Explaining Prescriptions
Prescriptions can be communicated over the phone to the pharmacy with no writing at all. However, certain highly controlled drugs, such as narcotics, may require written prescriptions. A medical license to prescribe drugs is given by the State, so a prescription might not be honored across State lines. In practice, most pharmacists do accept intra-state prescriptions for non-controlled medications.
A prescription specifies the name of the drug, the number of milligrams in each pill or liquid, the number of doses and amounts to be given each time of day, the number of pills to be dispensed, and the number of automatic refills allowed. The prescription also specifies whether brand name drugs or cheaper generic drugs should be used.
Abbreviations on a prescription, based upon ancient Latin terminology, commonly include the following:
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qd = once a day
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bid = twice a day
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tid = three times a day
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qid = four times a day
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qod = every other day
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qam = every morning
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qpm = every evening
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qhs = every hour of sleep (at bedtime)
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qac = before each meal
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qpc = after each meal
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prn = as needed
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po = by mouth
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pr = rectally
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sl = sublingually
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iv = intravenously
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im = intramuscularly
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sc = subcutaneously
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in = intranasally
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gtt = drops
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os = left eye
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od = right eye
Numbers are written with vertical bars and redundant dots above the bars, for example, two vertical lines with a horizontal bar and two dots over it means "2."
Patients often request large supplies of seizure medicines, or extra medicines to take on trips, for emergencies, etc. The medical team is sympathetic to such requests, but it usually is up to the insurance company paying for the pills. Most of the time, third-party payers will only allow a one-month supply at a time. Sometimes patients can purchase bulk quantities of medicines. This makes sense once a regimen is well established. This can be renewed.
Physicians typically give between 2 - 11 monthly automatic renewals, depending upon frequency of visits and how stable the patient is on a particular medication.