Prescribing Medications: Generic vs Brand Names

A prescription must include the name, address, telephone, and age of the patient.

Prescriber's initials should be included in a prescription.

Non-adherence to treatment always results in serious consequences.

Body weight does not influence drug responses in individuals.

The elderly are more sensitive to drugs due to organ regeneration.

Gender does not affect how some drugs are metabolized.

Generic substitution by the pharmacist is always allowed.

The strength of a drug indicates how many grams each tablet or milliliter of fluid should contain.

Abbreviations should be avoided in prescriptions to prevent misunderstanding.

It is the legal duty of the pharmacist to write legibly on prescriptions.

Prescriptions should only use standard abbreviations known to the patient.

'As required' in a prescription should indicate the maximum dose and maximum dose interval.

It is acceptable for a doctor to not inform patients of all side effects of a drug as long as they mention the most dangerous ones.

Patients should always be asked to repeat in their own words some of the core information to ensure understanding.

Having too many patients is considered a valid excuse by a court of law for not informing and instructing patients correctly.

Drug Interaction occurs when the pharmacological action of a drug is not affected by the concomitant use of another drug.

Improving adherence involves providing patients with information, instructions, and warnings to help them accept and follow the treatment effectively.

The prime responsibility of ensuring that treatment is understood by the patient lies with the pharmacist.