Speaking: English Prescription

After careful study of this unit you should be able to:

• tell about English prescription;

• list new pharmaceutic terms;

• explain the naming of drugs;

• describe prescription.

Exercise 1. Learn the following pharmaceutic terms.

associate з'єднувати(ся); асоціювати(ся)

compound сполука

curative цілющий

dispense готувати, розфасовувати (ліки)

gather збирати (трави, рослини)

herb трава (лікарська)

identify встановлювати, розпізнавати, ідентифікувати

infusion настій

modify модифікувати, видозмінювати

plant рослина; завод

preventive профілактичний

qualitative якісний

store зберігати

storage зберігання; сховище

technique техніка; методика

variety сорт, вид, різновид

vegetable рослинний; (pi.) рослини (загальна назва)

Exercise 2. Read the title of the text and say what this text is about.

Exercise 3. Read the text and do all exercises following it.

English Prescription

The language of prescription was unique¹ in Great Britain some half a century ago when all me names of drugs were latinized. It was possible because the physician used only dosed drugs. Today all prescriptions are written in English. The only Latin which is used is few traditional abbrevations² in the direction to the pharmacist and on the label.

A more serious problem is the naming of drugs. In the old days, drags had only one official зате and drug companies did not have many trade names. At present, each drug has at least three names. They are the chemical name, the so-called generic name, and trade name³. The chemical name is difficult to use and remember except for the simplest drugs because of its length and complexity.

The trade or brand name is the private property⁴ of the drug company and is copy right⁵. Most drags have several trade names because each company producing the drag gives it a different name. It is common practice to capitalize⁶ the first letter of a trade name.

The generic or official name is shorter than the chemical name. It is public property and any drag manufacturer may use it. There is only one generic name for each drug. The majority of physicians use trade names in prescriptions. Generic name should be used as the language of prescription. It is known to the specialists of medicine and pharmacy and it is not known to general public. For example, ampicillin is the generic name of a well known antibiotic; alpha-aminobenzyl P - its chemical name; Omnipen, Penbritin, Polycillin, etc. are its trade names.

Dosage. It goes without saying⁷ that a prescription cannot be written without a very good knowledge of the dose effects of drags. Each drag has its own dose specification⁸ dependent on pharmacological properties, metabolism of the drug. It should have the following information:

1. Name and address of the physician and his telephone number. The title M.D. (Medical Doctor) should follow the physician's name to indicate that he or she is a physician.

2. Usually at the top - patient's name, address, age and the date.

3. Symbol R_x. This is about the same as "Dear Sir" on top of a letter. It comes from Latin and means a command for a patient "you take".

4. The body of the prescription contains the name of the drag and the dose.

5. Under the body of the prescription should be written the directions to the pharmacist. It is called subscription. In modern prescriptions it consists only of the form of the medicine (powder, tablet, capsules, etc.) and the number of units.

6. The directions to the patient as to how he should take the medicine. It is called the label or "signature".

Notes:

¹unique - унікальний

²traditional abbreviations - традиційні скорочення

³generic name and trade name - офіцінальна (фармакопейна) та торгова назва

⁴private property - приватна власність

⁵is copy right - на неї (назву) розповсюджується авторське право

⁶to capitalize - писати з великої літери

⁷it goes without saying - нічого й говорити

⁸dose specification - інструкція з дозування ' .

Exercise 4. Read the Latin codes and their equivalents used in English prescriptions. Translate them into Ukrainian.

a.c. - before meals

h-hour

і - one or one time

ne.rep. (n.r.) - means to the pharmacist that the prescription is not to be repeated

p.r.n. - as needed

Sig. - signature

i.i.stat. - two tablets at once

i.q. 4h. - one capsule every 4 hours

in - mix

tabs - tablets

t.i.d. - three times a day

i.d. - once a day

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences with the necessary words from the text.

1. The trade name is usually known to the specialists of medicine and isn't known to.... 2. Generic names are known to the specialists of ... and ... . 3. The body of the prescription contains ... .4. ... drugs had only one official name. 5. Chemical names are difficult... , hard ... , and difficult .... 6. A prescription cannot be written without a very ... knowledge of the dose effect of the drug.

Exercise 6. Discuss the text answering the questions.

1. In what language are prescriptions written in Great Britain? 2. Is Latin used in prescriptions at present? 3. How many names does a drug possess? 4. What name of the drag is difficult to use and remember? 5. Why are trade names of drugs mostly selected? 6. What drag names are not known to general public? 7. On what does the dose of a drag depend? 8. What does the title M.D. in prescription indicate? 9. Are the name and address of the physician written on a prescription? 10. How many parts does a prescription consist of? 11. What medicinal forms are known to you? 12. In what language are indications to drug administration written? 13. What is the difference between English and Ukranian prescriptions?