Basic rules for abbreviations in prescriptions
When issuing prescriptions, a medical professional cannot truncate words arbitrarily. There are strict principles governing this process. First, it is permissible to use exclusively accepted abbreviations. Second, the rules for the grammatical truncation of Latin words must be observed:
- By initial letters. Most often, only the beginning of the word remains. For example, liquor (liquid) becomes liq., infusum (infusion) becomes inf., and oleum (oil) becomes ol. Sometimes a word is truncated to a single letter: herba (herb) may be designated as h. or hb.
- By syllables with consonants. This is a crucial orthographic rule in prescription writing: if truncation falls on a syllable that contains several consecutive consonant letters, all of them must be retained in the abbreviation. This is why extractum (extract) is abbreviated as extr., and unguentum (ointment) as ung.
> Important rule: Never abbreviate the names of specific medicinal substances and botanical names of plants. They must always be written out in full to avoid fatal errors when dispensing the drug.
Standard prescription formulations
Standard commands for the pharmacist (imperatives) and dispensing instructions are regularly used in prescriptions. They are abbreviated according to strict standards:
| Abbreviation | Full Latin spelling | Russian meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Rp.: | Recipe: | Take |
| D. | Da. Detur. Dentur. | Dispense. Let it be dispensed. Let them be dispensed. (Dispense.) |
| S. | Signa. Signetur | Label. Let it be labeled. (Label.) |
| M. | Misce. Misceatur. | Mix. Let it be mixed. (Mix.) |
| D. t. d. | Da (Dentur) tales doses | Dispense (let such doses be dispensed) |
| f. | fiat, fiant | let it result (result in); let it be formed |
| Div. in p. aeq. | Divide in partes aequales | Divide into equal parts |
| Steril. | Sterilisa! Sterilisetur! | Sterilize! Let it be sterilized! |
| q.s. | quantum satis | as much as needed, as required |
Dosage forms and plant parts
The names of the form in which the drug is released or the plant material used are also subject to standardized abbreviation:
- tab. — tabuletta (tablet)
- sol. — solutio (solution)
- ung. — unguentum (ointment)
- supp. — suppositorium (suppository)
- t-ra, tinct. — tinctura (tincture)
- dec., dct. — decoctum (decoction)
- pulv. — pulvis (powder)
- fol. — folium (leaf)
- fl. — flos (flower)
- r., rad. — radix (root)
- cort. — cortex (bark)
- sem. — semen (seed)
Instructions for use and packaging
It is often necessary in a prescription to specify the container or method of administration. The following short forms are used for this purpose:
- ad us. ext. — ad usum externum (for external use)
- ad us. int. — ad usum internum (for internal use)
- pro inject. — pro injectionibus (for injections)
- in ampull. — in ampullis (in ampoules)
- in caps. — in capsulis (in capsules)
- in tab. — in tabulettis (in tablets)
- in vitr. nigr. — in vitro nigro (in a dark vial)
- aq. dest. — aqua destillata (distilled water)
Briefly: answers to topical questions
How are the names of liquid dosage forms abbreviated: solution, tincture, decoction, infusion, emulsion, mixture?
The names of liquid dosage forms in prescriptions are abbreviated by their initial letters or syllables containing consonants. The study materials present the following generally accepted abbreviations:
- Solution (sol.) — solutio
- Tincture (t-ra, tinct.) — tinctura
- Decoction (dec., dct.) — decoctum
- Infusion (inf.) — infusum
- Emulsion (emuls.) — emulsum
The abbreviation for mixture is not provided in the tables of standard prescription abbreviations.
What abbreviations are used to indicate containers: in ampoules, in capsules, in a dark vial, in waxed paper?
The following standard abbreviations are used to indicate containers in prescriptions:
- In ampoules (in ampull.) — in ampullis
- In capsules (in caps.) — in capsulis
- In a dark vial (in vitr. nigr.) — in vitro nigro
No special prescription abbreviation is specified for packaging in waxed paper, although it is used for divided powders.
To avoid mistakes when abbreviating a word with a group of consonants, apply the "inseparable bond" rule: if there are several consonants after a vowel, they must not be separated from each other; they are written together. Therefore, extractum becomes extr., not ext.
Class and exam questions
Is it possible to abbreviate the name of the active substance in a prescription?
No, this is strictly prohibited. Any names of chemical compounds, medicines, and plants must be written out in full to eliminate the risk of dispensing the wrong drug.
What does the abbreviation āā mean in a prescription line?
This is an abbreviation of the Latin word ana, which translates as "of each" or "in equal parts". It indicates that the ingredients listed above should be taken in equal volume or mass.
What is the difference between the abbreviations D. and D.t.d.?
The abbreviation D. (from Da or Detur) simply means "Dispense". Meanwhile, the abbreviation D.t.d. (from Da tales doses) is an instruction meaning "Dispense such doses", which is used when the physician prescribes a specific number of single doses.
What else to study on this topic
- Full list of abbreviations for liquid and soft dosage forms
- Botanical Latin terms in pharmacognosy
- Rules for declension of dosage form names
- Features of prescribing complex prescriptions using q.s.
- Frequency stems with chemical meaning in drug names
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Other topics in the section "Prescription abbreviations. Frequency stems"
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