A prescription is a written order from a medical practitioner to a pharmacist that includes instructions for dispensing medication to a patient. It contains key identifying information about the patient and prescriber, as well as the medication name, quantity, and directions for use. Prescriptions have three main parts - the superscription which contains the symbol Rx, the inscription which lists the medication and amount, and the subscription which provides instructions for the pharmacist and patient. Prescriptions can be for medications to be taken by mouth, applied to the eyes or skin, and come in various forms for inpatients, outpatients, or upon discharge from the hospital.

1. J.S.SINGH INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY
TOPIC:PRESCRIPTION
Mr. RAMNIVAS (RAMAN)
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
M.PHARM(PHARMACEUTICS)

2. prescription
A prescription is written communication from a
registered medical practitioner (doctor) to a
pharmacist including information about dispensing
of medication
Or
Prescription is order written from a physician ,
dentist or any veterinary, surgeon for the supply of
medicine, dressing, or surgical appliances to the
patient.

3. prescription consist following parts
1.Date, name, address, of prescriber(doctor).
2.Name, address, age, and sex of patient.
3.The superscription.
4.The inscription.
5.Subscription .
6.The signature.
7.Renewal .
8.Name and signature of Doctor.
The name, address and age of patient help in identifying the
prescription.
Date of prescriber help in keeping records

4. Age and sex of the patient help in maintaining dose of
medication.
The superscription consist symbol Rx which mean ‘recipe’ or
you take.
The inscription contains the name of and quantity of
ingredients or medicine.
The subscription consist of instruction and direction for
patient and pharmacist.

5. Part of prescription
Prescription mainly consist of three part
1.Superscription
2.Inscription
3.Suscription
1.Superscription: The superscription include by the symbol
Rx which is always written at the beginning of the
prescription. Rx was known as prayer to Jupiter God of
health and healing for quick recovery of patient in early
days. But today this symbol is an short form of Latin
word ‘recipe’ meaning “you take”.

6. 2.Inscription: This is main part of the prescription . It contains the
name and quantities of prescribed ingredients. The name of the
prescribed ingredients are written in separate line followed by
quantity order. This part contains three time of ingredients.
a. Active drug
b. Adjuvant increase the action of active drug.
c. Corrective: it correct any side effect of active drug.
3.Subscription: It contain the direction to pharmacist for the
prescription of dosage form and number of dosage to be given
to a patient.

8. Type of prescription
In general prescription are classified as follow
1.Community prescription
a. Prescription under government health service.
b. Private prescription.
2.Hospital prescription
a. Inpatient prescription.
b. Out patient prescription.
c. Prescription at the time of discharge.

9. Handling of prescription
The following procedure should be adopted by the
pharmacist during handling the prescription for
compounding and dispensing.
1.Receiving.
2.Reading and checking.
3.Collecting weighing the materials.
4.Compounding labeling and packaging.
Receiving : the prescription should be received by the
pharmacist. While receiving prescription pharmacist should
not change his facial expression, i.e surprised or confused
after seen the prescription.

10. Reading and checking: when you receiving prescription
always check that it is written in proper format. In case of
difficulty in reading the prescription the pharmacist should
concern other pharmacist or Doctors. Pharmacist should
never guess about the meaning of confused word.
Collecting and weighing the material: Before
compounding prescription all the material should be
collecting on the left side of weighing balance. After
weighing the material it should be sifted right hand side of
the weighing balance. This help to check which ingredient
have been checked.

11. Compounding labeling and packaging: compounding
should be carried out in a head palace . All glass wares and
equipment should be clean, only one prescription should be
compounding at one time. All ingredients should be
compounding as per given direction in prescription . The
compounded medicine should filled in a proper containers.
The filled containers then labeled.
white plane paper of good quality should be used for
labeling the container. The size of label should be equal to
the container. The label should be written or typed with all
information, the label should be fixed with good quality of
adhesive.

12. Some common Latin word Rx terms
Rx (recipe) mean “you take”
ac (ante cibum) means “Before meals”
bid ( bis in die) means “twice a day”
gt ( gutta) means “drop”
hs (hora-somni) means “at bed time”
od (ocular sinister) means “right eye”
os (ocular sinister) means “left eye”
po (per os) means “by mouth”
pc (post cibum) means “after meal”
prin ( pro re nata) means “as needed”
q3h (quaque 3 hora) means “every three hours”

13. qd (quaque die) means “everyday”
qid (quaterin die) means four time a days”
sig( signa) means “write”
tid ( ter in die) means “three time days”

14. Thank you