INTERPRETATION OF A PRESCRIPTION

INTERPRETATION OF A PRESCRIPTION

             The ophthalmic medical assistant should know how to read the doctor's prescription for medication in order to call it in to the pharmacy when requested and to refer accurately to the medications listed in a patient's medical record. Table represents some of the more common symbols and abbreviations(mostly of Latin words or phrases) used by doctors to write prescriptions. The ophthalmic medical assistant should become familiar with them.
Sample prescription will have a pad printed with the doctor's name, the doctor may include the following information on the medical prescription:

   1. The patient's name and address, and the date of the prescription.

   2. The name of the drug and its concentration or dose.

  3. The amount of the drug to be given to the patient(the subscription), usually written beside the symbol "M" or "Mit" (for mitte, meaning send) or "dispi" (for dispense), which applies to the quantity of drug.

  4. The directions to the pharmacist about what to type on the label of the drug, usually written beside the abbreviation "S" or "Sig", which comes from the Latin signa(meaning mark, and thus in English label).

  5. The signature of the doctor.

  6. Sometimes an indication to the pharmacist that the prescription can be refilled. For eg. "Repeat X 2".

  7. Sometimes an indication to the pharmacist that the name of the medication should be typed on the label.

  8. Sometimes the doctor's medical license number and DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) number, especially if the prescription is for a controlled substance such as a narcotic.

  9. Prescriptions for some controlled drugs cannot be phoned into the pharmacy by the ophthalmic medical assistant. Additionally, special care should be taken in the office to keep prescription pads in a safe place where they cannot be taken or used by unauthorized individuals.

ABBREVIATION
OR SYMBOL                  MEANING
< Less than
> Greater than
ac (ante cibum) before meals
bid (bis in die) twice a day
dispi dispense
g gram
gt,gtt (gutta, guttae) drop, drops
h (hora) hour
hs (hora somni) at bedtime
M or Mit                        (mitte) send
mg milligram
non rep (non repetatur) do not repeat
OD (oculus dexter) right eye
OS (oculus sinister) left eye
OU (oculus uterque) both eyes, considered separately
pc (post cibum) after meals
po (per os) by mouth, orally
prn (pro re nata) as needed
qd (quaque die) every day
qh (quaque hora) every hour
qid (quater in die) 4 times a day
ql (quantum libet) as much as desired
qqh or q4h (quaque quarta hora) every 4 hours
Rx (recipe) prescription
S or Sig                          (signa) label
Sol solution
tid (ter in die) 3 times a day
tsp teaspoon
ung (unguentum) ointment