Prescriptions are legal, clinical documents that communicate a prescriber’s therapeutic intent, specifying drug, dose, route, frequency and duration. For B.Pharm students, understanding prescription definition and parts — superscription, inscription, subscription, and signa (directions) — is essential for safe dispensing, checking legality, preventing medication errors, and ensuring counseling. This topic covers prescription components, common Latin abbreviations, dosing calculations, controlled‑drug notation, units and error‑prone abbreviations, plus documentation and quality checks. Mastery helps pharmacists verify appropriateness, identify interactions and advise patients correctly. Emphasis on legibility, completeness and regulatory elements strengthens professional practice. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.
Q1. What is the best concise definition of a medical prescription?
- A verbal order given to a nurse
- A written or electronic instruction from a prescriber to a pharmacist for dispensing a medication
- An invoice for medication charges
- A clinical note describing diagnosis only
Correct Answer: A written or electronic instruction from a prescriber to a pharmacist for dispensing a medication
Q2. Which of the following lists the traditional parts of a prescription?
- Header, body, footer
- Rx symbol only
- Superscription, inscription, subscription, signa
- Diagnosis, prognosis, treatment
Correct Answer: Superscription, inscription, subscription, signa
Q3. What does the superscription of a prescription usually contain?
- Directions for the patient
- The Rx symbol, patient identification and date
- Quantity to be dispensed and dosage form
- Pharmacist’s initials
Correct Answer: The Rx symbol, patient identification and date
Q4. The inscription of a prescription primarily includes:
- Pharmacist’s notes about compounding
- Drug name, strength and dosage form
- Billing codes
- Prescriber’s signature
Correct Answer: Drug name, strength and dosage form
Q5. What information is normally found in the subscription part?
- Patient allergies
- Instructions to the pharmacist such as formulation, quantity and special compounding directions
- Diagnosis and lab results
- Prescriber’s medical school
Correct Answer: Instructions to the pharmacist such as formulation, quantity and special compounding directions
Q6. The term “signa” (Sig.) on a prescription means:
- Pharmacist’s comment
- Directions for the patient on how to take the medicine
- Insurance authorization
- Duplicate copy indicator
Correct Answer: Directions for the patient on how to take the medicine
Q7. Which patient details are essential on a legal prescription?
- Patient name, age or date of birth, and address
- Patient’s employment details
- Patient’s bank account number
- Patient’s family history
Correct Answer: Patient name, age or date of birth, and address
Q8. Which of the following Latin abbreviations means “take” or “recipe” historically used on prescriptions?
- PRN
- Rx
- QD
- PO
Correct Answer: Rx
Q9. Why is including the route of administration on a prescription important?
- It is only for insurance purposes
- Route determines formulation, absorption and patient counseling, and prevents serious medication errors
- It determines the expiration date of the drug
- It is optional and rarely used
Correct Answer: Route determines formulation, absorption and patient counseling, and prevents serious medication errors
Q10. Which element helps verify legal authority to prescribe?
- Pharmacist’s license number
- Prescriber’s registration or license number and signature
- Patient’s signature
- Manufacturer’s batch number
Correct Answer: Prescriber’s registration or license number and signature
Q11. The abbreviation “qd” in traditional prescriptions means:
- Four times daily
- Once daily
- At bedtime
- As needed
Correct Answer: Once daily
Q12. Which abbreviation is considered error-prone and should be avoided on prescriptions?
- PO for by mouth
- U for unit
- mg for milligram
- Tab for tablet
Correct Answer: U for unit
Q13. Which prescribing practice reduces the risk of decimal-related dosing errors?
- Use trailing zeros (e.g., 1.0 mg)
- Use leading zeros for doses less than one (e.g., 0.5 mg) and avoid trailing zeros
- Write doses in words only
- Use commas instead of decimal points
Correct Answer: Use leading zeros for doses less than one (e.g., 0.5 mg) and avoid trailing zeros
Q14. The abbreviation “PO” on a prescription refers to which route?
- Parenteral
- By mouth (per os)
- Topical
- Intramuscular
Correct Answer: By mouth (per os)
Q15. What does “prn” mean when included in the signa/instructions?
- Always take with food
- As needed or when required
- Discontinue immediately
- Take only after laboratory tests
Correct Answer: As needed or when required
Q16. Which practice improves legibility and reduces dispensing errors?
- Using nonstandard abbreviations
- Writing clear drug name (preferably generic), strength, route and dosing frequency in full
- Using handwritten shorthand only known to the prescriber
- Omitting patient age
Correct Answer: Writing clear drug name (preferably generic), strength, route and dosing frequency in full
Q17. What should a pharmacist check first when reviewing a prescription for safety?
- Prescriber’s handwriting flair
- Completeness: patient ID, drug name, strength, dose, route, frequency, duration and prescriber signature
- Cost of the drug
- Number of refills only
Correct Answer: Completeness: patient ID, drug name, strength, dose, route, frequency, duration and prescriber signature
Q18. Which part of the prescription indicates how many units or amount to dispense?
- Signa
- Subscription
- Superscription
- Diagnosis field
Correct Answer: Subscription
Q19. Why is the prescription date important?
- To calculate pharmacy profit
- To determine validity, appropriate dispensing timeframe and detect outdated instructions
- It is not important
- Only for controlled substances
Correct Answer: To determine validity, appropriate dispensing timeframe and detect outdated instructions
Q20. Which of the following reduces the risk of medication errors due to look-alike/sound-alike drug names?
- Prescribe using only brand names
- Include both generic name and brand name when necessary, and write clearly
- Use abbreviations for drug names
- Leave drug name to the pharmacist’s discretion
Correct Answer: Include both generic name and brand name when necessary, and write clearly
Q21. For controlled substances, what additional element is commonly required on a prescription?
- Patient’s height only
- Specific prescriber authorization details such as registration number and stricter signature requirements
- Manufacturer contact
- Pharmacist’s home address
Correct Answer: Specific prescriber authorization details such as registration number and stricter signature requirements
Q22. Which notation tells the pharmacist how long the prescribed therapy should continue?
- Refill note only
- Duration or days supply indicated in the inscription or subscription
- Prescriber’s signature only
- Patient’s history
Correct Answer: Duration or days supply indicated in the inscription or subscription
Q23. Which of the following is the best practice for prescribing pediatric doses?
- Use adult fixed dosing always
- Calculate dose based on weight (mg/kg) and specify the total daily dose and dosing interval
- Round up to the nearest adult tablet regardless of weight
- Use visual estimation of weight
Correct Answer: Calculate dose based on weight (mg/kg) and specify the total daily dose and dosing interval
Q24. Which of these abbreviations indicates ‘twice daily’ commonly used in many regions?
- OD
- BD
- QID
- HS
Correct Answer: BD
Q25. Which item is NOT considered a standard analytical or legal part of a prescription?
- Drug name and strength
- Prescription diagnosis code (optional but possible)
- Subscription instructions
- Amendation stamp unrelated to the prescriber
Correct Answer: Amendation stamp unrelated to the prescriber
Q26. To prevent transcription errors, electronic prescriptions are recommended because they:
- Remove the need for pharmacist verification
- Provide legible, standardized fields and decision support for interactions and dosing
- Are always error-free
- Eliminate the need for patient counseling
Correct Answer: Provide legible, standardized fields and decision support for interactions and dosing
Q27. When a prescription uses an abbreviation the pharmacist does not understand, the correct action is to:
- Assume the most common meaning
- Contact the prescriber for clarification before dispensing
- Dispense nothing and return medication
- Ask the patient to interpret
Correct Answer: Contact the prescriber for clarification before dispensing
Q28. Which of the following best describes a safe way to indicate “no refills” on a prescription?
- Write “refill: 0” or “no refills” clearly on the prescription
- Leave the refill section blank
- Write a scribble in the refill area
- Tell the patient verbally only
Correct Answer: Write “refill: 0” or “no refills” clearly on the prescription
Q29. Which prescription-writing habit can directly lead to accidental overdose due to misinterpretation?
- Using full drug names and clear numerals
- Using trailing zeros (e.g., 2.0 mg) and omitting leading zeros (e.g., .5 mg)
- Specifying route and frequency clearly
- Including patient weight for pediatric dosing
Correct Answer: Using trailing zeros (e.g., 2.0 mg) and omitting leading zeros (e.g., .5 mg)
Q30. Which practice demonstrates good prescription stewardship by a pharmacist?
- Dispensing medicines without verifying interactions
- Reviewing prescription for clinical appropriateness, checking drug interactions and counseling the patient
- Automatically substituting controlled drugs without prescriber consent
- Repackaging medication without labeling
Correct Answer: Reviewing prescription for clinical appropriateness, checking drug interactions and counseling the patient
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com