16 Section 1/ General Principles of Pharmacology
telephone numbers and other perti-
nent information (such as availabil-
ity of the physician at particular time,
if a physician is practicing in more
than one hospitals) of the physician
or his/her practice site. These print-
ed information clarifies the physi-
cian’s name when it is signed illeg-
ibly and address, telephone no. etc.
which facilitates additional profes-
sional communication if required.
(ii) Patient’s name, age, sex, address
and date: The date of prescription
should be written near the top of
prescription form or at the beginning
of the chart order. The patient’s
name, age, sex and address are
necessary on the prescription and
should be clearly spelled out.
(iii) Superscription: It consists of Latin
symbol Rx meaning take thau or you
take and it has been believed to be an
innovation to Horus and Jupiter, the
father of Gods whose help is wished
to make the prescription effective.(iv) Inscription: It is the principal part
or body of the prescription which
specify the medication, its strength,
the dosage and direction for use by
the patients. When writing the drug
name, either the brand name (pro-
prietary name) or generic name
(non-proprietary name) may be
used. Now a days, the majority of
prescriptions are written for medi-
cations which are already prepared
in various dosage forms by phar-
maceutical manufacturers. Phama-
cists are required to dispense the
trademarked products when pre-
scribed, unless substitution of an
equivalent product is permitted by
the prescriber. Prescriptions requir-
ing the pharmacist to mix ingredi-
ents are termed compound prescrip-
tions, which containing the names
and quantities of each ingredients,
required and quantities of ingredi-
ents to be used may be indicated in
the metric or apothecary system of
weighs and measure.
(v) Subscription: This part of prescrip-
tion consists of directions to the
pharmacist for dispensing or pre-
paring the prescription. With
decreasing frequency of com-
pounded prescriptions in a major-
ity of prescriptions, the subscription
only consists the name of dosage
from (as tablet, capsule, syrup etc.)
and the number of dosage units to
be supplied.
(vi) Signatura: The word, usually abbre-
viated sigma or sig means mark thou.
This part includes the direction for
the patient. The instructions on how
and when to take medications, the
duration of therapy must be
explained to each patient by the phy-
sician and by the pharmacist. To help
patients remember to take their
medication, physicians often give an
instruction that particular medication
be taken at or around meal times
and at bed time. The direction for
use must be clear and understand-
able to the patient and concise to
avoid any toxicity and to obtain the
maximum benefit from therapy.
(table 1.2.1)