2. A prescription is a written order by a
registered physician directing the
pharmacist to prepare or dispense
pharmacological agents for the diagnosis,
prevention or treatment of a disease.
3. There are two types of prescription:
Pre compounding prescription:
Prescription for already prepared drug (by pharmaceutical
companies) e.g. Cap. Ciprofloxacin (500 mg) etc.
Extemporeous prescription:
The pharmacists prepare the medication according to the
drugs and dosages directed by the physician.
4. Types of Prescribing
- Rational Prescribing
- Irrational Prescribing
• Rational Prescribing:
It fulfills the following criterias –
1. Appropriate diagnosis
2. Appropriate indications
3. Appropriate drug
4. Appropriate dosage
5. Appropriate duration
6. Appropriate route of administration
5. Irrational Prescribing:
When medically inappropriate, ineffective and
economically inefficient drugs are used, it is
called irrational prescribing.
Some common irrational prescribing:
1. Excessive use of drugs.
2. Overuse of antibiotics.
3. Prescribing new costly drug, when an alternate
cheaper drug is available etc.
6. Requirements of Prescriptions
1. Date
2. Name and address of doctor.
3. Name and address of the patient.
4. Rx. It’s a traditional esoteric symbol for the word
‘Recipe’-‘take thou!'; It is pointless.
5. The name and dose of the medicine.
6. Direction to the pharmacist.
7. Instruction for the patient.
8. Signature of the doctor.
7. Symbol of Prescription
(1) Dr. X Date:
MBBS. MD (Cardiology)
Address:
Patients Name: Mr. Y Age: 60 years Sex: Male
Address:
Rx
(2) Tab. Cardopril (25 mg) (4)
¼+0+¼- Before meal (40 days)
Tab. Disprin CV – 100
(3) 0 + 1 + 0 - After meal (30 days)
(5) Prescribers Signature
8. Parts of Prescription:
An ideal prescription should have the
following parts:
- Superscription (1)
- Inscription (2)
- Subscription (3)
- Transcription (4)
- Signature (5)
9. Parts of Prescription:
Superscription:
Superscription includes:
- Information about the prescriber.
- Information about the patient.
- Rx (it means ‘take it!’)
Inscription:
- Inscription gives the information about the
name of the drug (generic or trade name),
and its formulation, unit dosage.
10. Parts of Prescription:
Subscription:
- Subscription provides information to the pharmacists
about the quantity and dosage form of the drug to be
dispensed.
Transcription:
- Transcription is the prescribers direction to the
patient contains instruction about the amount of drug,
time and frequency of doses to be taken.
Signature:
- Prescription should be signed by the prescriber.
11. Abbreviation of Prescription
a ante before
p post after
ac ante cibum before food
pc post cibum after food
bd bis in die twice a day (bid is also
used)
12. Abbreviation of Prescription
ter die sumendus 3 times a day (tid is also used)
tds
quarter die sumendus 4 times a day (qid is also used)
qds
statim immediately
stat
si opus sit if necessary
sos
omni die every day
od
13. Abbreviation of Prescription
omni mane every morning
om
omni nocte every night
on
per os by mouth
po
subcutaneous by subcutaneous injection
sc
intramuscular by intramuscular injection
im
14. Abbreviation of Prescription
intravenous by intravenous injection
iv
quaque every
q
repetatur let it be repeated
rep
pro re nata as required
prn
nomen proprium proper name
NP
