EXERCISE NO.

2
MEDICATION ORDER AND DRUG LABELS

I. OBJECTIVES
1. To master the meaning of latin abbreviations used in the medication order.
2. To be able to interpret the labels of the medications.

II. DISCUSSION
MEDICATION ORDER
Prescription is an order of medication issued by a physician, dentist, veterinarian, or other
properly licensed medical practitioner. It contains the following information; patient’s name,
name of the drug, the dose, route of administration, and frequency of administration. In a
hospital setting, the forms are somewhat different and they are referred to as medication order.

Prescription orders may come in different forms:

1. In an outpatient setting, a doctor or healthcare professional who is licensed to prescribe
drugs writes an order on a prescription form and gives it directly to the patient; it is
sometimes called as DIRECT HANDOFF.
2. In inpatient facilities, doctors generate prescription orders in one of these ways;
a. by entering the order in a computer system that transmits it to the pharmacy and
nurse’s station.
b. by writing on the drug order sheet on the patient’s chart.
c. by faxing the order to the pharmacy.

Common Medical Abbreviations Used in Prescription Orders:

ABBREVIATION INTERPRETATION ABBREVIATION INTERPRETATION
Route: General:
IM intramuscular ā before
IV intravenous p after
IV PB intravenous piggy back c with
SC* subcutaneous s without
SL sublingual q every
ID intradermal aq water
p.o. by mouth, orally NPO nothing by mouth
O.D. right eye ss one-half
O.S.* left eye gtt drop
O.U.* both eye tab tablet
 ABBREVIATION INTERPRETATION ABBREVIATION INTERPRETATION
A.D.* right ear cap capsule
A.S.* left ear et and
A.U.* both ears noct night
[*} commonly encountered medication error cc* cubic centimeter

Frequency:
a.c. before meals q.i.d four times a day
p.c. after meals min. minute
ad. lib. As desired, freely h hour
p.r.n. when necessary q.h. every hour
h.s.* hour of sleep, at bed time q.2h every two hours
stat immediately, at once q.3h every three hours
q.d.* once a day, everyday q.4h every four hours
q.o.d.* every other day q.6h every six hours
b.i.d. twice a day q.8h every eight hours
t.i.d. thrice a day q.12h every twelve hours

MISCELLANEOUS ABBREVIATION:
AMA against medical advice
ASAP as soon as possible
BP blood pressure
BPM breaths/beats per minute
D/C or dc discontinue
KVO keep vein open
NKA no known allergies
P pulse
R respiration

DRUG LABELS
Drug labeling refers to the printed information that accompanies a drug, including the label, the
wrapping and the package insert. Drug labeling is regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). This regulation applies to prescription drugs, over-the-counter (non
prescription) drugs, and dietary supplements.
The FDA requires that drug labeling be balanced and not misleading. The label must be
scientifically accurate and provide clear instruction to health care practitioners for prescription
drugs and to consumers for over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Labeling regulations
require that the statement of ingredients must include all ingredients, in order in which they are
used in the drug. These ingredients must also be identified by their established name.
The Generic Name of the drug must be identified in all drug labels. Some Brand Names are
followed by the ® sign, meaning the name is registered occasionally; only the Generic name
appears.
Other pertinent information included in drug label is as follows;
1. Therapeutic use of the medication
2. Potency/Dosage Strength-weight of the active drug
3. Dosage Form-tablet, capsule, powders, suspension, solution, etc.
4. Supply Dosage- dosage strength ad form which usually reads together
e.g. 20mg/mL; 100,000 USP Units ML
5. Total Volume- of liquid in containers
6. Indication
7. Administration Route- like oral, sublingual, injection, rectal, vaginal, IV, IM use. (Unless
otherwise specified, tablets, capsules, and caplets are intended for oral use)
8. Direction for reconstitution/mixing- for powdered form of drugs
9. Name of the manufacturer
10. Expiration Date- medications should either be used or discarded, or returned to the
pharmacy by this date
11. Lot and registration number
Before dispensing the drug, the pharmacist should compare the order and label; the secret to drug
safety is to CHECK and CHECK AGAIN. He should carefully compare the drug’s label with
each part of the medication administration record and hold the label next to the administration
record to ensure accuracy
The following are reminders to a pharmacist before a drug is given, e.g. Furosemide (Lasix)
40mg P.O. tablet.
3. Check drug names
Read the drug’s generic name on the administration record and compare it to the generic
name on the label. They both should indicate furosemide

4. Check the dosage, route and record.

Read the dosage on the administration record and compare it to the dose on the label.
They
both should indicate 40 mg
Read the route specified on the administration record and compare it with the label. The record
should say P.O.; the label should indicate oral tablet.

3. Check the orders and labels several times.

Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _______________
Group Number: _____________________________________ Score: _______________

Exercise No. 2
Medication Order and Drug Labels

Interpret the Medication order and provide the information needed below.
LNU HOSPITAL
Mendiola, Manila
DATE TIME A.M. Rm.101 10/25/10
10/27/10 10 P.M Cristina Diaz
12-14-60
Matimtiman St. CARITAS
Diabenese 0.1g po qd ac breakfast Malolos City ROMAN CATHOLIC

ORDERS NOTED:
Date: 10/27/10 Time: 10:05 am
Nurses signature: ________________

SIGNATURE: FILLED BY: DATE:

L. SANTIAGO M. D.

Date the order was written: ________________________________

Time order was written: ___________________________________
Name of drug: __________________________________________
Dose: _________________________________________________
Route of administration: ___________________________________
Frequency of administration: _______________________________
Name of Prescriber: ______________________________________
Name of Patient: ________________________________________
Date of Admission: ______________________________________
Date the order was written: ________________________________
Interpretation of each drug order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Name of Prescriber: _______________________________________
Name of Patient: _________________________________________
Allergies: _______________________________________________
Physician: _______________________________________________
Laboratory Exercise in Hospital Pharmacy

Interpret the following physician’s drug orders:

1.Valium 5 mg p.o. b.i.d
_____________________________________________________________________________
2. Benzyl Penicillin 1,000,000 U IM q6h
_____________________________________________________________________________
3. NPH insulin 30 U SQ q.d. 30 min ā breakfast
_____________________________________________________________________________
4. Morphine SO 4 ¼ gr IM q.4h p.r.n., pain
_____________________________________________________________________________
5. Mylanta 5mL p.o. 1 h a.c., 1 h p.c., h.s., et q2h p.r.n. @ noc.
_____________________________________________________________________________
6. Digoxin 25 mcg p.o. q.d.
_____________________________________________________________________________
7. Toradol 60mg IM stat and q6h
_____________________________________________________________________________
8. Tobramycin ophth. 2 gtt O.S. q6h
_____________________________________________________________________________
9. Antipyrine + Benzocaine otic gtts ii A.U. t.i.d. et h.s.
_____________________________________________________________________________
10. Furosemide 20 mg IV PB (slowly)
_____________________________________________________________________________
11. Colace 100 mg PO b.i.d p.c.
_____________________________________________________________________________
12. Folic acid 1 mg P.O. daily
_____________________________________________________________________________
13. Nifedipine 20 mg S.L. q4h
_____________________________________________________________________________
14. ASA grain v P.O. t.i.d.
_____________________________________________________________________________
15. D/C penicillin I.V., start Penicillin G 800,000 units P.O. q6h

_____________________________________________________________
Identify the information requested:
Label A:

A. Generic Name: ____________________________________________________________

Brand Name: ________________________________________________________________

Dosage Strength: _____________________________________________________________

Dosage Form: _______________________________________________________________

Manufacturer: _______________________________________________________________

Drug Registration No. _________________________________________________________

Expiry Date: _________________________________________________________________

Dose to be given to a child weighing 20 lb: _________________________________________

Label B:
Generic Name: _______________________________________________________________
Brand Name: _________________________________________________________________
Dosage Strength: ______________________________________________________________
Quantity of Drug: ______________________________________________________________
Expiration Date: _______________________________________________________________
Special Instructions: ____________________________________________________________
Auxilliary label: _______________________________________________________________
Total dose to be given to a child per day: ____________________________________________
Label C:

C. Generic Name: ____________________________________________________________

Brand Name: ________________________________________________________________

Dosage Strength: _____________________________________________________________

Dosage Form: _______________________________________________________________

Supply dosage: _______________________________________________________________

Total volume: ________________________________________________________________

Manufacturer: _______________________________________________________________

Storage of the drug: ____________________________________________________________

Label D:
D. Generic Name: ____________________________________________________________

Brand Name: ________________________________________________________________

Dosage Strength: _____________________________________________________________

Dosage Form: _______________________________________________________________

Supply dosage: _______________________________________________________________

Total volume: ________________________________________________________________

Manufacturer: _______________________________________________________________

Total dose for infant per day: ____________________________________________________

Questions:
1. Why is the generic name always present on a drug label even without having trade name?

2. What is the relevance of the following information found on a drug label?

a. Lot number

b. Expiration Date

c. Route of administration

d. Manufacturer
3. What is/are the effect(s) on the drug and on the patient if the instructions for storage
conditions were not followed?

4. What is the significance of USP following the drugs’ generic name?