Guide to prescription writing

Write prescriptions legibly in ink, stating the date, the name and address of the patient and the practice address.
State the age and date of birth of the patient; this is a legal requirement in the case of prescription-only medicines for children under 12 years.
Write the names of drugs and preparations clearly using approved titles only. Do not use abbreviations.
State the pharmaceutical form to be dispensed (i.e. tablet, capsule, liquid) and the required strength; this is particularly important for liquid preparations.

N.B. It is acceptable to abbreviate ‘milligrams’ to ‘mg’ but do not abbreviate ‘micrograms’ or ‘nanograms’; these must be written in full.
State the dose and dose frequency.
State the quantity or volume to be supplied; this may also be indicated by stating the number of days of treatment required in the box provided on NHS forms.

N.B. Where a liquid formulation is prescribed, the volume to be dispensed will be calculated by the dispenser provided that the number of days of treatment required is included. Sugar-free versions, where available, should be prescribed.
In the case of preparations to be taken ‘as required’, specify a minimum dose interval and the total quantity to be supplied.
Sign the prescription in ink.

More about Guide to prescription writing

Dental practitioners should only prescribe within their competence and must make an appropriate assessment of the patient’s condition, taking into account their medical history and any current medication, when prescribing. There is no statutory requirement for the dentist to communicate with a patient’s medical practitioner when prescribing for dental use. There are, however, occasions when this would be in the patient’s interest and such communication is encouraged.

There are no clinical indications for drugs which have controlled drug prescription requirements to be prescribed in primary dental care.

NHS prescription pads must be kept secure to prevent misuse or theft. The Practitioner Services division of NHS National Services Scotland has produced guidance for all prescribers across Scotland. This discusses a range of measures available to prevent and tackle the problem of prescription form theft and misuse at a local level and outlines the recommended action when an incident occurs (see https://www.nss.nhs.scot/media/1614/security-of-prescription-form-guidance-april-2020-ac.pdf).

Further advice on prescription writing is given in the BNF and BNFC (available at www.medicinescomplete.com).

Adverse or unwanted reactions might occur after use of any drug. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA; www.mhra.gov.uk) monitors suspected adverse drug reactions through the Yellow Card Scheme (yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk). Healthcare professionals are advised to record and report any adverse drug reactions using the scheme. Patients and carers can also report suspected adverse reactions to the MHRA using the scheme. More information is available from the BNF (available at www.medicinescomplete.com).

It is also important when prescribing to discuss with the patient any potential side effects, such as nausea or diarrhoea, which may occur.