Prescription Basics Quiz

Prescription Basics

• A prescription is a medication order written by a doctor, dentist, or veterinarian to supply a medicine, dressing, or surgical instrument to a patient.
• A prescription includes specific information to ensure the medication is correctly dispensed.

Parts of a Prescription

• Prescriber Office Information: Includes the hospital's name, department, and prescriber's name.
• Patient Information: Includes full name, address, age, and sex of the patient. Age is crucial for children to calculate appropriate dosages. If full name and address aren't present, the pharmacist should ask for them.
• Date: The date the prescription is written and when it's received by the pharmacy. This helps determine the time elapsed between writing and filling the prescription. This helps the pharmacist determine if the prescription is still relevant.
• Superscription: The symbol Rx, often associated with the Latin word "recipe," meaning "to take."
• Inscription: The names and strength of medicines to be supplied. Medicines can be official preparations or proprietary products with the needed amount. Some may be special formulas with ingredients and their amounts. Compounded prescriptions involve mixing ingredients by the pharmacist.
• Subscription: Directions for the pharmacist on preparing the prescription. Dosage form and the number of doses.
• Signatura: Directions for the patient. This includes the quantity of the medication or number of dosage units to administer. Also details timing and method of administration (if applicable.).
• Prescriber's Signature and License Number: Authenticates the prescription, preventing fraudulent prescriptions.
• Special Labelling and Refills: Specifies refills and any other necessary instructions.

Classification of Medications

• Prescription Only Medicine (POM): Requires a doctor's or health professional's prescription to be dispensed from a pharmacy.
• Pharmacy (P): Intermediate level of control; sold in pharmacies under pharmacist supervision.
• General Sales List (GSL): Can be sold in retail stores like supermarkets or vending machines.

Common Abbreviations

• ac (before meals)

• bid (twice a day)

• prn (as needed)

• q3h (every three hours)

• qd (every day)

• syrup, tablet, capsule, solution, ointment, cream, suppositories, suspension

• 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

• 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, under the tongue

Dispensing Process and Procedures

• Dispensing involves preparing and providing medicine to a named person based on a prescription.
• Correct dispensing procedures: ensure a dated prescription with accurate patient information, never dispense from an unauthorised prescriber, check with container labels and expiration dates.

Labelling of Dispensed Products

• Labeling: A written, printed, or graphic matter on any medicine or container, including patient name, medicine name and strength, instructions, and refills
• Purpose of Labelling: Describing the product, preventing errors, ensuring optimal treatment, managing product handling and storage; tracing the product in case issues arise.

Legal Requirements for Dispensing

• Legal requirements on labels: Include patient details, the pharmacy's information, date of dispensing, medicine details, instructions for use, important precautions (e.g., "For external use only").