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How to Read a Prescription

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.

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How to Read a Prescription

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  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

  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

  17. When to Take Your Medication Abbreviations

  18. How Much Medication To Take Abbreviations

  19. How to Use Your Medication Abbreviations

  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 qhsYour instructions are to take 1 pill, by mouth, at bedtime.Dispense #90You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months.Refill 0 timesYour 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 blankYour 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 pcYour 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 #90You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months.Refill 3 timesYour 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 blankYour 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 qdYour 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 #90You will be given 90 pills, enough for about 3 months.Refill 0 timesYour 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 blankYour pharmacist will give you Diovan since there is no generic available for this drug

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