Prescription Interpretation and Medication Orders

Vocabulary flashcards covering fundamental terms, abbreviations, dosage forms, routes, and error types related to prescription interpretation and medication orders.

Prescription

An order for medication issued by a properly licensed medical practitioner.

Prescriber’s Information

The section of a prescription containing the name, address, and professional license number of the prescriber.

Patient’s Information

The portion of a prescription listing the patient’s full name, address, age, and other identifying data.

Date (on prescription)

The day the prescription is written; helps determine validity and refill timelines.

Superscription (Rx)

The symbol "Rx" meaning "recipe," indicating ‘take thou’ or ‘you will take.’

Inscription

The main body of the prescription that specifies the medication name, strength, and dosage form.

Subscription

Directions to the pharmacist regarding compounding or quantity to dispense.

Signa (Sig.)

Instructions transposed by the pharmacist for the patient on how to take the medication.

Special Instruction

Any additional note from the prescriber, such as storage, refills, or auxiliary warnings.

Erroneous Prescription Error

A clinical or technical mistake (e.g., misspelling, wrong dose) that can still be legally filled.

Violative Prescription Error

A legal or regulatory violation (e.g., brand name only, no prescriber license) that may be refused for safety.

Impossible Prescription Error

An order that is not feasible to fill (e.g., unreadable handwriting, nonexistent dosage form).

a.c

Before meals.

ad lib.

At pleasure; freely.

Admin

Administer.

noct.

Night.

am

Morning.

aq.

Water.

NPO

Nothing by mouth.

N&V

Nausea and vomiting.

p.c

After meals.

ATC

Around the clock.

pm

Afternoon or evening.

b.i.d

Twice a day.

p.o.

By mouth / orally.

c

With.

p.r.n

As needed.

d

Day.

dil.

Dilute.

h or hr.

Hour.

h.s

At bedtime.

min.

Minute.

m&n

Morning and night.

S.O.S

If there is a need.

stat

Immediately.

qAM

Every morning.

Q4h

Every 4 hours.

q.i.d

Four times a day.

rep.

Repeat.

s

Without.

s.i.d

Once a day.

t.i.d

Three times a day.

ut dict.

As directed.

wk

Week.

cap.

Capsule.

inj.

Injection.

ung.

Ointment.

pulv.

Powder.

sol.

Solution.

supp.

Suppository.

susp.

Suspension.

syr.

Syrup.

tab.

Tablet.

a.d

Right ear.

a.s

Left ear.

a.u

Both ears.

ID

Intradermal.

IV

Intravenous.

NGT

Nasogastric tube.

O.D.

Right eye.

O.S.

Left eye.

O.U.

Each eye.

rect.

Rectal.

SL

Sublingual.

SubQ

Subcutaneously.

Top.

Topical.

V or PV

Vaginally.

HBP

High blood pressure.

Rx (symbol)

Indicates ‘take thou’; the standard symbol introducing a prescription order.

q6h

Every 6 hours.