A prescription in pharmacy is a formal communication from a physician or other registered healthcare professional to a pharmacist, authorizing them to dispense a specific pharmaceutical product to a patient. It contains instructions for the pharmacist to use for compounding the pharmaceutical product, or specifies pharmaceutical products that were manufactured and require little or no preparation by the pharmacist. Additionally, prescriptions contain directions for the patient to follow when taking the drug, which are printed on the label of the pharmaceutical product. The word "prescription" refers to the fact that it is an order that must be written down before a drug can be dispensed.
Prescription drugs, also known as legend drugs, require a prescription because they are considered to be potentially harmful if not used under the supervision of a licensed healthcare practitioner. Certain prescription drugs have additional controls placed upon them and are called controlled or scheduled drugs.
When a prescription is filled, it can be done in different ways, including at a local pharmacy, through mail-order pharmacies, or by electronic means. It is important to ensure that the pharmacy has a record of all the medicines the patient is taking to prevent drug interactions. Additionally, specific information must be included in a prescription for a pharmacist to dispense a controlled substance, such as the date of issue and the patients information.
In summary, a prescription in pharmacy is a crucial document that authorizes the dispensing of specific pharmaceutical products to patients and ensures that the medication is used safely and effectively under the supervision of a healthcare professional.
