In today’s era, understanding a prescription has become easier since prescriptions have become digital. You no longer have to struggle to understand your healthcare provider’s handwriting. If you obtained your prescription online, it will either be sent directly to the pharmacy or to your phone.

Understanding your prescription is essential for effective treatment and safe medication use. Whether it’s your first time taking a medicine or you need more details, knowing how to read a prescription helps prevent mistakes and ensures the best results for your health.

This blog explains essential elements of medication prescription to help patients acquire the necessary knowledge.

What is a prescription?

A prescription is a legal medical document issued by a licensed healthcare provider after a consultation (in-person or via telehealth) that permits access to medication from a pharmacy. The document specifies medication type while noting dosage strength, timing of use, and the length of the use period.

There are two types of prescriptions available:

1. Printed prescription.
2. Electronic prescriptions, also known as eScripts or digital prescriptions.

What is a digital prescription?

An electronic prescription or eScript is an alternative to a paper prescription. The healthcare provider uses a compliant software system (eRX Script Exchange) to generate a prescription, which will be sent to the patient via SMS or email to prescribe medicine.

Why is a prescription needed?

A prescription is needed to obtain potentially risky medicines that fall under these categories:

• The risk of addiction.
• Severe side effects.
• Medications that require complicated administration methods, such as injection.

A prescription is needed so your healthcare provider can ensure that before prescribing the medication, they have;

• Fully assessed your needs and condition and prescribed the best-suited medication for your health needs.
• Evaluated all other medicines you are taking to avoid any potentially harmful interaction.
• Discussed any risks or adverse effects that could happen.

Importance of medication education

Medication effectiveness depends on a precise understanding of what is in your prescription that protects against adverse prescription errors. Australian healthcare guidelines place great importance on clear communication related to medication.

One must know the following terms for better understanding.

• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidized medications for anyone with a Medicare card in Australia.
• Private prescriptions may include when the patient is not eligible for the medication or the medications that are not listed under PBS.
• Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) subsidized medications for eligible veterans.
• Brand vs. generic name: Knowing the difference between brand and generic name is essential to understand a prescription since the same drug may operate under a brand name while its generic name is different. For example, the generic name of Panadol is paracetamol; both have the same active ingredient.

Parts of Prescription: What is in Your Prescription

The essential components of your prescription include;

Prescriber’s detail: This covers information about the healthcare provider prescribing the medicine, such as the prescriber’s name, contact number (in case you need to contact the prescriber), signature, and address.

Patient’s details: These include the patient’s name, address, and patient type (whether the patient is a general or concession patient).

Medication details: This includes medication name (both brand and generic names), quantity in each container, dose, strength (how strong each tablet is), and whether the medication is in tablet form or syrup.

Prescription type: Whether the prescription is under the PBS or RPBS.

Instructions for use: In this section, directions on how to take the medication are given.

Date: The issuance date of the prescription.

Repeat refill: This includes the information about how many times you can use the same prescription to get the medication, typically 1 to 5.

Token (eRX number): For telehealth prescriptions, a unique barcode known as a token to the patients via email or SMS, which they can show to the pharmacy for dispensing.

Next time you are trying to read a prescription, keep these components in your mind to help you understand your doctor’s prescription.

Tips for Patients

For better prescription understanding, consider the following cues:

• If you do not understand your prescription, ask questions to your healthcare provider.
• Make sure to read all the instructions provided in the medication packaging. These include details about how to take the medicine safely, along with possible side effects and other drug relationships.
• Make a list of all the medications that you are currently taking to avoid any adverse drug interaction.
• Patients can request a telehealth consultation through Doctor Help. A licensed doctor will assess their condition and determine whether a prescription is appropriate.

Final note

To manage your health effectively, it is essential to have a better understanding of your prescriptions. The safety of medication utilization depends on your ability to maintain direct communication with your prescriber. You can actively participate in your treatment decisions by learning about prescription components along with common terminology and seeking education from healthcare providers. You should also implement different lifestyle modifications that might boost treatment outcomes.

Need an online prescription? Doctor Help makes it easy! Consult with a licensed doctor from the comfort of your home. Book an appointment now.

Disclaimer: All prescriptions, whether online or in-person, require a qualified medical professional to assess the patient’s condition before issuing a prescription. Doctor Help follows all Australian telehealth and prescribing regulations.

References:

• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (2024, March 4). About prescriptions.
  https://www.health.gov.au/topics/medicines/about-prescriptions
• Fact Sheet – Prescriptions via telehealth state and territory rules. (2023).
  https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-03/prescriptions-via-telehealth-state-and-territory-rules_0.pdf
• Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. (n.d.). Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) | About the PBS.
  https://www.pbs.gov.au/info/about-the-pbs
• Concessional medicines under the RPBS. (2024, January 1). Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
  https://www.dva.gov.au/get-support/health-support/help-cover-healthcare-costs/manage-medicine-and-keep-costs-down/concessional-medicines-under-rpbs