Table of contents · 7 sections
Prescription writing (Receptura) is a branch of pharmacology dedicated to the rules of prescribing medications. Knowledge of Latin prescription formulas is a mandatory skill for every physician, regulated by orders of the Russian Ministry of Health. This article provides a comprehensive review of the prescription structure, main forms, and abbreviations with examples.
Prescription structure
A prescription (Receptum) consists of the following mandatory parts:
| Part | Latin name | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Healthcare facility stamp | — | Name, address, and telephone number of the medical organization |
| 2. Date | Datum | Date of prescription issuance |
| 3. Patient's full name and age | Nomen aegroti | Full name, with indication of age |
| 4. Physician's full name | Nomen medici | Full name of the prescribing physician |
| 5. Invocation (Recipe) | Rp.: | "Take" — the beginning of the prescription body proper |
| 6. Body of the prescription (designatio materiarum) | Name of the drug, form, dose | In Latin, in the genitive case |
| 7. Instruction to the pharmacist | D.S. (Da. Signa.) | "Dispense. Label." — method of administration in Russian |
| 8. Signature and seal | Sigillum | Physician's signature, personal seal |
Basic dosage forms in Latin
| Russian name | Latin (Nom. sing.) | Genitive case (in prescription) | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | Tabuletta | Tabulettam / Tabulettas | Tab. |
| Capsule | Capsula | Capsulam / Capsulas | Caps. |
| Solution | Solutio | Solutionis | Sol. |
| Ointment | Unguentum | Unguenti | Ung. |
| Suppository | Suppositorium | Suppositorium / Suppositoria | Supp. |
| Powder | Pulvis | Pulveris | Pulv. |
| Tincture | Tinctura | Tincturae | T-rae |
| Suspension | Suspensio | Suspensionis | Susp. |
Standard prescription abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Full form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Rp.: | Recipe | Take |
| D.t.d. | Da tales doses | Dispense such doses |
| D.S. | Da. Signa. | Dispense. Label. |
| S. | Signa | Label (method of administration) |
| N. | Numero | By number |
| in tab. | in tabulettis | In tablets |
| in amp. | in ampullis | In ampoules |
| aa | Ana | In equal parts |
| q.s. | Quantum satis | As much as required |
| M.f. | Misce, fiat | Mix to form |
Prescription examples by form
Tablets
Rp.: Tab. Amoxicillini 0,5
D.t.d. N. 20
S. 1 tablet 3 times a day orally
Solution for injection
Rp.: Sol. Ceftriaxoni 1,0
D.t.d. N. 10 in amp.
S. 1.0 g i.m. once daily, dissolved in 3.5 ml of 1% lidocaine solution
Ointment
Rp.: Ung. Hydrocortisoni 1 % — 15,0
D.S. Apply a thin layer to affected areas 2 times a day
Suppositories
Rp.: Supp. cum Diclofenaco 0,1
D.t.d. N. 10
S. 1 suppository rectally at bedtime
Rules for prescribing narcotic and potent drugs
- Narcotic (List II) — on a special form 107/u-NP, with the "For prescriptions" stamp, signature of the head of department, validity period 15 days
- Psychotropic (List III) — form 148-1/u-88, validity 15 days
- Potent — standard form, but with a special mark, validity 30-60 days
- All doses of narcotic drugs must be written out in words (not in numbers)
Common prescription writing errors
- Incorrect case of the Latin name (must be genitive after Rp.:)
- Omission of the dosage form
- Unit confusion: grams (0,5) vs milligrams (500 mg)
- Solution concentration not specified
- Directions for use (signatura) in Latin instead of Russian
Frequently asked questions
Which grammatical case is used after Recipe?
Genitive (Genitivus). Rp.: means "Take", followed by "what" — the genitive case. For example: Rp.: Tabulettas (accusative, if a finished form is specified) Amoxicillini (genitive) 0,5. For extemporaneous prescriptions — always genitive: Rp.: Solutionis Natrii chloridi 0,9 % — 200 ml.
What is the difference between unfolded (extemporaneous) and condensed prescription writing?
Unfolded lists all ingredients indicating the form (M.f. pulvis, M.f. unguentum). Used for extemporaneous (compounded) prescriptions. Condensed indicates the finished dosage form (Tab., Sol., Caps.) with the drug name. Today >95 % of prescriptions are condensed, as most drugs are industrially manufactured.
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