Rx Prescription Identification
A medication prescription is a communication between your doctor and the pharmacist. The communication may be handwritten or transmitted electronically.
Other People Are Reading
-
Identification
-
Your doctor's prescription has sections for demographic information, physician identification, and drug orders.
Features
-
The prescription includes your name and identifying information such as a date of birth. It lists the doctor's name, credentials, contact information, and medical license number. The drug information section specifies the name, dosage, and frequency of use for the medicine.
-
Considerations
-
Prescriptions may identify either the generic name (e.g., rosuvastatin) or the proprietary name (e.g., Crestor) of the drug. The doctor will also indicate why he or she is prescribing this drug for you. It's important for you to be able to understand this information and share it with any other providers caring for you.
Procedure
-
The pharmacist translates what the physician has written and conveys it clearly on the medication label. You'll also receive a patient handout that tells you what the drug is for, how to take it appropriately, and any possible side effects.
Warning
-
Prescriptions often contain a number of Latin terms, as well as confusing abbreviations for those terms. While it's fine to read the prescription before handing it over to the pharmacist, don't assume you understand what the doctor has written.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Fotolia.com, courtesy of Alex Anstey
