Question

Interpret the following medication orders:

1. naproxen 250 mg p.o. b.i.d.______________________________________________________
2. cefaclor 500 mg p.o. stat, then 250 mg q.8h ________________________________________

3. Ativan 10 mg IM q.4h p.r.n., agitation ______________________________________________
4. Mylanta 10 ml p.o. p.c. at bedtime_________________________________________________
5. atropine sulphate ophthalmic 1% 2 gtt o.d. q.15 min x 4 _______________________________

6. Compare and contrast t.i.d. and q.8h administration times. Include sample administration time for each in your explanation.

7. Describe your action if no method of administration is written?

8. Do q.i.d. and q4.h have the same meaning? Explain.

9. Name the seven parts of a written medication prescription.

10. Who determines the medication administration times?

Answer 1

#naproxen 250 mg p.o. b.i.d. : this order says that naproxen with dose 250 mg is to be given by mouth (p.o.) twice in a day (bid).
# cefaclor 500 mg p.o. stat, then 250 mg q.8h : This order says that cefaclor with dose 500 mg needs to be given immediately (stat) by mouth (p.o.). This is followed by cefaclor with dose 250 mg to be given every 8 hourly (q8h).
# Ativan 10 mg IM q.4h p.r.n., agitation : this order says that 10 mg of ativan drug is to be given intramuscularly every four hourly as necessary for agitation.
# Mylanta 10 ml p.o. p.c. at bedtime : this order says that 10 ml of mylanta is to be given by mouth after meal at bedtime.
# atropine sulphate ophthalmic 1% 2 gtt o.d. q.15 min x 4 : this order says that 2 drops of 1% of atropine sulphate opthalmic is to be installed every 15 minutes for four applications.
# No tid and q8h are not same. tid means three times in a day while q8h means that the drug needs to delivered every 8 hourly. For q8h the time difference if 8 hours between drug administration should be strictly followed while there is no such requirement in tid dose.
For eg cefaclor 250 mg q8h needs to be given every 8 hourly.
Ambroxol tid means ambroxol needs to be given 3 times a day.
# if no route of administration is mentioned follow up with the physician or other senior authorities in charge to confirm the route of administration.
# No qid means drug is to be given four times a day while q4d is every four hourly the drug needs to administered.
# The seven parts of medication prescription are :

- medicine prescriber information

- patient information such as name, date of birth, age

- medication name and dose

- medication frequency and administration timing

- amount of drug dose to be dispensed to the patient.
- number of refills

- prescriber signature.
# The medication administration time is determined by the physician in charge or the prescribing practitioner.