You receive a prescription that reads “Lipitor 10 mg i po qhs 30d NRF.” From this mix of abbreviations and numbers, you should be able to determine…
- Medication
- Dose
- Route
- Frequency
- Duration
- Refills
Sig codes are shorthand ways to write out prescriptions and instructions for taking them
Why We Use Them
Sig refers to the Latin word “signetur” which means “let it be labeled”
These abbreviations originate from the Latin words meaning “by mouth” (per os > PO) or every 4 hours (quaque 4 hora > q4h)
Consider the abbreviation RX, which refers to a prescription. This is derived from the Latin word “recipe”
You won’t need to know the Latin roots for your exam, but understanding they aren’t letters pulled out of thin air may help in understanding the meaning behind each phrase
Common Sig Codes
As you scan through the hundreds of Sig codes, it can feel overwhelming
A good way to get familiar with these codes is to practice. Memorizing is one thing, but reading and interpreting their meaning is another
Reading Sig Codes
A prescription should consist of a verb (take, apply, give), quantity (amount per dose), dosage form (caps, tablets), route (mouth, eye, ear), and frequency (once a day, twice a day)
When you begin working as a tech you will find many RXs do not look exactly like this format. You may have to do a little interpreting (with the help of the pharmacist)
Practice Questions
Get a piece of paper and a pencil. Try to write down your answers without looking above, and see how many you get!
1. i cap po qam 30d
2. ii ggts ou tid 7d
3. Write the sig for “take one tablet by mouth in the morning for cholesterol”
4. insert i supp vag qpm
5. i tab po pc prn abd
6. Write the sig for “1 orally disintegrating tablet by mouth before breakfast and before dinner for 30 days”
Challenge Questions
7. Write the sig for “1 tablet sublingually every 4 to 6 hours as needed for nausea and vomiting”
8. You receive a sig that says “gtts au q6h inf x30D.” What is missing from this prescription?
9. The doctor sends a prescription for Lipitor that reads “po ch 30D” There are no refills but there is a written quantity below the sig for 60 tablets. Can this prescription be dispensed as is?
Answers
1. Take one capsule by mouth every morning for 30 days
2. Instill two drops into each eye three times a day for seven days
3. 1 tab PO qam CH
4. Insert one suppository vaginally every night
5. Take one tablet by mouth after meals as needed for abdominal pain
6. i ODT PO AB and ASU 30D
7. i tab SL q4-6h prn nv
8. The number of drops to instill for each dose
9. No, the doctor must be called to clarify the order or have a new RX sent. This is missing the quantity per day and could be misinterpreted as
- 1 twice a day
- 2 once a day
- 1 once a day for 2 months