Prescription – Definition, Parts and Handling
Definition:
A prescription is a written order from a registered medical practitioner or other properly licensed practitioners such as dentists or veterinarians, directed to a pharmacist to compound and dispense a specific medication for a patient. It includes directions for the pharmacist on the type and quantity of formulation to prepare, as well as instructions for the patient on drug administration.
The prescription is a vital communication medium combining the skills of the physician and pharmacist to provide patient treatment. Typically written in English, prescriptions often use Latin abbreviations to save time, so pharmacists should be familiar with these common terms.
Parts of a Prescription:
A typical prescription consists of the following parts:
- Date: Helps track prescribing and dispensing dates, especially important for narcotics to prevent misuse.
- Patient Information: Name, age, sex, and address serve to identify the patient and ensure proper dosing, especially in children.
- Superscription: Represented by the symbol Rx (from Latin “recipe,” meaning “Take thou”), traditionally invoking healing.
- Inscription: Main part listing names and quantities of prescribed ingredients, either official or proprietary. It may be divided into base (active drug), adjuvants (enhancers or palatability agents), and vehicle (solvent or volume increaser).
- Subscription: Directions to the pharmacist on how to prepare the medication and number of doses to dispense.
- Signatura (Sig): Directions for the patient regarding drug administration such as dosage, frequency, route, and special instructions. These are transferred to the medication label.
- Renewal Instructions: Specifies if and how many times the prescription can be renewed; important for controlling narcotics misuse.
- Prescriber Information: Signature, address, and registration number of the prescriber to authenticate the prescription and prevent misuse.
Handling of Prescription:
Pharmacists follow these steps for safe and accurate dispensing:
- Receiving: The pharmacist personally receives the prescription, maintaining a professional demeanor.
- Reading and Checking: Verify legality (written and signed by registered practitioner), legibility (clear handwriting), and completeness (patient, physician, and product details).
- Collecting and Weighing Materials: Gather all materials beforehand; check labels thrice during the process (collection, measurement, replacement).
- Compounding, Labeling, and Packaging: Compound one prescription at a time on a clean surface. Follow prescriber directions or pharmacopoeial methods. Properly label and explain usage to the patient.
Sources of Errors in Prescriptions:
- Abbreviations: Misinterpretation of abbreviated terms can cause errors (e.g., SSKI for Saturated Solution of Potassium Iodide).
- Drug Names: Similar sounding/looking drug names may be confused (e.g., Althrocin vs. Eltroxin).
- Strength: Dispensing drugs without specified strength can be hazardous (e.g., Paracetamol 500 mg).
- Dosage Form: Indicate the intended dosage form clearly (tablet, liquid, injection, suppository).
- Dose: Unusual doses should be verified with the prescriber, especially sustained-release forms.
- Instructions: Clear directions for quantity, frequency, timing, and route must be given for patient compliance.
- Incompatibilities: Pharmacists must check for harmful drug interactions or interactions with food (e.g., avoid tetracycline with milk or antacids).
Detailed Notes:
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