Pharmaceutics Lecture Notes PDF

# PHARMACEUTICS - Lec 1 ## The Prescription - Prescription can be defined simply as "an order for supplying medication". - This order is performed through two systems: 1. National Health Service (NHS) medical practitioner. 2. Private prescription. ## The Applications - The applications o...

# PHARMACEUTICS - Lec 1 ## The Prescription - Prescription can be defined simply as "an order for supplying medication". - This order is performed through two systems: 1. National Health Service (NHS) medical practitioner. 2. Private prescription. ## The Applications - The applications of these two systems are depending on the type, size or amount of medical supplied in the various countries. - In the first system, the government of that country such a UK will be responsible for the cost of prescription of the patient in general. - In the second system, the patient must pay the full cost of its medication when provided with private prescription. ## Requirements for prescription 1. It should be written in ink or similar, to be not indelible. 2. Must be dated. 3. Contain the full name and address of the patient. 4. Should be singed by the prescriber (by ink). 5. The birth and age of patient should be preferably stated specially in infant and children. ### Points to note to avoid confusing the reader of prescription: 1. Most measures and weights should be abbreviated, e.g.: - gram stated as (g) - milligram as (mg) - milliliter as (ml) - grain as (gr) 2. The unnecessary using of some points, terms or numbers should be avoided, example: 3mg is used instead of 3.0mg. 3. The quantity of the preparation must be stated, e.g. prepare 10ml of nasal drop, 20ml of skin lotion. 4. The names of drugs should be written completely and clearly. 5. The period of treatment should be stated including the number of days for full therapy, quantity of drugs and medicines to be supplied. 6. The direction for use of the medicaments. 7. Doctor's name, sign must be printed at the bottom of prescription. 8. The advices and warnings for the patient should be stated. 9. The direction which state that must be freshly prepared" indicate that pharmaceutical formulation must be prepared 24 hours before use. 10. Other advices by the prescriber should be given to the patient. When the therapy has sedative effect such as antihistaminic drugs the patient is warned not to drive a vehicle or a car. 11. The required strength must be specified or fixed in the prescription. 12. The prescription must be completed from all the articles required; the pharmacist must not dispense an incomplete prescription. 13. When prescription do not state the word "to be repeated" this indicates clearly that such medication should be supplied once only. ## Articles of Prescription For studying of prescription easily, we can divide it to the following main articles: ### **1. Super prescription;** - It constitutes the heading of the prescription. - It can be represented by the symbol (Rx). - This symbol is derived from the Latin term "Recipe", means ((take this medical order and supply medicaments according to it)). ### **2. Inscription;** - Includes various medicaments with their quantities. ### **3. Subscription;** - Including the dosage form, whether the medication is in the form of liquid, powder, emulsion....etc. ### **4. Signature;** - It means ((let it to labeled)) it is expressed as (Sig). - Includes instruction for use; route of administration and the dose required, time of taking the medicines, the period of therapy and whether there is necessity for repeating or not, the part of the body to which the preparation is applied, especially when this preparation is for external use. ## Other Informations include: - Name of the prescriber - Name of the patient - Date of dispensing the prescription. - The amount of medication to be supplied or dispensed to the patient. ## Example of private prescription The following diagram represents an example of private prescription: | | | | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | **The prescription usually** | **Dr. Ali** | **Mrs. Zaid** | | **written in English language, ** | AIHHHHH building | Al-ZZZZZstreet | | **although some of its articles** | Tel. 07700000000 | VVVVVVV | | **may be written in Latin,** | **1/12/2024** | | | **especially the numbers and** | **Rx** | | | **signature.** | **Tab. Eltroxin 100 mcg** | **Sig. 200 mcg daily, supplied for 4 weeks** | | | | **Repeat** | ## Repeatable Prescription - The prescriber can indicate one or more item in the prescription which can be repeated by the patient, unless the drug causes dependence or addiction or possibility of misuse. - If the prescriber writes the word "repeat" on the prescription, medicines can be dispensed on two occasions, the first occasion is the first dispensing, while the second is the repeatable. - If the number of repeats are specified, for example "repeat six times", this means that such prescription must be administered or supplied seven times in total. - However, the prescription for oral contraceptives, represents one of the exceptions.