PRESCRIPTIONS

LABELLING
LATIN TERMS
BPOP1. 2012.03.22. Lectures 7. & 8.

The Prescription

Is a pre-printed document
Can be Handwritten or Computer printed
Meaning: "pre-" ("before") and "script" (written"),
refers to the fact that the prescription is an order that
must be written down before a compound drug can
be prepared
is a regulated communication between prescriber and
pharmacist
is a written order for compounding, dispensing, and
administering drugs to a specific client or patient
once signed by the physician it becomes a legal
document

Contents and format of the prescription

Identification of the document:

Identification of the prescriber:

name and address of the prescribing provider

registration number of prescriber
Signature

Identification of the patient

identifies the document as a prescription (prescription code, number)

time limit
term "recipe = command "Take...."

name
address, age
signature

Identification of the drug and its use

preparation, dosing, use

the pharmacist is instructed to label the medication
instructions on whether the prescriber will allow the pharmacist to substitute a generic
version of the drug

Parts of the Medication Prescription

Main sections:

Superscription = the heading where the symbol Rx (an

abbreviation for recipe, the Latin for take thou ) is found
Inscription = the body of the prescription (name and quantity of
the chief ingredients of the prescription and the dose dosage
form)
Subscription = gives specific directions for the pharmacist on how
to compound the medication, in Latin usually
Signatura/ transcription = gives instructions to the patient on
how, how much, when, and how long the drug is to be taken
name of the prescriber
date
patient information is followed by the superscription, which is
followed by the inscription, then the subscription. Next follows the
signatura.

US Prescription

Hungarian prescription
Identification of
the prescriber

Dr. Fittler Andrs

Department of
Pharmaceutics
Fittler Andrs
Pecs, Honvd u. 3.

Superscription = Rp.
Inscription
Subscription

Signatura

037331381

1980.08.26.

2012.03.02.

Tabl. Augmentin DUO 1g

Scat .orig. No. I (unam)
D.S.: 2x1

Identification of
the patient

Date of prescribing
Expiry 90 days after
Validity:
Stamp and signature
of the doctor
Accuracy is emphasized
Roman symbol + Arabic number

NHS prescription UK

Errors occur. Errors can be fatal!

Most errors can not be corrected, only prevented!

It is a great responsibility of the pharmacist.
Prevention methods:

CONSTANT CHECKING
Double check regularly
Stop if you are uncertain about something

PRACTICE PROCEDURES
Set up your own, personal procedure
Try to do a process always similarly

TRY TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS

Concentrate only on one thing/patient
If you are nervous or excited, slow down or rest

Pharmacy Practice Procedure

1.
2.
3.

Read the prescription - READ

Find out information - THINK
Carry out procedures - ACT

Procedures for checking prescriptions 1

Read the prescription

1.

1.
2.

3.
4.
5.
2.
3.

Is the prescription legal?

Who is it for?
Name of the preparation?
What quantity is to be dispensed?
Instructions for the patient?

Find out information

Carry out procedures

Procedures for checking prescriptions 2

Read the prescription
Find out information

1.
2.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
3.

What is it?
How does it act?
How is it used?
Are the prescribers instructions correct?
How is it prepared?
What advice does the patient require?

Carry out procedures

Procedures for checking prescriptions 3

Read the prescription
Find out information
Carry out procedures

1.
2.
3.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.

Make the preparation

Pack into the appropriate container
Label the container
Hand over to the patient
Give the appropriate advice
Archive the prescription

Handling of the prescription by the

pharmacist

pharmacist may write certain information right on

the prescription
write the date the medication was dispensed
pharmacist should sign the prescription
US: dosing information is printed onto labels and
the labels affixed right onto the prescription
As a legal document, some jurisdictions mandate the
archiving of the original paper prescription in the
pharmacy

Who can write prescriptions?

In Hungary
Physicians

(medical doctors)
Veterinarians
Dentists

In United Kingdom
Physicians

(medical doctors)
Veterinarians
Dentists
Certain qualified nurses

It is estimated that 3,9 billion prescriptions were

written in the United States in 2008.
3.900.000.000

/ year in the USA

In the US, medical practitioners' sloppy handwriting

kills more than 7,000 people annually, according to a
July 2006 report from the National Academies of Science's Institute of
Medicine.

Labelling of medicines

Labelling of dispensed medicines

Two main functions of labelling:

Identify

the contents
Enable patients to use their medication the most
effective way

What kind of labels are there?

Pharma

industry products

Factory

packaged (original brand container)

Re-packaged for dispensing in pharmacy
Pharmacy
Made

compounded preparations

by the pharmacist in the pharmacy

Standard requirements for labelling of

dispensed medicines

Information on label must be legible

Necessary details:
Name of preparation
Quantity ( doses, ml, etc.)
Instructions for the patient
Patients name
Date of dispensing
Name, address of pharmacy
Storage
Batch number
Expiry date

Labelling for
topical or systemic use in Hungary

In Hungary each medication

manufactured in a community
pharmacy is labeled with different
colour according to its use.
RED

external/topical use
(cream, ointment, nasal dropps,
etc)

BLUE

- internal/systemic use
(syrups, tablets, suppositories, etc)

Information

No patient should leave the pharmacy without

knowing, how much , how often and how to use his
or her medication!
The prescribers instructions should be translated
into an appropriate form/language.
Giving information and instructions
WRITTEN
ORAL

LABELLING
- COUNSELLING

Latin terms and abbreviations

Use of Latin terms persist in prescribing around the
world.
The knowledge of the following terms and
abbreviations is essential for everyday work.

Dosage forms
Latin name
Capsula
Cremor
Guttae
Oculentum
Pasta
Pulvis
Unguentum

Abbreviation
Caps.
Crem.
Gutt.
Oculent.
Past.
Pulv.
Ung.

English name
Capsule
Cream
Drops
Eye ointment
Paste
Powder
Ointment

Terms used in foreign prescriptions (US, UK)

Abbreviation Latin term

English equivalent

a.c.
b.i.d. (b.d.)
p.c.
p.r.n.
o.d.
q.i.d.
ss.
t.i.d.

Before food
Twice daily
After food
When required
Every day
Four times daily
Half
Three times daily

ante cibum
bis in die (bis die)
post cibum
pro re nata
omni die
quarter in die
semis
ter in die

Roman symbol and corresponding latin

names
Roman
symbol

Arabic
number

Cardinal
number

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18

unus, -a, -um

duo, -ae, -o
tres, tria
quattuor
quinque
sex
septem
octo
novem
decem
undecim
duodecim
tredecim
quattuordecim
quindecim
sedecim
septemdecim
dodeviginti

I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
XIV
XV
XVI
XVII
XVIII

19

undeviginti

XIX

Arabic number

Cardinal
number

Roman
symbol

20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1000

viginti
triginta
quadraginta
quinquaginta
sexaginta
septuaginta
octoginta
nonaginta
centum
mille

XX
XXX
XL
L
LX
LXX
LXXX
XC
C
M