Pharmaceutical Services Division

Penang State Health Department

This is a general guide for good prescribing practice within

MOH facilities in Penang State. Users are advised to refer to
the policy currently used at the respective facilities and
update accordingly.

2014
Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

Good Prescribing Principles

A Details Pertaining to Medicines

All prescriptions must be written CLEARLY, LEGIBLY, INDELIBLY and ATTRIBUTABLE.
Write drug names in full.
DO NOT use chemical names or symbols.
Drug name4,5
Use generic drug names.
Specify formulations/ strengths /devices needed when various forms of a medication are
available.
e.g. Actrapid Penfill or Actrapid Vial
DO NOT use trailing zeroes  Use 5mg, NOT 5.0mg
Leading zero in front of a decimal point for dose less than 1  Use 0.5mg, NOT .5mg
Use words or Hindu-Arabic numbers. DO NOT use Roman numerals.
e.g. One, Two, Three or 1, 2, 3.
Dose ≥ 1 gram should be written in grams E.g. 1g, 1.5g, etc.
Dose ≤ 1 gram should be written in milligrams E.g. 500mg, NOT 0.5g
Dose ≤ 1 mg should be written in micrograms E.g. 100mcg, NOT 0.1mg

Dose4,5 Where fractions need to be used, circle the dose to denote clearly.
Write ½ if the intended meaning is ‘half a tablet’.
For figures above 100,
a) Use words to express intent. e.g. One thousand, one million, six million, etc
b) Use commas for dosing units ≥ 1,000 e.g. Syr. Nystatin 100,000 units qid
For insulin, prescribe as ‘units’ in full, e.g. ‘12 units’, NOT 12 u.

For multiple dose insulin, write as:

S/C Actrapid Penfill 12 units am
10 units noon
13 units pm

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

A Details Pertaining to Medicines

For combination drugs, specify strength and quantity of tablets per dose.
e.g. Tab. Glucovance (500mg/5mg) 2 tabs BD
For inhalers, prescribe as number of doses NOT puffs (except for combination inhaler).
Dose4,5 e.g. MDI Budesonide 200mcg BD
Accuhaler Seretide (50mcg/250mcg) 1 puff BD
For psychotropic drugs, prescribe as number of doses NOT number of tablets.
e.g. T. Clonazepam 1mg ON/ PRN x 7 doses
Dose units4,5 Milliliter is abbreviated as mL or ml, NOT cc or cm3.
Avoid acronyms or abbreviations for medical terms (diagnosis) and procedure names on
Diagnosis4,5
orders or prescriptions.
Frequency MUST always be specified.
e.g. Tab. Paracetamol 1g tds / PRN x 10 tablets
Express dosage frequency unambiguously.
Frequency4,5 e.g. Use ‘two times a week’, NOT ‘biweekly’ (confused as ‘every two weeks’)
For drugs to be administered only on specific days of the week, those days must always be
written in full.
e.g. S/C Erythropoietin Beta 2,000 units I.V. 3x/ week on Monday,Wednesday and Friday
Duration should be written clearly on the prescription.
For long term prescriptions, the appointment date (TCA) can be written on the TOP RIGHT
Duration6 of the prescription.
For short term / PRN usage, the number of tablets to be given should be written.
e.g. Tab. Paracetamol 1g tds / PRN x 10 tablets

B Details Pertaining to Patient’s Data

One prescription for one patient.
Patient's full name, full I.C. number (12 digits) or Hospital RN must be stated on all
Patient’s data6 prescriptions for proper identification, age and gender.
AGE and WEIGHT must be stated on all PAEDIATRIC prescriptions.
The DATE when the prescription is written must be stated.

C Details Pertaining to Prescriber

Prescriber’s
Prescriber’s signature & name stamp with MMC, department and hospital must be provided.
information7

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

Error Prone Abbreviations, Symbols and Dose Designation

The abbreviations, symbols and dose designations found in this table have been reported as being frequently
misinterpreted and involved in harmful medication errors.

Abbreviations Misinterpretation Correct Term

µg mg Use ‘mcg’ or ‘microgram’
cc u (units) Use ‘mL’ or ‘ml’
IJ IV or intrajugular Use ‘Inj’
IU IV (intravenous) or 10 (ten) Use ‘units’
q.d. or OD BD or QID Use ‘daily’
U or ü Number 0, number 4 or cc Use ‘units’
ung Not universally understood Use ‘oint’
SR to be written after a drug name.
SR Syrup
e.g. Tab. Morphine SR
Use ‘T’ or ‘Tab’ for tablet, ‘C’ or ‘Cap’ for
O Number 0
Capsule and ‘Syr’ for syrup
Ambiguous  two times a week or
biweekly Use ‘2x/ week’ or ‘every two weeks’
every two weeks
X (10) Ambiguous  10 tabs or 10 doses Prescribe as number of doses.
6/24 six times a day Use ‘6 hrly’ or ‘QID’

1/2 one or two Use ½

I/I , II/II , III/III Use usual dose in numbers.

Different drug dosage available
e.g. Cap. Cloxacillin II/II QID e.g. Cap. Cloxacillin 250 mg QID
Trailing zero after decimal
10 mg Write 1 mg instead of 1.0 mg
point, e.g. 1.0mg
‘Naked’ decimal point,
5 mg Write 0.5 mg instead of .5 mg
e.g. .5mg
Drug name and dose written
Metoprolol 150 mg
closely Place adequate space between the drug
(e.g. Metoprolol50mg; name, dose, and unit of measure.
Bisoprolol 15 mg
Bisoprolol5mg)
Large doses without properly Use commas for dosing units ≥ 1,000 or
placed commas e.g. 100000 100000  10,000 or 100,000 use words such as ‘100 thousand’ or ‘1
units; 1000000 units million’ to improve readability.
Use generic names except for acceptable
Sound alike brand names Losec or Lasix
brand names.
x3d 3 doses Use ‘x3 days’ or ‘3/7’
Number 1 Use ‘per’ rather than a slash mark to
/ (slash mark) e.g. ‘25 units / 10 units’ misread as
separate doses
‘25 units and 110 units’
@ Number 2 Use ‘at’
& Number 2 Use ‘and’
+ Number 4 Use ‘and’

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

Acceptable Terms and Abbreviations

Abbreviations should be avoided at all if possible, but in the event of abbreviations being utilised, only those approved
and contained within this document are permitted to be used within MOH facilities in Penang State.

A. DRUG NAME
1. Drug names must always be written in full generic names.
2. It may sometimes be appropriate to use the brand name (innovator drug) to avoid confusion, such as in:
 Insulins
 Combination products
 Multi-ingredient preparations
 Overly long and complicated drug names
3. Drug names MUST NEVER be abbreviated under any circumstance.
Exceptions:
 Modified release products - slow release, controlled release, continuous release or other modified release
products, the description used in the brand name to denote the release characteristics should be included
with the generic drug name, for example tramadol SR, carbamazepine CR

B. PRESCRIBING TERM
1. Write in full - avoid using abbreviations wherever possible, including Latin abbreviations.
2. Abbreviations used should be commonly used, understood and universal.
3. Do not use symbols.

List of Acceptable BRAND NAMES

(Please refer to Appendix 1 in Good Prescribing Guideline for full list)
Acceptable Brand
No. Generic Names
Names
1 Acetylsalicylic Acid 100mg and Glycine 45mg Tablet Cardiprin
2 Alendronate Sodium 70mg and Cholecalciferol 5600 IU Tablet Fosamax Plus
3 Amiloride HCl 5mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 50mg Tablet Moduretic
4 Ammonium Bicarbonate, Tincture Ipecac (Mixture Expect Stimulant) Expect Stimulant
5 Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Tablet / Injection / Syrup Augmentin
6 Ampicillin and Sulbactam Tablet / Injection / Syrup Unasyn
7 Benzalkonium 0.01% Cream Drapolene
8 Betamethasone 17-valerate Cream/ Ointment Betnovate Cream/ Oint
9 Bismuth Subgallate and Benzyl Benzoate Suppository Anusol
10 Budesonide 160mcg and Formoterol 4.5mcg Inhalation Symbicort
11 Cefoperazone Sodium 500mg and Sulbactam Sodium 500mg Injection Sulperazone
12 Chlorpheniramine Maleate Tablet / Injection Piriton
13 Choline Salicylate 8.7% and Cetylkonium Chloride 0.01% Dental Gel Bonjela
14 Clobetasol Propionate 0.05% Cream / Ointment Dermovate Cr / Oint.
15 Clobetasone Butyrate 0.05% Cream / Ointment Eumovate Cr / Oint.
16 Diosmin 450mg and Hesperidin 50mg Tablet Daflon
17 Diphenhydramine 14mg/ 5ml and Ammonium Chloride 135mg/ 5ml Expectorant Syrup Benadryl
18 Diphenoxylate with Atropine Sulphate Tablet Lomotil
19 Erythropoietin Human Recombinant Injection (alfa) Eprex
20 Essential Phospholipids Capsule Essentiale

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

Acceptable Brand
No. Generic Names
Names
21 Estradiol 1mg and Dydrogesterone 5mg Tablet Femoston Conti
22 Estradiol Valerate 2mg and Norgestrel 0.5mg Tablet Progyluton
23 Ezetimibe 10mg and Simvastatin 20mg Tablet Vytorin
24 Ferrous Fumarate, Folic Acid and B Complex Tablets Hematinic
25 Framycetin Sulphate 0.5%, Dexamethasone 0.05% and Gramicidin 0.005% Ear Drops Sofradex
26 Gamma Benzene Hexachloride 0.1 % Lotion Lindane
27 Glycerin 25% and Sodium Chloride 15% Enema Ravin enema
28 Hypromellose 0.3% Eye Drops Artificial tears
29 Imipenem 500mg and Cilastatin 500mg Injection Tienam
30 Insulin Recombinant Neutral Human, short-acting 100 IU/ml Injection Actrapid, Humulin R
31 Insulin Recombinant Synthetic Human, intermediate-acting 100 IU/ml Injection Insulatard, Humulin N
32 Insulin Recombinant Synthetic Human, pre-mixed 100 IU/ml Injection Mixtard, Humulin 30/70
33 Ipratropium Bromide MDI / Inhalation Solution Atrovent
34 Ipratropium Bromide and Salbutamol MDI / Inhalation Solution Combivent
35 Ipratropium Bromide 20mcg and Fenoterol 50mcg/dose Inhalation Berodual N
36 Irbersartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablet CoAprovel
37 Isosorbide Dinitrate Tablet / Injection Isordil
38 Levodopa 100mg and Carbidopa 25mg Tablet Sinemet
39 Levodopa 100mg and Benserazide 25mg HBS Capsule Madopar HBS
40 Losartan and Hydrochlorothiazide Tablet Hyzaar
41 Magnesium Trisilicate Tablet Gelusil
42 Meclozine HCl and Pyridoxine Tablet Veloxin
43 Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Tablet / Injection Provera
44 Monobasic Sodium Phosphate 48% and Dibasic Sodium Phosphate 18% Fleet Phospho-Soda
45 Oxytocin 5 units and Ergometrine Maleate 0.5mg/ml Injection Syntometrine
46 Phenoxymethyl Penicillin 125mg Tablet Penicillin V
47 Piperacillin 4g and Tazobactam 500 mg Injection Tazocin
48 Potassium Chloride 600mg SR Tablet Slow K
49 Protein Free Haemodialysate 10% Jelly / Ointment Solcoseryl Gel / Oint.
Rifampicin 150mg, Isoniazid 75mg, Pyrazinamide 400mg and Ethambutol HCl 275mg
50 Akurit-4
Tablet
51 Salmeterol 25mcg and Fluticasone Propionate 125mcg Inhalation Seretide
52 Sodium Biphosphate 16% and Sodium Phosphate 6% Solution Fleet enema
53 Sodium Chloride 0.9% Normal Saline
54 Sodium Cromoglycate 2% Eye Drops Opticrom
55 Stavudine 30mg, Lamivudine 150mg and Nevirapine 200mg Tablet SLN 30
56 Sulfadoxine 500mg and Pyrimethamine 25mg Tablet Fansidar
57 Sulphamethoxazole 400mg and Trimethoprim 80mg Tablet Bactrim
58 Sulphur 2% and Resorcinol 2% in Calamine Lotion Acne Lotion
59 Tar, Coal Tar and Oleyl Alcohol Liquid Polytar
60 Telmisartan 80mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg Tablet Micardis Plus
61 Telmisartan and Amlodipine Tablet Tywnsta
62 Triprolidine HCl 2.5mg and Pseudoephedrine HCl 60mg Tablet Actifed
63 Varenicline Tartrate Tablet Champix

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

List of Acceptable DRUG NAME ABBREVIATIONS

(Please refer to Appendix 2 in Good Prescribing Guideline for full list)
Acceptable Drug Name
No. Generic Names
Abbreviations
1 Acriflavine 0.1% Lotion Flavin
2 Aqueous Cream Aq Cream
3 Ascorbic Acid Vit C
4 Benzyl Benzoate Emulsion EBB
5 Chloramphenicol CMC
6 Dihydrocodeine Bitartrate DF118
7 Emulsifying Ointment Emulsificant Oint.
8 Ferric Ammonium Citrate FAC
9 Glyceryl Trinitrate GTN
10 Liquor Picis Carbonis (Coal Tar) LPC
11 Magnesium Trisilicate Mixture MMT
12 Methyl Salicylate Ointment OMS
13 Oral Rehydration Salt ORS
14 Paracetamol PCM
15 Potassium Chloride KCl
16 Potassium Citrate Pot. Citrate
17 Potassium Dihydrogen Phosphate Injection KH2PO4
18 Potassium Permanganate KMNO4
19 Silver Sulfadiazine Cream SSD Cream
20 Vitamin B Complex Vit. B Co
21 Vitamin B1 B6 B12 Vit B1 B6 B12
22 White Soft Paraffin 60% and Liquid Paraffin 40% WSP 60% and LP 40%

List of Acceptable TERMS or ABBREVIATIONS

(Please refer to Appendix 3 in Good Prescribing Guideline for full list)

(a) Frequency or Timing

Intended Meaning Acceptable Terms or Abbreviations
(in the) morning om
evening or afternoon pm
(at) night on
once daily daily
twice a day bd
three times a day tds
four times a day qid
every 4 hours every 4 hrs or 4 hourly or 4 hrly
every 6 hours every 6 hrs or 6 hourly or 6 hrly
every 8 hours every 8 hrs or 8 hourly or 8 hrly
every other day eod
hourly hrly
once a week 1x/ week and specify the day in full e.g. 1x / week (Tuesday)
3x/ week and specify the days in full e.g. 3x / week (Mondays, Wednesdays
three a week
and Saturdays)
when required prn
immediately stat

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Good Prescribing Guideline Quick Reference for Healthcare Providers

(b) Route of Administration

Intended Meaning Acceptable Terms or Abbreviations
Intramuscular IM
Intravenous IV
Left Left or (L) or L
Nebulised NEB
Naso-gastric NG
Oral PO
Per vagina PV
Per rectum PR
Right Right or (R) or R
Subcutaneous S/C
Sublingual S/L
Topical Topical or LA

(c) Units of Measure and Concentration

Intended Meaning Acceptable Terms or Abbreviations
gram(s) g
international unit(s) units
units units
kilogram(s) kg
litre(s) L
milligram(s) mg
millilitre(s) mL or ml
microgram(s) mcg
percentage %
millimole mmol

(d) Dosage Forms

Intended Meaning Acceptable Terms or Abbreviations
Capsule C. or cap.
Controlled Release CR
Eye Drops Gutt.
Eye Ointment Eye Oint. or Occ.
Extended Release XR
Immediate Release IR
Injection Inj
Metered Dose Inhaler MDI
Modified Release MR
Mixture Mixt.
Ointment Oint.
Suppository Supp.
Suspension Susp.
Syrup Syr
Slow Release SR

Pharmaceutical Services Division, Penang State Health Department

Aras 8, Bangunan Persekutuan, Jalan Anson,
10400 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia.
Tel: 04 – 2292319 Fax: 04 - 2280314
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Website: www.jknpenang.moh.gov.my