Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main purpose of a prescription?
What is the main purpose of a prescription?
- To define a medication's side effects
- To inform patients about drug interactions
- To summarize a patient's medical history
- To provide a written order for medication dispensing (correct)
Which element is NOT part of a standard prescription?
Which element is NOT part of a standard prescription?
- Name and address of the patient
- Signature of the prescriber
- Expiration date of the medication (correct)
- Date of the prescription
What does the superscription in a prescription represent?
What does the superscription in a prescription represent?
- The dosage information for the patient
- The identification information of the patient
- The instruction to the pharmacist, represented by Rx (correct)
- The manufacturer's details of the medication
Why is the date important on a prescription for narcotic medications?
Why is the date important on a prescription for narcotic medications?
What is the function of the inscription in a prescription?
What is the function of the inscription in a prescription?
What information is typically included in the prescription regarding renewal instructions?
What information is typically included in the prescription regarding renewal instructions?
Which abbreviation in a prescription indicates 'take'?
Which abbreviation in a prescription indicates 'take'?
Why is it important for a pharmacist to know Latin terms used in prescriptions?
Why is it important for a pharmacist to know Latin terms used in prescriptions?
What does the base in a prescription primarily refer to?
What does the base in a prescription primarily refer to?
Which component of a prescription is included to enhance the action of a medicament?
Which component of a prescription is included to enhance the action of a medicament?
What is the role of the vehicle in a prescription?
What is the role of the vehicle in a prescription?
What does the term 'Signa' or 'Signatura' in a prescription refer to?
What does the term 'Signa' or 'Signatura' in a prescription refer to?
Why is the renewal instruction important in a prescription?
Why is the renewal instruction important in a prescription?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the prescription according to the content?
Which of the following is NOT a part of the prescription according to the content?
What must be included in a prescription to identify the prescriber?
What must be included in a prescription to identify the prescriber?
What has changed in modern prescriptions regarding compounding?
What has changed in modern prescriptions regarding compounding?
What should the pharmacist explain while delivering a prescription to the patient?
What should the pharmacist explain while delivering a prescription to the patient?
Why is it recommended to prescribe drugs by their official name?
Why is it recommended to prescribe drugs by their official name?
What is a major disadvantage of prescribing proprietary drug names?
What is a major disadvantage of prescribing proprietary drug names?
Which type of prescription is meant specifically for inpatients?
Which type of prescription is meant specifically for inpatients?
What is emphasized as an important practice when dispensing prescriptions?
What is emphasized as an important practice when dispensing prescriptions?
How should externally used medicines like lotions and liniments be packaged?
How should externally used medicines like lotions and liniments be packaged?
What is a recommended care practice concerning the dispensing balance?
What is a recommended care practice concerning the dispensing balance?
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of prescribing by proprietary name?
Which of the following is NOT an advantage of prescribing by proprietary name?
What is the first step a pharmacist should take when handling a prescription?
What is the first step a pharmacist should take when handling a prescription?
When should a pharmacist consult another pharmacist or prescriber?
When should a pharmacist consult another pharmacist or prescriber?
How many times should the label of every stock bottle be read to avoid errors?
How many times should the label of every stock bottle be read to avoid errors?
What is essential to do before starting the compounding of a prescription?
What is essential to do before starting the compounding of a prescription?
What type of paper should be used for labeling containers?
What type of paper should be used for labeling containers?
What should a pharmacist do with the filled containers after compounding?
What should a pharmacist do with the filled containers after compounding?
Why is it important for a pharmacist to avoid changing their facial expression when receiving a prescription?
Why is it important for a pharmacist to avoid changing their facial expression when receiving a prescription?
What is a recommended practice regarding the order of compounding prescriptions?
What is a recommended practice regarding the order of compounding prescriptions?
What is a common issue that can arise from the use of abbreviations in prescriptions?
What is a common issue that can arise from the use of abbreviations in prescriptions?
Which drug names are often confused due to their similarity?
Which drug names are often confused due to their similarity?
Why is it important for the prescriber to specify the strength of a medication?
Why is it important for the prescriber to specify the strength of a medication?
Which aspect of a prescription is NOT crucial for avoiding errors?
Which aspect of a prescription is NOT crucial for avoiding errors?
What should pharmacists do when faced with unusually high or low doses prescribed?
What should pharmacists do when faced with unusually high or low doses prescribed?
What can be a consequence of incompatible medications being prescribed for the same patient?
What can be a consequence of incompatible medications being prescribed for the same patient?
Which of the following is a critical instruction often overlooked in prescriptions?
Which of the following is a critical instruction often overlooked in prescriptions?
What is the purpose of checking for pharmaceutical incompatibilities in a prescription?
What is the purpose of checking for pharmaceutical incompatibilities in a prescription?
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Study Notes
Prescription Overview
- A prescription is a written directive from a licensed medical practitioner for a pharmacist to prepare and dispense medication.
- It includes instructions for drug preparation and dosage for the patient.
- Commonly written in English, prescriptions often incorporate Latin terms and abbreviations.
Key Parts of a Prescription
- Date: Indicates when the prescription was written; crucial for scheduling refills, especially for narcotics.
- Patient Information: Must include name, age, sex, and address to identify the recipient and assist in dosage calculations for children.
- Superscription (Rx): The symbol "Rx" means "you take," historically linked to requests for recovery.
- Inscription: Lists names and quantities of ingredients, including:
- Base: Active medication for therapeutic effect.
- Adjuvant: Enhances effectiveness or taste.
- Vehicle: Helps dissolve solids or increase volume.
- Subscription: Directions to the pharmacist about preparing the medication and the number of doses to dispense.
- Signa (Sig): Instructions for the patient on how to use the medication, including dosage quantity, frequency, route, and special instructions.
- Renewal Instructions: Indicates whether prescription refills are permitted and how many times.
- Prescriber Details: Must include the prescriber’s signature, address, and registration number to prevent misuse.
Handling Prescriptions
- Receiving: Pharmacists should personally receive prescriptions without displaying confusion or surprise.
- Reading and Checking: Verify prescription format and consult if there are any doubts about ingredients or directions.
- Collecting and Weighing: Gather all materials needed and double-check measurements to avoid errors.
- Compounding, Labeling, and Packaging: Conduct in a clean area with proper labeling and quality materials.
Modern Prescribing Practices
- Majority of drugs are available as ready-made formulations, prescribed by official rather than proprietary names.
- Advantages of using proprietary names include better patient recall and communication.
- Disadvantages include potential prescription difficulties due to variations in formulations affecting bioavailability.
Care Required in Dispensing
- Keep the prescription visible while retrieving medications to minimize mistakes.
- Ensure scales and dispensing equipment are clean and properly managed.
- Use correct labeling, especially for external medications.
Common Sources of Error in Prescriptions
- Abbreviations: Care in interpretation is crucial to avoid misdispensing.
- Drug Names: Similar-sounding or looking drug names can lead to mistakes (e.g., Digitoxin vs. Digoxin).
- Strength of Preparation: Must be specified to avoid confusion with available forms.
- Dosage Forms: Different forms can lead to errors if not properly indicated.
- Dosages: Carefully evaluate unusually high or low doses and consult pediatric guidelines when necessary.
- Patient Instructions: Incomplete or omitted guidelines can cause misuse or misunderstanding.
- Incompatibilities: Check for pharmaceutical or therapeutic interactions between prescribed drugs.
Common Latin Terms Used in Prescriptions
- Auristille: Eardrops
- Capsula: Capsule
- Cataplasma: Poultice
- Charta: Powder
- Collutorium: Mouthwash
- Collyrium: Eyewash
- Cremor: Cream
- Emulsio: Emulsion
- Haustous: Drought
- Injectis: Injection
- Insufflatio: Insufflation
- Linctus: Cough syrup
- Linimentum: Liniment
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