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$Title{How Do You Understand Prescription Writings?}
$Subject{prescription letters symbols medication sig signa write medications
medicine medicines prescriptions scribbling scribblings pharmaceutical
pharmaceuticals writings writing scribble term terms}
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Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


How Do You Understand Prescription Writings?


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QUESTION:  It is hard enough to read my doctor's handwriting on the
prescription blank, but there is no way to understand a line of scribbles at
the bottom which just looks like a string of letters.  I am sure you
understand this puzzle, and I am hoping you will share their meaning with your
readers. Perhaps you might even explain why doctors use these symbols instead
of real words?

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ANSWER:  The reason for scribbling is not readily explainable, but the letters
do have meanings and they are most important in your understanding just how
the medication is to be used.  The medication and its form is usually named in
the upper part of the prescription blank.  The bottom line usually starts with
the letters "SIG", an abbreviation from the Latin "signa" meaning "write".
Following this are the instructions the physician wishes the pharmacist to
write on the prescription label.  All the rest of the letters which follow the
SIG are a type of shorthand, that saves a bit of time, but are quite precise
in their meanings.  I can share some of the more commonly used ones with you,
which may help you decipher your prescription.  The better way, of course, is
to ask questions of both your pharmacist and physician to be sure you
completely understand the correct use of your medication and why it was
prescribed.
     The letters "ad lib" mean "take it freely or when needed", while "a.c."
indicates the medication should be taken "before meals".  Conversely "p.c."
means "after meals".  Bedtime medications are indicated with an "h.s.," and
"ut dict" or "UD" means "as directed.  The timing of medications is quite
important, and there are several notations that deal with this.  "q.d." means
"daily", "b.i.d." means "twice a day", "t.i.d." means "three times a day",
"q.i.d." denotes 4 times a day.  If medication must be taken very regularly,
the doctor may write "q.4.h." for "every 4 hours" or indicate the exact timing
between doses by specifying the exact number of hours.  There are many others
but this will give you a working knowledge of the mysteries of prescription
writing.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.