Joseph R. Anticaglia MD
Medical Advisory Board
“Why do doctors have such terrible handwriting? I can barely read a word on my prescription slip. Take a look at this:”
Sig. 1 po 45 min ac breakfast qd
Look familiar? The truth is many doctors do have horrible handwriting but most likely you cannot understand what’s written because they write in code. Doctors combine words and abbreviations, a medical short-hand, allowing for communication between pharmacists and physicians.
Every profession uses their own lingo and shorthand to communicate. A doctor might say, “I need to have this test done “Stat!” Some waitresses still might yell, “Adam and Eve on a raft.” Also, it’s known that the Secretary of Defense has ordered the armed forces to DEFCON 3.
Having the ability to decode your prescriptions can help prevent allergic reactions, dosage errors and other medical problems. Following is information to better understand what’s written on a doctor’s prescription slip.
Brand Name vs. Generics
Generics refer to the chemical makeup of a drug rather than the pharmaceutical company’s easy to pronounce, advertised brand name. Compare metronidazole to Flagyl. The generics should cost less with the co-payments being less expensive.
| The ‘Nitty-Gritty’ of a Prescription | Example |
|---|---|
| Name of medication | Protonix |
| Dosage of Medication | 40 mg |
| Dispense # | 30 |
| Timing of your medication | 45 min.ac breakfast |
| Frequency of taking medication | qd |
| Where and how to take the medication | po |
| Refill | X3 |
| Generic substitution permissible | yes |
Most prescriptions follow the same basic format. (More about the above example a bit later).
Below are samplings of Latin derived, commonly uses abbreviations. Keep in mind, the landscape is changing due to the forwarding of electronic prescriptions by physicians or their assistants.to pharmacists
Dosage of Medication
tsp. teaspoon
tbsp tablespoon
mg milligrams
ml milliliters
caps capsules
tabs tablets
gtts drops
Timing of your medication
ac — before meals
pc — after meals
hs — at bedtime
Take this medication with food — doctors usually write “with food” with no abbreviation.
Frequency of taking the medication
q — every
q4h — every 4 hours (or every 8 hours and so on)
qd — once a day; every day; daily
bid — twice a day
tid — three times a day
qid — four times a day
prn — as needed
Where to place, how to use your medication
as — left ear
ad — right ear
au — both ears
os — left eye
od — right eye
ou — both eyes
po — by mouth
The above highlights some of the more common abbreviations encountered on a prescription. As more medical offices use electronic means to prescribe medications, it’s useful for you to obtain a printout of medications to show your pharmacist.
Sig literally means “let it be labeled.” It implies labeling the directions on the bottle regarding the dosage, timing and frequency of the medication. Oh yes, the above example:
Pantoprazole 40 mg (this generic medication was substituted for the brand name — Protonix)
Disp # 30
Sig. 1 tab po 45 min ac breakfast qd
(take one tablet by mouth 45 minutes before breakfast daily)
Refills X 3
Hopefully, you are now somewhat better able to read prescriptions in spite of a doctor’s handwriting
Glossary
Stat — means immediate!
NR — no refills
DAW — dispense as written. The pharmacist usually can substitute the generic medication for the brand name drug unless the doctor specifically writes or indicates DAW on the prescription.
This article is intended solely as a learning experience. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options.