It should also be accepted that poor handwriting has no correlation with the medical acumen or expertise of a doctor. Is it possible to fake a prescription? There could be a case in favor of the man. What does 7 7 mean on a prescription?
Does 3 times a day mean every 8 hours? Is Qid every 6 hours? What does OD stand for in a prescription? How should QD be written? How many hours apart is twice daily? None of the asthma medications prescribed by your physician needs to be taken exactly twelve hours apart. Twice-a-day usually means morning and evening, on arising and on going to bed, or even at breakfast and supper. What time should I take 3 pills a day? When instructed by your doctor or pharmacist to take your medication three times a day, the recommended frequency is usually early morning, lunchtime and early evening.
Mistaken as IV intravenous or the number Million Thousand. Mistaken as thousand Mistaken as million M has been used to abbreviate both million and thousand M is the Roman numeral for thousand. Use million Use thousand. Mistaken as mg Mistaken as nasogastric. Unit s. Use unit s. Abbreviations for Route of Administration.
Mistaken as IM or IV. Right eye, left eye, each eye. Use right eye, left eye, or each eye. The os was mistaken as left eye OS, oculus sinister.
SC, SQ, sq, or sub q. Subcutaneous ly. HS hs. Half-strength At bedtime, hours of sleep. Mistaken as bedtime Mistaken as half-strength. Once daily. Use daily. Nightly at bedtime. Mistaken as qhr every hour. Use nightly or HS for bedtime. Every other day. Use every other day. Every evening at 6 PM. Mistaken as every 6 hours. Use daily at 6 PM or 6 PM daily. Sliding scale regular insulin Sliding scale insulin. Mistaken as 3 times a day or twice in a week Mistaken as 2 times a day.
Use 3 times weekly Use 2 times weekly. Miscellaneous Abbreviations Associated with Medication Use. Baby boy A twin Baby girl B twin. Mistaken as IV or intrajugular.
Use injection. Period following abbreviations e. Use mg, mL, etc. Drug Name Abbreviations. Antiretroviral medications e. Use complete drug names. ARA A.
Use complete drug name. Mistaken as azithromycin, aza THIO prine, or aztreonam. Mistaken as tincture of opium. Mistaken as hydrocortisone e.
Mistaken as magnesium sulfate. Na at the beginning of a drug name e. Sodium bicarbonate. Mistaken as no bicarbonate. Mistaken as patient-controlled analgesia. Pitocin oxytocin. Mistaken as Purinethol mercaptopurine. Mistaken as liothyronine, which is sometimes referred to as T3.
TAC or tac. Use complete drug names Avoid drug regimen or protocol acronyms that may have a dual meaning or may be confused with other common acronyms, even if defined in an order set. TPA or tPA. Jupiter's symbol looked similar to the Rx symbol. The symbol may have been placed on a prescription to invoke Jupiter's blessing.
Here is an example of what a healthcare provider might write on a prescription:. These abbreviations are instructions for taking the medication. The pharmacist will translate them for the medication label. In this case, the instructions will read: "Take one tablet by mouth four times a day, after meals, and at bedtime.
The abbreviations may be written in capital letters or small letters, and may or may not include periods. Some common Latin prescription abbreviations include:. The Latin terms are still in use, but some healthcare providers are retiring them. It is becoming more common for healthcare providers to write prescription instructions in plain language.
Readable prescriptions can help prevent medication errors. That is why many medical professionals think written instructions should be used instead of hard-to-read abbreviations. For example, the abbreviation qd, which means "daily," could be mistaken for qid, which means "four times a day. E-prescribing, or electronic prescribing, can also help prevent medication errors. Instructions sent directly to the pharmacy electronically are less prone to human error.
If your healthcare provider uses electronic prescribing, you may never see the abbreviations. E-prescribing improves patient safety in a number of ways:. Healthcare providers sometimes use Latin abbreviations on prescriptions. Understanding these abbreviations can help you avoid a medication error. Some healthcare providers are moving away from Latin abbreviations and using plain language instead. Written instructions can help prevent medication errors. Electronic prescriptions can also reduce the chance of a mistake.
If you receive a written prescription, make sure you understand the directions. If the directions are unclear or confusing, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain. Do not take your medication unless you understand the instructions. Take no chances. If your medication is prescribed electronically, you may not see the instructions until they appear on the label.
At that point, it is important to consult your pharmacist if you have questions. It is always a good idea to go over the instructions with your pharmacist. Do your part to avoid medication errors. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Voice of America. Take this medicine: the story of the sign 'Rx'.
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