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Writing good prescriptions

• careful use of decimal points to avoid ambiguity:

oavoid unneccessary decimal points: 5 mL instead of 5.0 mL to avoid possible misinterpretation of 5.0=50

oalway zero prefix decimals: e.g. 0.5 instead of .5 to avoid misinterpretation with .5=5

onever have trailing zeros on decimals: e.g. use 0.5 instead of .50 to avoid misinterpretation with .50=50

oavoid decimals altogether by changing the units: 0.5 g =500 mg

III.LIQUID PHARMACEUTICAL FORMS IN PRESCRIPTIONS

Solutions – Solutiōnes

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Solutiōnis.

•Solutions can be alcoholic, oil and glyceric, respectively the Latin Genitive forms after “Recipe” are Solutiōnis spirituōsae, Solutiōnis oleōsae, Solutiōnis glycerinōsae (solutio – feminine!), the adjective to be placed at the end of the prescription line before the dosage.

•The solution concentration is indicated in the following way: Recipe:

Solutiōnis Camphŏrae oleōsae 10% - 100 ml.

Mucilages – Mucilagĭnes

•The Genitive form after “Recipe”– Mucilagĭnis.

•The most frequently used mucilage is the starch mucilage: Recipe:

Mucilagĭnis Amўli

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Suspensions – Suspensiōnes

•The Genitive form after “Recipe”– Suspensiōnis.

•E.g.: Recipe: Suspensiōnis Hydrocortisōni

Emulsions – Emulsa

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Emulsi.

•E.g.: Recipe: Emulsi olěi Ricĭni.

Infusions and decoctions – Infūsa et Decocta

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Infūsi, Decocti.

•After the pharmaceutical form parts of medicinal plants are indicated:

Cortex - cortex (Genitive – cortĭcis)

Root - radix (Genitive – radīcis)

Rhizome – rhizōma (Genitive – rhizomătis)

Leaf – folĭum (Genitive singular – folĭi, Genitive plural - foliōrum)

Herb – herba (Genitive – herbae)

Flower– flos (Genitive singular – flores, Genitive plural - florum)

•E.g.: Recipe: Decocti cortĭcis Quercus

Tinctures – Tinctūrae

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Tinctūrae.

•E.g.: Recipe: Tinctūrae Valeriānae.

Extracts – Extracta

• The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Extracti.

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•Three general types of extracts are distinguished: fluid extracts (Extractum fluĭdum – extracti fluĭdi), thick extracts (Extractum spissum – extracti spissi) and dry extracts (Extractum siccum – extracti sicci).

•E.g.: Recipe: Extracti Frangŭlae fluĭdi

Liniments – Linimenta

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Linimenti.

•E.g.: Recipe: Linimenti Synthomycīni.

IV. SEMISOLID PHARMACEUTICAL FORMS IN PRESCRIPTIONS

Ointments – Unguenta

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Unguenti.

•Eye ointment – Unguentum ophthalmĭcum (Unguenti opthalmĭci).

•E.g.: Recipe: Unguenti Zinci.

Pastes – Pastae

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Pastae.

•E.g.: Recipe: Pastae Zinci.

Plasters – Emplastra

•The Genitive form after “Recipe” – Emplastri.

•Simple plaster – Emplastrum simplex (Emplastri simplĭcis).

•E.g.: Recipe: Emplastri Plumbi simplĭcis.

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V. THE MOST-USED PRESCRIPTION PHRASES I