Detailed and abbreviated prescription methods
The detailed method is used when the medication must be compounded directly in the manufacturing department of the pharmacy. The physician sequentially and thoroughly lists all components that make up the preparation (Lat. ingrediens, ntis — ingredient). The required quantity by weight or volume must be indicated for each component.
A distinctive grammatical feature of such a formula is the concluding phrase that gives instructions to the pharmacist. Most often, the prescription ends with the phrase Misce, fiat ... (Mix, let it be formed...). For example, when prescribing a complex ointment, the physician indicates the weight of xeroform, zinc oxide, lanolin, and petrolatum, and then writes: Misce, fiat unguentum. This is followed by the instruction to dispense the preparation (Da.) and the signature with rules for use.
The abbreviated method currently prevails in clinical practice. This is because the overwhelming majority of modern medications are supplied to the pharmacy chain in ready-made, standardized form. With this method, all information fits into a single prescription line, indicating:
- Name of the dosage form.
- Name of the active substance.
- Dosage or total amount of the drug for the course of treatment.
Grammar of prescriptions for tablets and suppositories
Latin grammar rules in a prescription strictly depend on the composition of the drug and its release form.
Combination drugs Manufacturers assign a unique trade (often complex abbreviated) name to drugs with a complex composition. When prescribing such a product, its commercial name is always enclosed in quotation marks. From the perspective of Latin grammar, it acts as an unagreement apposition and must be in the nominative singular (Nominativus singularis). The dosage for such drugs is usually not specified, as the composition of a single tablet or suppository is already standardized. Examples of formatting: tabulettae "Codterpinum" or suppositoria "Neo-anusolum".
Single-ingredient drugs If a tablet consists of only one pharmacologically active component, the prescription structure changes. First, the dosage form is written, then the name of the substance is put in the genitive case (Genitivus), and the dose is indicated at the end. Example: Tabulettae Cordigiti 0,0008.
When it comes to suppositories (as well as eye films) with a single component, the preposition cum (with) must be used. After this preposition, the name of the substance is always put in the ablative case (Ablativus). Example: Suppositoria cum Cordigito 0,0012.
Use of the accusative case
When writing a prescription using the abbreviated method, the name of the dosage form always grammatically depends on the starting verb Recipe (Take). Therefore, it acts as a direct object and must be in the accusative case.
Plural (Accusativus pluralis): Used if the physician is prescribing a whole package or multiple units of the form at once.
- tabulettas (tablets)
- tabulettas obductas (coated tablets)
- suppositoria (suppositories)
- suppositoria rectalia (rectal suppositories)
- lamellas ophthalmicas (eye films)
Singular (Accusativus singularis): Permissible when prescribing tablets and suppositories containing only a single active ingredient. In this case, the name of the form is put in the accusative singular: Tabulettam (tablet) or Suppositorium (suppository). Such a prescription formula must end with the standard wording indicating the number of doses: Da (Dentur) tales doses numero... (Give/Let such doses be given in the number of...).
Specific formulas and emergency marks
Another widely used tablet prescription format in medical practice begins the line with only the name of the medicinal substance itself and its single dose (without the word "tablet"). All information regarding the dosage form is moved to the end of the prescription. In this case, the wording Da (Dentur) tales doses numero ... in tabulettis (Give such doses in the number of ... in tablets) is used.
Additional inscriptions in the prescription: If the patient's condition requires the immediate initiation of treatment, the physician has the right to make a note for emergency dispensing of the drug. Such a mark is made exclusively in the upper right part of the prescription form. The following Latin adverbs are used:
- Cito! — Quickly, urgently!
- Statim! — Immediately!
Class and exam questions
Why is the abbreviated method more commonly used in modern practice?
This is due to the fact that the vast majority of drugs are produced by the pharmaceutical industry in ready-made standardized forms, so the doctor does not need to list individual formulation components.
In what case is the trade name of a combination drug written?
The trade name is enclosed in quotation marks and put in the nominative singular (Nominativus singularis), as it is a non-concordant apposition.
Which preposition and case are used when prescribing suppositories with a single substance?
The preposition cum (with) must be used, after which the name of the active substance is put in the ablative case (Ablativus).
How to properly prescribe eye films?
Eye films (lamellae ophthalmicae) are prescribed similarly to suppositories: the form is put in the accusative plural, and the substance is introduced using the preposition cum in the Ablativus.
What else to study on this topic
- Verbs in prescriptions: the difference between Da and Dentur
- Declension of nouns in the accusative and ablative cases
- Features of prescribing eye films (Lamellae ophthalmicae)
- Rules for formatting signatures and instructions for the patient
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Other topics in the section "Accusativus and Ablativus. Prepositions. Prescription. Prescription Line"
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