Doctors and pharmacists are a well-trained, careful group.  Prescription errors are uncommon, but do occur occasionally.  One study found error occurred only 2% in more than 30,000 new prescriptions.  Confusion over drug names that look and sound alike is a common cause of medication errors (for example Nicoderm or Nitro-Derm, Xanax or Zantac, Fosamax or Flomax)  Drug manufacturers also often use well-established brand names when beginning to sell related-but-different products.  There are five types of Sudafed and 11 different Bayer formulas just to name a few, so it's hard to accurately tell your health care provider which over-the-counter drugs you're using.  Additionally, your doctor's handwriting may be difficult to read, so mistakes can occur that way, too. Whenever you get a prescription filled, you should be told all about it.  If anything your doctor told you seems different from what you're hearing from the pharmacist, talk it over with either of them until you're certain.

Here's what you need to know: What is the brand name and generic name of this drug? What is the medication supposed to do? What should the medication look like?  Does it look like my doctor described?  Does it look like it did last time the prescription was filled? How much do I take, and how often?  What's the maximum daily dose, what do I do if I miss a dose, and how many refill are permitted? How do I take this drug (including instructions for liquids, inhalants, or suppositories and whether the pill can be halved or chewed? Where should I store this medication and when does it expire? What side effects are common and can be ignored, and which ones should I call my doctor about? What other drugs or food should I not take with this medicine, including alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, over-the-counter products, and herbal remedies? By asking lots of questions, you'll protect yourself  and get what your doctor ordered.

Reading Prescriptions

Here's a guide to the Latin abbreviations often used in prescriptions: Rx = take (from the Latin, recipe) ac = before meals (ante cibum) pc = after meals (post cibum) qh = every hour (quaque hora) bid = twice a day (bis in die) tid = three times a day (ter in die) qid = four times a day (quater in die) disp #50 = you should be given 50 pills hs = at bedtime (hora somni) po = by mouth (per os) Sig = label, directions (signetur) prn = as needed (pro re nata)

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