Medical Prescription - Rx
A medical prescription is an order usually in written form by a qualified health care professional or other therapist for the treatment to be provided to their patient. Prescriptions are typically handwritten on preprinted prescription forms, or may alternatively be using computer these days. The prescription should contain the name and address of the prescribing doctor and any other legal requirement such as registration number of the physician. What is unique for each prescription is the name of the patient, date, the details of the medication and the directions for taking them. Last but not the least the prescription should be appropriately signed by the physician prescribing it.
The symbol "Rx" meaning "prescription" is a transliteration of a symbol. There are various theories as to the origin of this symbol but in literal terms, "Rx" indicates an instruction "to take" what is specified in the prescription. The word "prescription" can also be decomposed into "pre" and "script" and in literal terms means, "to write before" a drug can be prepared.
Who Can Write Prescriptions
In the United States, physicians, veterinarians, dentists, and podiatrists can issue prescriptions. Some states may allow optometrists to issue eyeglass prescriptions for corrective eyeglasses though technically these cannot be termed as medical prescriptions. Even nurse practitioners, physician assistants, optometrists, homeopathic physicians, registered pharmacists, and doctors of some other branches of medicine do have the authority to prescribe.
Non-Prescription Drug Prescriptions
Prescriptions are also used for things that are not strictly regulated as a prescription drug. Doctors will often give non-prescription drugs out as prescriptions because drug benefits plans may reimburse the patient only if the over-the-counter medication is taken under the direction of a doctor. Conversely, if a medication is available over-the-counter, doctors may ask patients if they want it as a prescription and possibly incur a pharmacist's dispensing fee or whether they want to get it themselves at a lower price. If the patient wants the medication not under prescription, the doctor is usually careful to give the medication name to the patient on a blank piece of paper to avoid any confusion with a prescription.
What are over-the-counter drugs?
Over-the-counter or OTC substances are drugs and other medical remedies that may be sold without a prescription and without a visit to a medical professional, in contrast to prescription only medicines (POM). As a general rule, over-the-counter drugs have to be primarily used to treat a condition that does not require the direct supervision of a doctor and must be proven to be reasonably safe and well tolerated with little abuse potential.