Principles of Prescription Writing

Contents of the Prescription

• Directions for use
• Write out in full English or use Latin abbreviations
• Latin abbreviations – more convenient, more potential for mistakes
• Avoid Dangerous Abbreviations
• Provide clear and specific directions

• Should be clearly indicated
• Atenolol 100mg once daily
• Amoxicillin 250mg t.d.s.
• - Tell the patient what you mean be these times a day/ four times a day!

Contents of the Prescription

• Determine preference for brand or generic product
• Brand vs. generic
• Is Brand always better? NO
• If practitioner prefers brand, must indicate in print, - do not substitute

Sample Prescription-

Contents of the Prescription

• Indication
• Encouraged, seldom practiced
• Helps confirm appropriateness of medication
• Reminds patient of drug’s purpose
• Facilitates communication between health care providers

Prescription Formatting

• Heading
• Body
• Closing

Current Prescription Formatting

• Closing
• Prescriber’s signature
• Refill instructions
• Generic substitution instructions

• 5

Contents of the Prescription

• Refills
• To avoid interrupting maintenance therapy, practitioners can authorize refills on a written prescription
• Refills authorized are valid only for life of the prescription – 1 year

Controlled Substances

• Definition - a prescription drug whose use and distribution is tightly controlled because of its abuse potential or risk
• Regulation is more strict

• Prescription for controlled drugs must(e.g.morphine)
• Be completely written in the prescriber’s hand writing in ink
• Be signed & dated
• Carry the prescribers’ address
• Carry the name & address of the patient
• State the form of the drug
• State the total quantity of the drug or the number of dose units to be disposed in both words & figures
• State the exact size of each dose in both words & figure.

CASE #1

• Poor handwriting contributed to a medication dispensing error that resulted in a patient with depression receiving the antianxiety agent Buspar 10 mg instead of Prozac 10 mg

CASE #2

• A hypertensive patient accidentally received Vantin 200 mg instead of Vasotec 20 mg when a pharmacist misread this prescription

• SUMMARY

MAXIMIZE PATIENT SAFETY

• ALWAYS write legibly.
• ALWAYS space out words and numbers to avoid confusion.
• ALWAYS complete medication orders.
• AVOID abbreviations.
• When in doubt, ask to verify.

Contents of the Prescription

• Date of the order
• Patient Name and Address
• Name of the drug
• Strength of the drug
• Quantity of the drug
• Directions for use
• Practitioner Name, Address, Telephone number

• Model Prescription
• Name: ABC 2) Date: 31.07.07
• 3) Age: 70yrs. 4) Sex: male
• Diagnosis: Idiopathic Parkinsonism
• Rx
• 9) Tab Levodopa 100mg
• Tab Carbidopa 25mg
• 2 tablets by mouth 3 times daily for one month .
• Take with food.
• Dr. Sathya MD
• Assistant Prof. Neurology,
• Reg. No. 34523