Pharmacy Sig Codes and Roman Numerals - PTCE PTCB Pharmacy Technician CPhT Test Prep
Summary
This video guides viewers through understanding sig codes and Roman numerals used in prescription orders. It explains sig codes as Latin-derived abbreviations for patient instructions, covering categories like time/frequency, extra details, routes of administration, dosage forms, and dispensing information. The video also details common Roman numeral usages for quantities and provides several practical examples to illustrate how these codes and numerals translate into clear patient directions for medication use.
Sections
Introduction to Sig Codes
Sig codes are prescription abbreviations derived from Latin.
Sig codes are prescription abbreviations used by medical professionals, derived from Latin medical abbreviations. 'Sig' is short for the Latin word 'signature', meaning 'let it be labeled'. Understanding sig codes is crucial for data entry of prescription orders and for communicating medication instructions to patients in everyday language.
Time of Day and Frequency Sig Codes
Codes like 'q', 'bid', 'tid', 'qid', 'prn' indicate timing and frequency.
These sig codes specify when or how often a medication should be taken. 'q' means 'every'. Common codes include: qh (every hour), qam (every morning), qpm (every evening), qhs (every night at bedtime), qd (every day or once a day), qod (every other day), qwk (every week), qmo (every month). Codes like q(number)h or q(number)° indicate every specified number of hours (e.g., q6h for every six hours). bid means twice a day, tid means three times a day, qid means four times a day, and prn means as needed.
Extra Detail Sig Codes
Additional instructions like 'ac', 'pc', 'hs', 'stat', 'ud', 'wa' provide more context.
These sig codes provide extra information about how a medication is to be taken or administered. They include: ac (before a meal), pc (after a meal), cf (with food), hs (at bedtime), stat (immediately or now), ud (as directed), wa (while awake), t-a-t or u-a-t (until all are taken), aud (apply as directed), aaa (apply to the affected area), per (by or through), c (with), s (without), dc (discontinue), and t-u-d (take as directed). 'x' followed by a number and 'd' (e.g., x7d) means for that number of days.
Routes of Administration Sig Codes
Codes like 'po', 'sl', 'iv', 'im', 'sc', 'ou', 'od', 'os', 'au', 'ad', 'as', 'pv', 'pr', 'id', 'td', 'ia' specify administration location.
These sig codes indicate where a medication is to be administered or taken. Key routes include: po (by mouth), sl (sublingual, under the tongue), iv (intravenously, into a vein), im (intramuscularly, into a muscle), sc or sq (subcutaneously, under the skin). For eyes: ou (both eyes), od (right eye), os (left eye). For ears: au (both ears), ad (right ear), as (left ear). Other routes include pv (vaginally), pr (rectally), id (intradermally, into the skin), td (transdermally, onto the skin, like a patch), and ia (intra-arterially, into an artery).
Dosage Form Sig Codes
Codes like 'tab', 'cap', 'cr', 'ung', 'lot', 'inh', 'inj', 'gtt', 'syr', 'sol', 'supp', 'susp', 'odt', 'er', 'dr', 'ec' identify the medication's form.
These sig codes specify the dosage form of a medication. Common forms are: tab (tablet), cap (capsule), cr or cre (cream), oint or ung (ointment), lot (lotion), inh (inhalation, e.g., inhaler), inj (injection), gtt (drop, e.g., eye or ear drops), syr (syrup), s-o-l or s-o-l-n (solution), supp (suppository), susp (suspension). Additionally, odt (orally disintegrating tablet), er (extended release), dr (delayed release), and ec (enteric coded) are modifiers often seen with tablets or capsules.
Prescription Order Sig Codes
Dispensing codes like 'qs', 'daw', 'nr', 'r times' inform prescription preparation.
These abbreviations are used to indicate details about how a prescription should be dispensed, not necessarily patient directions. 'qs' means quantity sufficient (the amount needed). 'daw' means dispense as written (do not substitute generics). 'nr' means no refill. 'r times' followed by a number (e.g., r times 3) indicates the number of refills allowed.
Units of Measure Abbreviations
Common units include 'tsp', 'tbsp', 'ml', 'oz', 'mcg', 'mg', 'g', 'u'.
These abbreviations represent common units of measure used in prescriptions: tsp (teaspoonful), tbsp (tablespoonful), ml (milliliter), oz (ounce), mcg (microgram), mg (milligram), g (gram), and u (units, often seen with insulin).
Roman Numerals in Pharmacy
Roman numerals 'ss', 'i', 'v', 'x', 'l', 'c', 'd', 'm' and combinations denote numbers.
Roman numerals are frequently used in sig codes to indicate quantities. Key values include: ss (one-half), i (one), v (five), x (ten), l (fifty), c (one hundred), d (500), and m (1,000). Common combinations seen in prescriptions for lower numbers are: ii (two), iii (three), iv (four), vi (six), vii (seven), viii (eight), and ix (nine).
Examples of Sig Codes
Example 1: 'ii tab po tid' means 'take two tablets by mouth three times a day'.
Translating the sig code 'ii tab po tid': 'ii' is two, 'tab' is tablets, 'po' is by mouth, and 'tid' is three times a day. Therefore, it means: take two tablets by mouth three times a day.
Example 2: 'i gtt od bid' translates to 'place one drop into the right eye twice a day'.
Translating the sig code 'i gtt od bid': 'i' is one, 'gtt' is drop, 'od' is the right eye, and 'bid' is twice a day. Therefore, it means: place one drop into the right eye twice a day.
Example 3: 'aaa ud hs times 7d' means 'apply to affected area as directed at bedtime for 7 days'.
Translating the sig code 'aaa ud hs times 7d': 'aaa' is apply to the affected area, 'ud' is as directed, 'hs' is at bedtime, and 'times 7d' means for seven days. Therefore, it means: applied to the affected area as directed at bedtime for seven days.
Example 4: 'i cap q4h prn' means 'take one capsule every four hours as needed'.
Translating the sig code 'i cap q4h prn': 'i' is one, 'cap' is capsule, 'q4h' is every four hours, and 'prn' is as needed. Therefore, it means: take one capsule every four hours as needed.
Example 5: 'i supp pr qid prn' means 'insert one suppository rectally four times a day as needed'.
Translating the sig code 'i supp pr qid prn': 'i' is one, 'supp' is suppository, 'pr' is rectally, 'qid' is four times a day, and 'prn' is as needed. Therefore, it means: insert one suppository rectally four times a day as needed.
Example 6: '5u sq qpm pc' means 'inject five units under the skin every evening after a meal'.
Translating the sig code '5u sq qpm pc': '5u' is five units, 'sq' is subcutaneously (under the skin), 'qpm' is every evening, and 'pc' is after a meal. Therefore, it means: inject five units under the skin every evening after a meal.
Full Prescription Examples
Example 1: Lisinopril 20mg tab x1 qam, #30, refills x3.
Prescription: Lisinopril 20 milligram tablets. Sig: 'one qam (take one tablet every morning)'. Dispensing: 'number 30' (for 30 tablets). Refills: 'r times 3' (three refills). Overall meaning: Dispense 30 tablets of Lisinopril 20mg, instruct patient to take one tablet every morning, with three refills available.
Example 2: Amoxicillin suspension instructions: 3ml tid for 10 days, qs, nr.
Prescription: Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml suspension. Sig: 'take 3 milliliters by mouth three times a day for 10 days'. Dispensing: 'qs' (quantity sufficient, meaning calculate and dispense the total amount needed for the 10 days). Refills: 'nr' (no refills). Overall meaning: Dispense the calculated quantity of Amoxicillin 250mg/5ml suspension for a 10-day course, with instructions to take 3ml by mouth three times a day, and no refills.
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