Pharmacy Abbreviations Quiz

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Questions and Answers

A prescription for a patient states "Tab 1 p.o. qd". What does this instruction indicate?

Take one tablet by mouth every hour.

Take one tablet by mouth daily. (correct)

Take one tablet by mouth twice daily.

Take one tablet intramuscularly every day.

A patient is prescribed "Oint 1g bid". How should the ointment be applied and how frequently?

1 gram of ointment should be applied intravenously twice daily.

1 gram of ointment should be applied rectally twice daily.

1 gram of ointment should be applied orally twice daily.

1 gram of ointment should be applied topically twice daily. (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a common abbreviation used in prescription writing?

Cr: Cream

Sol: Solution

Supp: Suspension (correct)

Oint: Ointment

What does the abbreviation "Stat" indicate in a prescription?

Immediately, now (A) Signup and view all the answers

A physician prescribes "Gtt ii OU q4h". How many drops, and to which eye(s) should the patient administer the medication, and how frequently?

Two drops in both eyes every four hours. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a category in which a medicine can be classified?

Over-the-Counter (OTC) (B) Signup and view all the answers

A patient is prescribed "Ad lib PRN". Which of the following best interprets this instruction?

Administer as much as needed for pain relief. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements regarding dispensing is TRUE?

Dispensing can be done based on a prescription written by an authorized health professional. (B) Signup and view all the answers

A patient is prescribed "Cap 1 IV q6h". This instruction:

Is invalid because Capsules are not typically given intravenously. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these aspects of prescription would be described as the main section containing the detailed instructions for the pharmacist to prepare the medication?

Subscription (A) Signup and view all the answers

In terms of a prescription, which of the following is most likely to require a compounding process?

A prescription for a compounded formula containing specific ingredient quantities (C) Signup and view all the answers

The part of the prescription that displays the name and strength of the medication ordered is known as the

Inscription (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following information is NOT typically found in the prescriber's office information section of a prescription?

Patient's insurance information (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it crucial for a pharmacist to check the date on a prescription?

To determine the time difference between the date it was written and the date it's presented (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it essential to include the patient's age on a child's prescription?

To ensure the correct administration of the medication (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the prescription represents the symbol 'Rx'?

Superscription (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a typical instruction that might be found in the 'Special Labelling, Refills and other Instructions' section of a prescription?

Patient's medical history (C) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prescription

A prescription is a medical order written by a doctor, dentist, or veterinarian for a patient.
It details the medicine, dressing, or surgical instrument to be supplied.

Parts of a Prescription

Date: The date the prescription is written and filled
Name: Patient's full name
Age: Patient's age (crucial for children's dosages)
Weight: Patient's weight (crucial for children's dosages)
Superscription: "Rx" symbol, denotes "to take"
Inscription: Name and strength of prescribed medicine
Subscription: Instructions for the pharmacist, including dosage form, and quantity. Common practice now may only specify dosage form & total tablets.
Signatura: Instructions for the patient, including dosage, timings, and how to take the medicine and frequency (e.g., "1 tablet PO QID").
Prescriber's signature and license number: Authenticates the prescription.
Special labelling: Refills allowed.

Prescriber's Office Information

Includes the hospital name, department, and the prescriber's name.

Patient Information

Includes full name, address, age, and sex.
Age is crucial for child dosages.

Date

Date of the prescription is important for determining the time lapse between prescribing and dispensing.

Superscription

Symbol Rx refers to the Latin word "recipe", meaning "to take ".

Inscription

The name and strength of the medicine.
May describe medicine as a standard formulation or proprietary product and the quantity needed.

Subscription

Gives instructions to the pharmacist regarding the dose form to prepare and the number of doses to dispense.
Common modern practice may only include dosage form & quantity requested.

Signatura

The section for instructions on how to use the medicine for the patient.
Includes details about dosage amounts, frequency, and when to take the medicine (e.g. before or after meals).

Prescriber's Signature, License Number

Authenticates the prescription.
Prevents fraudulent prescriptions.

Special labelling and Other Instructions

Number of refills allowed is noted.

Categories of Medicines

Prescription Only Medicine (POM): Prescribed by a doctor and dispensed from a pharmacy.
Pharmacy (P): Intermediate control level. Medicines available only from pharmacies under pharmacist supervision.
General Sales List (GSL): Can be bought from retail stores, vending machines, etc.

Common Prescription Abbreviations

ac (before meals)
bid (twice a day)
prn (as needed)
q3h (every three hours)
qd (every day)
qoh (every other hour)
p.o (by mouth)

Common Abbreviations for Dosage Forms

Syr: syrup
Tab: tablets
Cap: capsules
Sol: solution
Oint: ointment
Cr: cream
Supp: suppositories
Susp: suspension

Additional abbreviations

PRN: as needed
Ad: as much as needed
Mg: milligram
Ml: milliliter
C: with
p.o.: by mouth
Gtt: Drops
Od: Right eye
Os: Left eye
Ou: Both eyes
IM: Intramuscular
IV: Intravenous
SC: Subcutaneous
SL: Sublingually
Stat: Now, Immediately
Pc: After eating
Ac: Before eating
Qh: Every hour
Qd: every day
Bid: twice daily
QDS: Four times daily
TDS: Three times a day

Dispensing

The process of preparing and providing medicine to a patient based on a prescription.

Correct Dispensing Procedure

Ensure prescription details are complete (date, patient information).
Verify prescription authenticity.
Check name of prescribed drug against container.
Verify expiration date on container

Labelling of Dispensed Medicinal Products

Patient name
Medication name
Medication strength
Instructions for use
Prescription number
Refills remaining
Prescriber name
Pharmacy Information

Drug Labelling

Clearly identifies the drug contents, and provides instructions for administration, storage, and disposal.

Purpose of Labelling

Product identification
Error prevention
Optimal therapeutic outcome
Proper handling and storage
Product traceability

Legal Requirements for Dispensed Medicine Labels

Patient name
Pharmacy name and address
Date of dispensing
Medicine name
Directions for use
Precautions (e.g., "for external use only")

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Description

Test your knowledge on common abbreviations used in prescriptions and their meanings. This quiz covers various instructions and interpretations related to medication administration. Perfect for pharmacy students or healthcare professionals looking to refresh their knowledge.