notations plays an important part in pharmaceutical
calculations and thus in the accurate filling and dispensing of medications.
Part 1: Review of Typical Prescriptions and Component Parts
Prescription (Ansel & Stockton, 2017)
Typical preprinted prescription form contains the traditional symbol (meaning “recipe,” “take thou,”
or “you take”), name, address, telephone number, and other pertinent information regarding the
prescriber.
The word prescription comes from the Latin word praescriptus. It has the prefix pre-, which means
“before,” and the term script, which means “writing,” indicating that a prescription has to be written
before a drug is compounded.
Some historians believe that its origin lies with ancient patients and doctors asking for protection from
either the Eye of Horus or the Roman god Jupiter.
Blank areas are used by the prescriber to provide patient information, the medication desired, and
directions or use.
A prescription written by a veterinarian generally includes the animal species and/or the pet’s name
and the name of the owner.
In hospitals and other institutions, the forms are somewhat different and are referred to as medication
orders.
A medication order may be written (paper) or transmitted electronically.
A prescription or medication order or an in ant, child, or an elderly person may include the age,
weight, and/or body sur ace area (BSA) o the patient. This information is applicable in dose
calculation.
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Parts of a Prescription (Ansel & Stockton, 2017)
1. Patient Information – contains the legible full name, address, 7
gender, age, height and weight of the patient for identification
purposes
2. Supersription (Rx) means “recipe” or “take thou” or “you
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take”
- forms the beginning of a direct order from the prescriber to the
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compounder or pharmacist
3. Inscription (medication prescribed) – the body or principal 2
part of the prescription order that contains the name, dosage and
quantity of prescribed medication 3
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4. Subscription – directions to the pharmacist for the preparation of 6
the prescription but in majority of prescription, it serves to
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designate the dosage form or number of units
5. Signatura or Signa or Sig means “mark thou”
- contains Latin and/or English abbreviations that are directions to
the patient on how to take the medication. It is transcribed by the
pharmacist into the prescription label of the container of the 7
dispensed medication.
6. Special instructions or auxiliary labelling – the prescription label may be typewritten if prepared by the
computer, using the information entered by the pharmacy or pharmacy assistant. It should have aesthetic
and professional appeal. *These labels are used to emphasize the important aspects of the dispensed
medication including proper use, handling, storage, refill status and necessary warning or precautions.
Types: a. White: b. Red:
7. Prescribers’ information and signature – for verification and clarification purposes. In case the pharmacist
or the patient needs to communicate with the prescriber.
8. Date – prescriptions are dated at the time they are written and also when they are received and filled in
the pharmacy. It is for verification purposes and establishing the medication record of the patient.
Kinds of Prescription
1. Ordinary – for prescriptions not requiring control
Prescription vs Medication Order *
Printed or handwritten
Tamper resistant prescription pads – used to prevent unauthorized copying, modification or counterfeiting
of prescriptions
E-prescription – for efficiency of both the prescriber and pharmacist, convenience to the patient
2. Controlled – for medications that have high potential for abuse
EDD: Written in triple ordinary prescription DD: Yellow prescription – S2 license of the
prescriber
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3. Compounding – requiring the pharmacist to mix reagents or ingredients
Incorrect Prescription
1. Erroneous a. Where the brand name precedes the generic name
b. Where the generic name is the one in parenthesis
c. Where the brand name is not in parenthesis
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2. Violative a. Where the brand name is not written
b. Generic name is not legible and the brand name which is legible is written
c. Brand name is indicated and instructions added “no substitution”
3. Impossible a. When only the generic name is written but is not legible
b. When the generic name does not correspond to the brand name
c. When both the brand name and generic name are not legible
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d. When the product prescribed are not registered with the BFAD/FDA
Important Terms: (Ansel & Stockton, 2017)
Military Time – used in health care institutions to record patient’s admission, time of drug administration,
time of surgery and medical procedures; compare military time (24 hour format) and regular time (12
hour format)
Drug substance – the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or the component that produces a
pharmacologic activity
Excipient – the inactive ingredient present in dosage forms
Compounding – the quantities of active and inactive ingredients to be used in compounding of
prescription or medication order
Chemical- physical favors – include calculations to make solutions isotonic, iso-osmotic, equipolar or
buffered
Dosage form (DF) – a formulation containing a specific quantity of active ingredients in combination
with one or more excipients
Drug product – the finished dosage from that contains the active ingredient
Doses – including the quantity of a prescribed dose, the total number of doses prescribes, and the
number of days the prescribed medication will last
Drug concentration – the quantity of an active ingredient used to achieve the desired drug
concentration
Rate of drug administration – the quantity of drug administered per unit of time to meet prescribed
dosing schedule (eg// mg/min, gtt/min)
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Medication scheduling – defined as the frequency and duration of a prescribed drug or
recommended use
Medication Adherence or Medication Compliance – “following instructions” in taking the medication
prescribed
*compliance rate = number of days supply of medication x 100 %
number of days since last refill
Example: What is the percent compliance rate in a patient received a 30-day supply of medicine and
returned in 45 days or a refill?
Solution: Compliance rate = (30 days/45 days) x 100 % = 66.67 %
Medication verification - it is the responsibility of the pharmacist to ensure that each prescription and
medication order received is correct in its form and consent; is appropriate for the patient being treated;
and is subsequently filled, labeled, dispensed, and administered accurately.
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Part 2: Abbreviations and Symbol
Selected abbreviations, acronyms and symbols use in a prescription.
(Ansel & Stockton, 2017)
Refer to Ansel’s Pharmaceutical Calculations 15th edition, Page 64.
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Part 3: Interpretation of Abbreviations in a prescription (Ansel & Stockton, 2017)
Historically, prescriptions were written in Latin and are still written that way today. But why would the
medical industry rely on a language that is not commonly spoken today? There are two major reasons:
Latin is more concise than other languages.
Latin is a universally understood language among medical professionals.
Latin abbreviations are used to indicate the directions of how to take your medicine, and it's used as a
type of shorthand between doctors and pharmacists.
Hint in translating prescriptions with Latin abbreviations.
1. Identify the meaning of each abbreviation
2. Translate all abbreviation into sentence (make sure your sentence is correct).
3. Add a verb depending on how and where it will be administered especially if it is a direction to the
patient.
Example: I tab po qid pc & hs
1. I – one
Tab – tablet
po – orally or by mouth
qid – four times a day
pc – after meals
hs – at bedtime
2. One tablet by mouth four times a day, after meals and at bedtime
3. Since it is a direction of the prescriber to the patient, the patient should take the tablet orally.
Take one tablet by mouth four times a day, after meals and at bedtime
Examples of prescription directions to the pharmacist:
(a) M. ft. ung.
Mix and make an ointment.
(b) Ft. sup. no xii
Make 12 suppositories.
(c) M. ft. cap. d.t.d. no. xxiv
Mix and make capsules. Give 24 such doses.
Examples of prescription directions to the patient:
(a) Caps. i. q.i.d. p.c. et h.s.
Take one (1) capsule four (4) times a day after each meal and at bedtime.
(b) gtt. ii rt. eye every a.m.
Instill two (2) drops in the right eye every morning.
(c) tab. ii stat tab. 1 q. 6 h. × 7 d.
Take two (2) tablets immediately, then take one (1) tablet every 6 hours for 7 days.
