INTRODUCTION OF PRESCRIPTION AND IT'S PARTS

📚 Objective:

After completing this, the student shall be able to -

• Describe the parts of prescription with modern prescription format

• Explain the procedure for handling the prescription

• Identify the errors in the prescription

📚 Introduction:

“Prescription is a written instruction or direction from a physician, dentist, veterinarian or any other licensed medical practitioner to pharmacist to compound and dispense specific medication for the patient”.

📚 Parts of prescription:

Parts of prescription are generally written in typical format.

1. Date

2. Name, age, sex and address of the patient

3. Superscription

4. Inscription

5. Subscription

6. Signatura

7. Renewal or refill instructions

8. Signature, address and registration number of the prescriber.

1. Date: It helps the pharmacist to identify the date of prescribing. Habit forming drugs,

prescription must contain the date, so that avoid the misuse of prescription.

2. Name, age sex and address of the patient:

• It helps to identify the prescription.

• Name is mentioned to avoid the possibility of error of giving the medicaments to wrong person

• In case if any information is missing in the prescription, same may be included after enquiry from the patient.

• Age and sex of the patient especially for the children helps the pharmacist to check the prescribed dose for medication.

3. Superscription: It is represented by a symbol “Rx” (sign Rj) which is written before

writing the prescription. R- Abbreviated word from Latin “Recipe” means ‘You take’.

This symbol was originated from the sign of Jupiter. Jupiter is a god of healing. Rx -

Requesting the god for quick recovery of patient.

4. Inscription:

Inscription is the main part of the prescription.

It contains

a. The name of the ingredients

b. Quantities of each ingredients

• Written in English and Latin language.

• Extreme care should be taken from the pharmacist.

The inscription has

A) Base: The active ingredient

B) Adjuants: It enhances the action of medicament or to improve the palatability of the preparation.

C) Vehicle: Solvent- Dissolve or increase the volume of the prescription.

Now a day’s compounding of prescription is eliminated only main ingredient or brand name

and quantity is written in the prescription.

5. Subscription:

Direction to the Pharmacist for preparing the prescription -

• Number of doses to be dispensed.

• Dosage form

• Quantity

• Manner of sending, Eg: Fiat mistura ( Latin Terms)

Now a day’s this part is omitted.

6. Signatura: (“Sig”)

Instruction/ directions to given to patient.

The direction contain instructions

• Quantity to be taken and amount to be used.

• Method of administration or application

• Frequency or time of administration

E.g.: At bed time

Three times a day

Special instruction- dilution, vehicle, and application; applied or inserted.

7. Renewal instructions (Refill):

The prescriber indicate on every prescription order, whether it may be renewed or how many

times. It is very important particularly in the prescription containing Narcotic drugs and

other habit forming drugs to prevent its misuse.

8. Signature, address and registered number of the prescriber:

The prescription must bear the signature of the prescriber along with its registration number and address.

Modern Prescription format is given below in the images -

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