This document discusses the definition and components of a prescription. A prescription is a written order from a medical practitioner to a pharmacist containing instructions for a specific medication for a patient. The key parts of a prescription include: the date, patient information, superscription, inscription, subscription, signa, and prescriber information. The inscription contains the names and quantities of ingredients, including the base, adjuvant, and vehicle. The subscription provides instructions for preparing and dispensing the prescription. Modern prescribing methods and sources of errors in prescriptions are also outlined.

1. Miss. Pallavi M. Sangave
Shri. Balasaheb Mane Shikshan Prasarak Mandal Ambap
Womens College of Pharmacy, Peth Vadgaon
Kolhapur 416112
PRESCRIPTION

2. DEFINITION:
 A prescription is a written order from a registered medicinal
practitioner to pharmacist to compounding and dispenses a
specific medication for the patient.

3. PARTS OF PRESCRIPTION
1. Date
2. Name, age, sex and address of the patient
3. Superscription
4. Inscription
5. Subscription
6. Signa. or signature
7. Renewal instruction
8. Signature, address and registration number of the
prescriber.

4. 1. Date: -
 It helps a pharmacist to find out the date of prescribing and date of
prescription for filling the prescription.
 The prescription which prescribe narcotic or other habit forming
drug, must bear the date, so as to avoid the misuse of prescription if
it is presented by the patient, a number of times for dispensing.

5. 2. Name, age, sex and address of the patient: -
Name, age, sex & address of the patient must be written in the
prescription because it serves to identify the prescription.
In case, if any of this information is missing in the prescription, the
same may be included by the pharmacist after proper enquiry from
the patient.
Also used in dose calculation of children.

6. 3. Superscription: -
 It is represented by Rx symbol. It is Latin word. It
means you take. In older days, the symbol was
considered to be originated from the sign of Jupiter,
god of healing.
 This symbol was employed by the ancient in
requesting god for the quick recovery of the patient

7. 4. Inscription: -
 this is the main part of the prescription order, contains the
names and quantities of the prescribed ingredients.
 The name of each ingredient is written on a separate line
along with its quantity.
 Inscription should be divided into 3 subparts

8. 1) Base: - the active medicaments which are intended to
produced the therapeutic effect.
2) Adjuvant: - it is included either to enhance the action of
medicament or to improve the palatability of the preparation.
3) Vehicle: - it is included in the prescription either to dissolve
the solid ingredients or to increase the volume of the
preparation.

9. 5. Subscription: -
This comprises direction to the pharmacist for preparing
the prescription and number of doses to be dispensed.

10. 6. Signatura or Signa
 This consists of the direction to be given to the patient
regarding the administration of drug.
 It is usually written as ‘Sig’ on the prescription.
 The instructions given in the prescription are required to
be transferred to the container in which the medicament
is to be dispensed, so that the patient can follow it.

11. The instruction may include:
i. The quantity to be taken or amount to be used.
ii. The frequency and timing of administration or application.
iii. The rout of administration.
iv. The special instruction such as dilution direction

12. 7. Renewal instruction: -
 The prescriber indicate on every prescription order, whether
it may be renewed and if so, how many times.
 It is very important particularly in the prescription
containing the narcotic and habit forming drugs to prevent
its misuse.

13. 8. Signature, address and registration number of
the prescriber: -
 The prescription must bear the signature of the prescriber
along with its registration number and address.
 It is very important particularly in the prescription
containing the narcotic and habit forming drugs to prevent
its misuse.

15. HANDALING OF PRESCRIPTION
1. Receiving
2. Reading and checking
3. Collecting and weighting the materials
4. Compounding, labeling and packaging

16. 1. Receiving: -
Pharmacist should himself receive the prescription. While
receiving he should not change his facial expression.
2. Reading and checking: -
on receiving a prescription, always check it that it is written
in proper format.
A prescription should always be screened behind the counter.
In case of any doubt regarding the prescription ingredients or
directions, the pharmacist should consult the other pharmacist
or prescriber.

17. Collecting & Weighing the material: Before weighing the
required materials for it, should collected on left hand side
of the balance. After weighing the material it should be
transfer to right hand side of the balance. This gives a
check of ingredients which have been weighed.

18. 4. Compounding, labeling and packaging: -
compounding should be carried out in a neat place.
All the equipment etc... Required should be
thoroughly cleaned and dried. Only 1 prescription
should be compounded at one time.

19. MODERN METHODS OF
PRESCRIBING

20. DISADVANTAGES
1. It is cheaper to prescribe the drugs by its official
name.
2. It becomes difficult for a pharmacist to dispense
the substitute of the drug which is available in the
stock.

21. ADVANTAGES
1. It’s easy to remember proprietary because they are very catchy.
2. It is easy to communicate with the patient.
3. The continuity can be maintained by prescribing the same
proprietary name every time.
4. The bioavailability of drugs change with the change of adjutants
used in drugs formulation manufacture by different
manufactures. So only those proprietary drugs can be prescribed
which have a better bioavailability.

22. SOURCES OF ERROR IN PRESCRIPTION
1. Abbreviation
2. Name of the drug
3. Strength of preparation
4. Dosage form of the drug prescribed
5. Dose
6. Instructions for the patient
7. Incompatibilities