2006-10-27 02:38:40 · 6 answers · asked by randy j 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
℞" (also written as "Rx") and "medical prescription" are sometimes used interchangeably. The use of ℞ in prescriptions originated as an astrological symbol that was written for talismanic reasons at the start of medical prescriptions. Later it changed into ℞ (an uppercase R with its tail crossed), and was used as an abbreviation for the Latin word recipe = "take" (imperative), i.e. an instruction to the pharmacist to take the items listed in order to prepare the medicine. When printing came, it was rendered as "Rx"
2006-10-27 02:45:21 · answer #1 · answered by notbreda 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It is the direction to a pharmacist to prepare the following drug. Similar is the word Sig: which is to label with instructions on how the patient is to take the medication.
A normal prescription would read
Rx
MOM (Milk of Magnesia or Magnesia magma) Drug
120 ml. Quantity
Sig: 10 ml. PRN (as needed) Directions
Sometimes we write X3....which means the prescription may be refilled three times.
sometimes we write tabs II q4h which is 2 tablets every four hours. We use other obscure expressions like gtts (drops), or b.i.d. (twice a day) or like KI 8 gtts and a C with a line over it to mean with H20. It is a medical short-hand saves writing out long prescriptions.
2006-10-27 10:19:36 · answer #2 · answered by Frank 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Rx is shorthand for prescription.
Here's from Wikipedia:
(Rx)originated as an astrological symbol that was written for talismanic reasons at the start of medical prescriptions. Later it changed into an uppercase R with its tail crossed, and was used as an abbreviation for the Latin word recipe = "take" (imperative), i.e. an instruction to the pharmacist to take the items listed in order to prepare the medicine. When printing came, it was rendered as "Rx"
2006-10-27 09:53:39 · answer #3 · answered by FL LMT 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
In the olden days medicine was prepared by chemists who literally mixed the ingridients. The preparation for a particular drug was titled 'Recipiere 'drug name'. Nowadys it is shortened as Rx
2006-10-27 09:43:01 · answer #4 · answered by ram_shann 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
it is the presciption note or symbol for the chemist to prepare the drug in previous centuries,remained by now as an order to give prescribed drugs for the pharmacologist & in the pharmacy.
2006-10-27 10:05:37 · answer #5 · answered by condy 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is an old Greek instruction for the apothecary meaning "Take thou".
2006-10-27 09:41:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋