Tag: How to read a prescription

According to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report, over one-third of adverse drug events occur in outpatient settings, often due to poor patient understanding of drug labels. Learning what is the abbreviation SIG in prescriptions is crucial for decoding the specific instructions for your medication, a critical factor in ensuring safe and effective treatment.

An estimated 400+ Latin and English abbreviations are still used in pharmacy, some of which are not obvious to the patient. If you see 'EA' on a prescription, it typically refers to a pharmacy or insurance billing process known as Expedited Authorization, not a direct medication instruction.

According to studies, medication errors are a leading cause of patient harm, often stemming from misunderstood abbreviations. If you have wondered 'What does 3/7 mean in drug prescription?' it's important to understand this shorthand, as it refers to the duration of treatment, a crucial detail for patient safety and effective care.