PHARMACOLOGY
Doctor of Dental Medicine
3rd Year, 1st SEM Midterms
PRESCRIPTION
A legal document that carries regulations to ensure safe
use and to comply with governmental regulations.
TYPES OF LEGAL PRESCRIPTION
1. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – are drugs that the
federal government has designated to be
potentially harmful unless their use is supervised
by a licensed health care provider.
2. NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – are drugs that
are designated by the FDA to be safe (if taken as
directed) and obtained without a prescription.
DRUG CATEGORIES
• CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES – are the most
carefully monitored of all drugs. These drugs have:
✓ High potential for abuse
✓ Cause physical or psychological
dependence
• PHYSICAL DEPENDENCY – compulsive need to
use a substance repeatedly to avoid mild to severe
withdrawal symptoms. Body’s dependence on
repeat administration of drugs.
• PSYCHOLOGICAL DEPENDENCY – is a
compulsive to use a substance to obtain a
pleasurable experience. Mind’s dependence on
repeat administration of drugs.
SCHEDULES OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
➢ Schedule I (C-I)
✓ High abuse potential
✓ No accepted medical use in the United
States
➢ Schedule II (C-II)
✓ Potential for high abuse with severe physical
or psychological dependence
➢ Schedule III (C-III)
✓ Less abuse than Schedule II drugs
✓ Potential for moderate abuse with severe
physical or psychological dependence
➢ Schedule IV (C-IV)
✓ Less abuse than Schedule III drugs
✓ Limited dependence potential
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UNDAG, SHIHKIA
➢ Schedule V (C-V)
✓ Limited abuse potential
ESSENCE OF GOOD PRESCRIPTION WRITING
1. Ensure that the pharmacist knows exactly which
drug formulation and dosage to dispense.
2. The patient has explicit written instructions for self-
administration of the prescribed drug.
ERRORS IN PRESCRIPTION WRITING
1. Wrong dose such as incorrect calculation of a
pediatric dose.
2. Prescription written for a patient whose medical
condition creates a contraindication for taking the
drug.
RULES FOR PRESCRIPTION WRITING
1. Written prescriptions should be legible, accurate,
include complete information, and be written in ink.
2. Prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances
must be written in ink, indelible pencil, or
typewritten.
3. Blank prescription sheets should not have the name
of a pharmacy or pharmaceutical company
imprinted on the forms, to avoid the appearance of
product endorsement.
4. Pads should be kept in a drawer or secure location
when not in use to avoid theft or loss.
5. A duplicate of each written prescription
(medicolegal reasons) or a record of drugs
prescribed should be kept in the patient’s record.
6. English instructions should be used, rather than
Latin abbreviations, to ensure clarity in filling the
prescription and printing patient instructions.
ELEMENTS OF THE PRESCRIPTION
1. Name and address of the prescriber - most
prescription blanks are imprinted with the name,
address, telephone numbers, and other pertinent
information (such as the availability of the physician
at a particular time, if a physician is practicing in
more than one hospital) of the physician or his/her
practice site.
2. Patient’s name, age, sex, address, and date - the
date of prescription should be written near the top.
 PHARMACOLOGY
Doctor of Dental Medicine
3rd Year, 1st SEM Midterms UNDAG, SHIHKIA

3. of the prescription form or at the beginning of the

chart order.

4. Superscription - it consists of Latin symbol Rx

meaning take thou or you take, and it has been
believed to be an innovation to Horus and Jupiter,
the father of Gods whose help is wished to make
the prescription effective.

5. Inscription – it is the principal part or body of the

prescription which specifies the medication, its
strength, the dosage, and direction for use by the
patient.

6. Subscription – this part of the prescription consists

of directions to the pharmacist for dispensing or
preparing the prescription.

7. Signatura – the words, usually abbreviated sigma

or sig means mark thou.

8. Prescriber’s signature and registration number

– this part consists of the prescriber's signature and
registration number or respective medical or dental
council which is also required as per law by every
country.

NOTE: Pharmacists are required to dispense the

trademarked products when prescribed.

PARTS OF THE PRESCRIPTION

• HEADING – the heading identifies the prescriber

(name, phone number, address), exhibits the date
of the prescription, and lists the patient information
(name, age, and weight [for children] and address).

• BODY – the body tells the pharmacist the specific

drug, dose, or concentration, and amount to be
dispensed. It also provides directions to the patient
(transcribed by the pharmacist to the packaged
drug) that state precisely how the patient is to self-
administer the drug.

• CLOSING – the closing provides a space for the

signature of the prescriber, the prescriber’s PRC
number (if applicable), instructions to the • COMPLIANT PATIENT – who follows the therapeutic
pharmacist about product selection if generic can
regimen recommended by the clinician.
be substituted for the brand-name product), and
other items, such as the number of refills allowed.
• NON-COMPLIANT – the regimen is not followed to
the extent that therapeutic goals are not achieved.

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 PHARMACOLOGY
Doctor of Dental Medicine
3rd Year, 1st SEM Midterms UNDAG, SHIHKIA

DETERMINANTS OF COMPLIANCE THE REPUBLIC ACT 6675 OF THE GENERICS

ACT OF 1998
1. The disease
2. The patient This law mandated generic labeling by drug
3. The practitioner manufacturers, generic prescribing by physicians,
4. The treatment regimen generic dispensing by pharmacists, and the choice of
5. Economic factors generics by consumers.
6. The interaction of each of these factors
GUIDELINE ON PRESCRIBING MEDICINES
NON-COMPLIANCE IN CHILDREN PURSUANT TO THE GENERICS ACT 1988
➢ Complicated by a parent-guardian factor.
➢ Dislike for the taste or smell of the 1. Generics name shall be used in al
medication. prescriptions.
➢ Doses = skipped or discontinued when 2. The generic name must be written in full but the
symptoms disappear. salt or chemical form may be abbreviated.
3. The generic name of the drug ordered must be
NON-COMPLIANCE IN THE GERIATRIC clearly written on the prescription immediately
PATIENT after the Rx symbol or on the order chart.
➢ Not uncommon
➢ Transportation problems (1) If written on a prescription pad, the brand name
➢ Expense enclosed in parenthesis shall be written below
➢ Lack of trust in the doctor or therapy the generic name.
(2) If written on a patient’s chart, the brand name
OTHER NON-COMPLIANCE ISSUES
enclosed in parenthesis shall be written after
➢ Taking the drug at inappropriate times, such
the generic name.
as taking at or before meals when food can
prevent absorption of the drug VIOLATIVE, ERRONEOUS, AND IMPOSSIBLE
➢ Stopping medication too soon and not taking PRESCRIPTIONS
the full course of the drug
➢ Getting prescription filled, but never taking VIOLATIVE PRESCRIPTIONS
the drug 1. Where the generic name is not written.
2. Where the generic name is not legible and a
COUNSELING FOR A PRESCRIPTION brand name that is legible is written.
3. Where the brand name is indicated and
1. Why the drug was needed? instruction added (such as the phrase “no
2. What can occur if the drug is not taken? substitution”) which tends to obstruct, hinder or
3. Clear instructions for when to take the drug prevent proper generic dispensing.
(including factors that can cause the drug to be ERRONEOUS PRESCRIPTIONS
ineffective) 1. Where the brand name precedes the generic
4. Possible side effects that can occur and how to name.
manage them 2. Where the generic name is the one in
5. Situations that require notofication of the parenthesis.
dentist, such as burning mouth, bloody 3. Where the brand name is not in parenthesis.
diarrhea, hives or evidence of allergic reactions,
and so forth. IMPOSSIBLE PRESCRIPTIONS
1. When the only generic name is written but is not
REPUBLIC ACT 2328 OR THE PHILIPPINE
legible.
MEDICAL ACT
2. When the genric name does not correspomd to
Physicians are the only ones authorized to the brand name.
prescribe and, similarly, oonly registered pharmacists 3. When both the generic name and the brand
can dispense and sell medicines under the Republic Act name are not legible.
5921 or Pharmacy Law. 4. When the drug priduct is not registered with the
Beaureu of Food and Drug.

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 PHARMACOLOGY
Doctor of Dental Medicine
3rd Year, 1st SEM Midterms UNDAG, SHIHKIA

▪ ABBREVIATION INDEX – list of abbreviations

CATEGORIZING DRUGS, CLASSES, NAMES,
adopted in MIMs for commonly used words, medical
AND SCHEDULES
terminologies and druf regulations symbols.

▪ PIMS – Philippines Index for Medical Specialties o Ex. IP – intraperitoneal

▪ MIMS – Monthly Index for Medical Specialties CI - contraindicated
(The global term for a therapeutic Index) BUN – blood urea nitrogen
DR – delayed release
▪ PREGNANCY SAFETY INDEX
✓ Currently incorporated in the drug listing as
“Preg Safety (US)’ DRUG REGULATION
✓ Guide for the safe prescribing of drugs in
pregnancy based on the US FDA pregnancy DD, RX – dangerous drug as listed in the Dangerous
categories Drugs Act of 2002; supplied only on official
prescription forms issued by the Dangerous
Drugs Board.
➢ Categories A – controlled studies in women
fail to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the
EDD, RX – medicine not classified as dangerous but
1st trimester (and there is no evidence of a containing any amount of prohibited or regulated
risk in later trimesters) and the possibility of drugs supplied on ordinary prescription forms.
fetal harm remains remote.
RX – prescription medicine; supplied on prescription
➢ Categories B – either animal reproduction only. Sold or supplied to the public without
studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk restriction.
but there are no controlled studies in
pregnant women or animal reproduction NON-RX – nonprescription medicine; supplied without
studies have shown an adverse effect (other need for prescription.
than a decrease in fertility) that was not
confirmed in controlled studies in women in PHARMACOLOGICAL CLASSES AND
the 1st trimester (and there is no evidence of SUBCLASSES (BASED ON MEDICAL MIMS)
a risk in the later trimester.
1. Haemostatics
➢ Categories C – either studies of animals
have revealed adverse effects on the fetus 2. Central Nervous System
(teratogenic or embryocidal or other) and a. Anxiolytics
there are no controlled studies in women or b. Hynotics
studies in women and animals are not c. Antipsychotics
available. d. Analgesics (Opioid)
e. Analgesics (Non-Opioid) & Antipyretics
➢ Categories D – there is positive evidence of f. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs
human fetal risk but the benefits from use in
3. Musculo-Skeletal System
pregnant women may be acceptable despite
a. Anti-inflammatory Enzymes
the risk (if the drug is needed for a life-
threatening situation or for a serious disease 4. Anti-Infectives (Systemic)
for which safer drugs cannot be used or are a. Aminoglycosides l. Antivirals
ineffective). b. Cephalosporins
c. Penicillin’s
➢ Categories X - studies in animals or human d. Other Beta-Lactams
beings have demonstrated fetal e. Chlorophenicol
abnormalities or there is evidence of fetal f. Macrolides
risk based on human experience or both and g. Quinolones
the risk of the use of the drug in pregnant h. Tetracyclines
women clearly outweighs any possible i. Antibacterial Combinations
benefit. j. Other Antibiotics
k. Antifungals
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 PHARMACOLOGY
Doctor of Dental Medicine
3rd Year, 1st SEM Midterms UNDAG, SHIHKIA

5. Vitamins & Minerals

a. Vitamin A, D, E
b. Vitamin B-complex/with C
c. Vitamin C
d. Calcium/with Vitamins
e. Vitamins &/or Minerals
f. Vitamin and Minerals (Geriatric)
g. Vitamin and Minerals (Paediatric)

6. Mouth/Tooth Preparations

7. Dermatologicals
a. Skin Antiseptics & Disinfectants
b. Medicated Surgical Dressings

8. Anaesthetics – Local & General