Translation of pharmaceutical terms

Verbal formulations in prescriptions

In prescription practice, standard verbal constructions giving orders to the pharmacist are frequently used. The direct imperative mood (Imperativus) is typically employed:

• Dispense — da. Example: da Collargolum in vitro nigro (dispense Collargol in a dark vial / literally: in black glass).
• Prescribe — praescrībe. Example: praescrībe Methylenum coeruleum in capsulis gelatinosis (prescribe Methylene blue in gelatin capsules).
• Prepare — praepăra. Example: praepăra infusa et decocta ex tempŏre (prepare infusions and decoctions extemporaneously, i.e., as needed or immediately).

The subjunctive mood with a prohibitive or commanding meaning is also used. For example: medicamentum detur in ampullis (let the medicine be dispensed in ampoules).

Dosage forms and packaging

The foundation of translation consists of the correct names of dosage forms and types of packaging in which medications are dispensed.

Solid dosage forms:

• Tablets (tabulettae). May be coated (da in tabulettis obductis). Examples: tabulettae Carbonis activati (activated charcoal tablets), Validolum in tabulettis (Validol in tablets).
• Powders (pulvis). Come in various types: pulvis sterilis (sterile powder), pulvis solubilis (soluble powder). Used for preparing other forms: pulvis Ampicillini pro suspensione (ampicillin powder for suspension).
• Medicinal teas / Species (species). For example: species pectorales (pectoral tea), species gastrointestinales (gastrointestinal tea).
• Granules (granula). Example: Vitamina in granulis (vitamins in granules).

Liquid dosage forms:

• Solutions (solutio). Can be alcoholic (solutio Gramicidini spirituosa). Examples: solutio Iodi (iodine solution), solutio Furacilini (furacilin solution).
• Mixtures (mixtura). Example: mixtura pro infantĭbus (mixture for children).
• Infusions and decoctions (infusa et decocta).

Soft forms:

• Ointments (unguentum). Example: unguentum cum tinctura Calendulae homoeopathicum (homeopathic ointment with Calendula tincture).
• Suppositories (suppositoria). Example: suppositoria Novocaini cum Glycerino (novocaine suppositories with glycerin).

Preparations are frequently dispensed in special packaging:

• In ampoules — in ampullis (for example, water for injections — aqua pro injectionibus in ampullis, diprophylline solution — solutio Diprophyllini in ampullis).
• In capsules — in capsulis (for example, Aevit — "Aevitum" in capsulis, Loperamide — Loperamidum in capsulis).

Prepositions and their effect on cases

Prepositions in Latin require the noun following them to be in a strictly specific case. This is a key rule for translating word combinations.

1. The preposition pro (for, on) requires the ablative (Ablativus):
2. pro injectionibus — for injections.
3. pro narcosi — for narcosis (for example, Chloroformium pro narcosi, Aether pro narcosi).
4. pro infantibus — for children/infants (for example, suppositoria cum Dimedrolo pro infantibus).
5. pro dosi — per dose / single dose (for example, tabulettae Vinpocetin-Akri 0,005 pro dosi).

1. The preposition cum (with) is also used with the ablative:
2. cum extracto Belladonnae — with belladonna extract.
3. cum radicibus — with roots.

1. The preposition contra (against) is combined with the accusative (Accusativus):
2. contra tussim — against cough (for example, tabulettae contra tussim).

1. The preposition ad (for, to) governs the accusative case:
2. ad usum internum — for internal use.
3. ad usum externum — for external use.

1. The preposition in (in), when indicating the place of dispensing of a medication, requires the ablative:
2. in ampullis — in ampoules.
3. in capsulis gelatinosis — in gelatin capsules (for example, oleum Ricini in capsulis gelatinosis).

Plant materials and special expressions

When translating pharmaceutical terms containing plant materials, it is necessary to indicate the plant part and the botanical name itself in the genitive case (Genitivus). Examples:

• Rhizomăta cum radicibus Valerianae — Rhizomes with valerian roots.
• Bricetum herbae Hyperici — St. John's wort herb briquette.

Plant components are part of:

• Extracts. Example: liquid aloe extract — extractum Aloës fluidum.
• Oils. Example: sea buckthorn oil — oleum Hippophaës.

Specific set expressions are frequently found in prescriptions. For instance, castor oil in its pure form is translated using the phrase per se (by itself) — oleum Ricini per se. A group of preparations for treating poisonings is designated by the phrase Venena et antidota (Poisons and antidotes). In the names of homeopathic remedies, the adjective homoeopathicum is placed at the end and agrees with the dosage form, for example: unguentum "Hypericum" homoeopathicum (Hypericum homeopathic ointment).

Briefly: answers to topical questions

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Agreement of adjectives with nouns in drug names (e.g., spirituosa, solubilis, activatus).
• Declension features of non-standard medicinal plant names of Greek origin (Aloë, Hippophaë).
• Rules for formatting commercial and trade names of drugs in quotation marks (e.g., "Aevitum", "Hypericum").
• Word order in multi-component terms (dosage form + active ingredient + indication).

Other topics in the section "Accusativus and Ablativus. Prepositions. Prescription. Prescription Line"

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