2.2 Parts of a Prescription
Every prescription contains important information that allows the pharmacy team to identify the patient, understand the medication order, prepare the prescription accurately, and support safe medication use. In Canadian community pharmacy practice, pharmacy assistants should be able to recognize the main parts of a prescription and know when missing or unclear information must be referred to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
- ✅ Identify the common components of a prescription
- ✅ Understand the purpose of each section during prescription processing
- ✅ Recognize when information is missing or unclear
- ✅ Understand when to refer a prescription to the pharmacist for review
A complete prescription usually contains the following information:
- Patient information — name, DOB, address, health card number
- Date written — when the prescription was issued
- Medication name — brand or generic name
- Strength and dosage form — e.g., 10 mg tablets
- Directions for use (Sig) — how to take the medication
- Route of administration — oral, topical, etc.
- Quantity to dispense — e.g., 90 tablets
- Number of refills or repeats — e.g., 3 refills
- Prescriber information and authorization — signature, licence number
Patient information identifies who the prescription is for. This is one of the most important safety checks in prescription processing because many patients may have similar names.
- Full name — legal name as it appears on health card
- Date of birth — essential for accurate identification
- Address — when provided or required by pharmacy policy
- Health card number — for billing and identification
- Phone number — for contact and follow-up
The date written is the date the prescription was issued by the prescriber. It helps the pharmacy team determine whether the prescription is current and supports accurate documentation.
Why the date matters:
- It confirms when therapy was ordered
- It helps assess prescription validity
- It supports refill and repeat tracking
- It becomes part of the pharmacy record
The medication name tells the pharmacy which drug has been prescribed. It may be written as a brand name, generic name, or both.
Example: Apo-Ramipril 10 mg tablets
The strength identifies how much active medication is in each tablet, capsule, millilitre, patch, or other dosage unit. The dosage form identifies the physical form of the medication.
| Prescription Entry | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ramipril 10 mg tablets | 10 mg strength, tablet dosage form |
| Amoxicillin 250 mg/5 mL suspension | 250 mg per 5 mL, liquid dosage form |
| Salbutamol 100 mcg inhaler | 100 mcg per actuation, inhaler dosage form |
Directions for use explain how the patient should take or use the medication. This part of the prescription is often called the Sig.
Example: Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily.
Directions may include:
- Dose — such as 1 tablet or 5 mL
- Route — such as by mouth, into the eye, or on the skin
- Frequency — such as once daily, twice daily, or every 6 hours
- Duration — such as for 7 days or for 14 days
- Special instructions — such as take with food or shake well before use
The route of administration tells the patient how the medication should enter or be applied to the body.
| Route | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Oral | By mouth | Take 1 tablet by mouth daily |
| Topical | Applied to skin | Apply thinly twice daily |
| Ophthalmic | Into the eye | Instill 1 drop into right eye |
| Otic | Into the ear | Instill 3 drops into left ear |
| Inhalation | Breathed into the lungs | Inhale 1 to 2 puffs as needed |
The quantity tells the pharmacy how much medication should be dispensed to the patient.
Examples:
- 90 tablets
- 120 mL
- 1 inhaler
- 30 capsules
Refills or repeats indicate how many additional times the prescription may be dispensed after the original fill. Some prescriptions have no refills, while chronic medications may include multiple repeats.
Examples:
- Refills: 0
- Refills: 3
- Repeats: 12
The prescription must identify the authorized prescriber. In Canada, authorized prescribers may include physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, optometrists, veterinarians, and other regulated healthcare professionals depending on the province and scope of practice.
- Prescriber name
- Professional designation (MD, NP, DDS, etc.)
- Practice address
- Telephone number or fax number
- Registration or licence number (e.g., CPSO number)
A prescription must be authorized by the prescriber. Depending on the format, authorization may appear as a handwritten signature, electronic authorization, secure electronic transmission, faxed signature, or verbal authorization where permitted.
Important: Pharmacy assistants should not change, complete, or interpret unclear prescription information on their own. Missing, unclear, or questionable information must be referred to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician according to pharmacy policy.
Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, CCFP
1250 Yonge Street, Suite 204, Toronto, ON M4T 1W6
Tel: 416-555-xxxx | Fax: 416-555-xxxx
CPSO No.: 112345
| Patient: Ethan Campbell | Date Written: 2026-06-13 |
| Date of Birth: 1990-03-14 | Health Card: 12345xxxxx |
| Allergies: Penicillin | Phone: (416) 555-xxxx |
Apo-Ramipril 10 mg tablets
Directions: Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily.
Quantity: 90 tablets
Refills: 3
Metformin 500 mg tablets
Directions: Take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily with meals.
Quantity: 180 tablets
Refills: 1
Please dispense the generic product unless otherwise clinically appropriate. Counsel patient on medication use, adherence, and missed doses.
Prescriber Signature:
Dr. Sarah Mitchell, MD, CCFP
CPSO No.: 112345
Pharmacy assistants are often the first members of the pharmacy team to receive a prescription. Recognizing each part of a prescription helps identify missing information, improve workflow, and support safe dispensing. Any concern about legality, clarity, appropriateness, quantity, refills, controlled substances, prescriber authority, or patient safety must be referred to the pharmacist.
Test your understanding of prescription parts and validity. Click each option to check your answer.
Question 1: Which of the following is NOT typically found on a valid prescription?
Question 2: The "Sig" on a prescription refers to:
Question 3: A prescription is presented. What key patient information is MISSING?
DOB: (blank)
Take 1 tablet by mouth once daily
Refills: 2
Question 4: Which of the following is an authorized prescriber in Canadian pharmacy practice?
Question 5: A prescription is missing the date written. What should the pharmacy assistant do?
DOB: 1978-01-11
Take 1 tablet by mouth daily
Refills: 3
Date Written: (blank)
Question 6: A prescription reads "Metformin 500 mg tablets, Take 1 tablet twice daily with meals, Quantity: 60 tablets, Refills: 0." How many days will this supply last?
Question 7: Review the prescription below. Which part indicates how many times the patient can get the medication refilled?
DOB: 1995-12-02
Take 4 tablets daily for 5 days, then 3 tablets daily for 5 days, then 2 tablets daily for 5 days, then 1 tablet daily for 5 days
Refills: 0
Question 8: Why is the date written important on a prescription?
Question 9: A prescriber calls and asks the pharmacy assistant to change the directions on the prescription below. What should the assistant do?
DOB: 1969-07-08
Take 1 tablet twice daily
Refills: 2
Question 10: Which dosage form is typically used for inhalation?
Question 11: The patient presents the prescription below. The pharmacy assistant notices the quantity does not match the directions. What is the correct quantity for a 30-day supply?
DOB: 2001-04-16
Take 1 capsule three times daily
Refills: 2
Question 12: A prescriber's office calls and wants the pharmacy assistant to give them the patient's allergy information. What should the assistant do?
DOB: 1988-11-28
Allergies: Peanuts
Take 1 capsule four times daily for 7 days
Refills: 0
Question 13: What should a pharmacy assistant do if a prescription contains unclear directions?
Question 14: A patient brings the prescription below. What should the pharmacy assistant do when they notice the dose is unusually high?
DOB: 1972-09-09
Allergies: NKDA
Take 1 tablet every 4 hours as needed for pain
Refills: 0
Question 15: The patient returns with the prescription below. The pharmacy assistant notices the directions are unclear. What should the assistant do?
DOB: 1999-05-05
P.O. O.D. (directions unclear — write over)
Refills: 0
Understanding the parts of a prescription is essential for pharmacy assistants. Recognizing each component helps identify missing information, improve workflow, and support safe dispensing.
- Key components — patient info, date, medication name, strength, directions, route, quantity, refills, prescriber info, and signature
- Missing information — must be referred to the pharmacist
- Unclear prescriptions — must be clarified by the pharmacist
- Safety — patient safety depends on accurate prescription processing
Remember: When in doubt, always refer to the pharmacist or pharmacy technician.
