Prescription examples

Grammar in prescriptions: main cases

In Latin prescriptions, the choice of case depends on the phrase structure. Addressing the pharmacist always begins with the word Recipe (Take).

• Accusativus (Accusative case). Used for ready-made dosage forms prescribed by number. For example, Tabulettas (tablets) or Suppositoria (suppositories).
• Genitivus (Genitive case). Used when the dosage in a prescription is indicated in grams or milliliters. In this case, we take a specific amount of "something" — for example, Linimenti (liniment) or Aetheris (ether).
• Ablativus (Ablative case). Required after certain prepositions. The most frequent examples: cum (with) — cum Ichthyolo (with ichthammol), in (in) — in ampullis (in ampoules), pro (for) — pro narcosi (for narcosis).

Features of writing trade names

If a drug has a brand name (consisting of a single brand word), it is written in quotation marks. Grammatically, such names are conventionally regarded as Nominativus (Nominative case) and are not declined in the text of the prescription.

For example, in a prescription for "Quadevit" tablets or "Anaesthesol" suppositories, the words "Quadevitum" and "Anaesthesolum" themselves remain unchanged, even if the drug form is in the accusative case (Tabulettas or Suppositoria).

Standard prescription formulations

At the end of each prescription, instructions are given to the pharmacist regarding dispensing and to the patient regarding administration of the medication. They can be expressed in two ways:

1. Imperativus (Imperative mood): Da. Signa. (Dispense. Label).
2. Conjunctivus passivi (Subjunctive mood, passive voice): Detur. Signetur. (Let it be dispensed. Let it be labeled).

For dosed forms, such as solutions in ampoules, an expanded phrase is often used: Da tales doses numero... (Dispense such doses in the number of...).

Fixed expressions and prepositions

Prescriptions frequently contain standard prepositional constructions that determine the route of administration or packaging:

• ad usum externum — for external use (the preposition ad requires the accusative case).
• in vitro nigro — in a dark vial (the preposition in with the meaning "where?" requires the ablative).
• pro narcosi — for narcosis (the preposition pro is also used with the ablative).

Class and exam questions

What else to study on this topic

• Agreement of adjectives with nouns in a prescription (e.g., Tabulettas obductas, Suppositoria vaginalia).
• Declension of 3rd declension Greek nouns ending in -is (using pro narcosi as an example).
• Rules for prescribing solutions with indicated concentration.
• Formatting prescriptions for aerosols.

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

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