DISPENSING PHARMACY

Lecture 01

Dr. Zirwa Asim

Pharm. D., M. Phil.
Lecturer
Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad

Ref: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19607en/s19607en.pdf
 BOOKS
Pharmaceutical Compounding and Dispensing by Chris
Langley, Dawn Belcher
Pharmaceutical Compounding and Dispensing by John
F Marriott, Keith A Wilson, Christopher A Langley,
Dawn Belcher
Allen, L.V., N.G. Popovich and H.C. Ansel, 2010. Ansel's
Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems.
9th Ed., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, USA.
Aulton, M.E., 2013. Pharmaceutics: The Science of Dosage
Form Design. 4th Ed., Churchill Livingstone, UK.
Gennaro, A.R., 2006. Remington’s Pharmaceutical
Sciences.21st Ed., Mack Publishing Company, Pennsylvania,
USA.
Learning objectives
Understanding of dispensing and compounding, their
similarities and differences.
Requirements of good dispensing environment.
Requirements for dispensing personnel.
How to handle a prescription
Familiarity with different parts of prescription
Dispensing Definition
Dis-pense
To give out or deal out; distribute
To prepare and give out (medicines, prescriptions etc)

Dispensing is that part of practice of pharmacy that refers to the

process of preparing and giving medicine to a named person on the
basis of prescription.
OR
“A system concerned with extemporaneous preparation and supply
of medicine according to instruction of medical practitioner by a
pharmacist to the patient”
Dispensing may take place:
Public or private clinic.

Health centre

Hospital

Community pharmacy setting

Important ....
No matter where dispensing is done or who does it ,

any error or failure in dispensing process can seriously

effect care of patient.

Compounding may be defined as
“Preparation, mixing, assembling, packing or labeling of the drugs or
device for administration to the patient in accordance with the prescription
Extemporaneous
composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment 
Extemporaneous compounding
Extemporaneous compounding is the preparation of a therapeutic product
for an individual patient in response to an identified need.

Extemporaneous compounding is defined as the preparation, mixing,

assembling, packaging and labelling of a medicinal product based on a
prescription order from a licensed practitioner for the individual
patient(Shargel L. et al. Comprehensive Pharmacy Review. Third Edition. USA: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 1997.)

Extemporaneously compounded medicines may be useful when a required

dose or dose form is unavailable commercially, or for individualized dosing.
Similarity between Compounding and
Dispensing:
Both processes are performed against prescription of
Registered Medical Practitioner.

Both could be performed at same place

simultaneously (Only in Pharmacy)

Both requires supervision and presence of a Registered

Pharmacist.
Difference between Compounding and Dispensing
Compounding involves preparation, mixing, labeling and packing of a
drug/medicine whereas Dispensing involves giving already available
packed medicine/drug manufactured by pharmaceutical
manufacturers to patient or patient’s caretaker by evaluation of
prescription.
Compounding could be performed only in Pharmacy whereas
Dispensing is performed in Pharmacy and Druggist/Chemist both
places.
Technical Knowledge is required for compounding, so it must be
carried out by Pharmacist itself where as Dispensing doesn’t require
deep technical knowledge, so it can be carried out by helper under
supervision of Pharmacist.
Standard references should be followed during compounding and
compounded medicines should be labeled properly whereas dispensing
doesn’t necessarily needs standard reference to follow because already
packed medicines/drugs involves that process.
Dispensing environment
Prescription counter

Waiting area

Requirements of good dispensing environment

Barriers that can effect dispensing

Prescription counter
Waiting area
Requirements of good dispensing environment
Staff
Good personnel hygiene.
clean clothing.
Physical surroundings
pollution free, safe and efficient working area
Shelving and storage
proper labelling and storage
conditions , stock rotation
Equipment and packaging material
for measuring liquids, weighing solids, counting

Surfaces used during work

avoid cross contamination,
 Barriers and Distractions that can Affect
Dispensing
Barriers:

 Physical positioning of the prescription counter.

Elevated working areas (high counters).
Glass enclosures (like banks, making talking through
glass difficult).
Multiple counters.
Complexity of the patient’s regimen.
Education of the patient.
Noise
 Barriers and Distractions that can Affect
Dispensing
Distractions:

Frequent interruptions by telephones.

 Non-health conflicting services being provided in the
pharmacy. Eg. Telephone booth, photocopying etc.
Friends/visitors coming to meet staff
 Advantages of a good dispensing
environment

Reduces dispensing errors.

Reduces fatigue among pharmacy staff.
Enhances services.
Improves the image of the pharmacy.
Creates a professional image.
Dispensing Person
Knowledge about the medicines being dispensed
(correct use, dose, precautions for use, common side
effects, common interactions)

Good calculation and arithmetic skill.

Attributes of cleanliness, accuracy, and honesty.

Communication with patients.

Ref: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19607en/s19607en.pdf
Prescription
Prescription is an order written by a physician, dentist or
some other registered medical practitioner, to a
pharmacist to compound and dispense a specific
medicine, for the p.atient at a particular time
 Handling of Prescriptions
Receiving the prescription.
Reading the prescription and checking for

A. Legality
B. Legibility
C. Completeness and correctness
 A. Legality
A prescription is legal when :

• It is written (can also be typed) by a R.M.P.

• Signed by the R.M.P.
• Has all the information required to be contained with
respect to parts of prescription.

* Registered medical practitioner

 B. Legibility
Legibility is a problem requiring alertness and critical
judgment on the part of the pharmacist.
Careless handwriting and similarity in spelling of
names of different drugs add to the difficulty.

Excuse me,
Is the first name June
or Jane
 B. Legibility

When handwriting is illegible, the best thing to do is

to contact the physician over the phone and confirm.

Remember, you are dealing with medicines and thus,

the lives of patients so be sure of what you are
dispensing. Imagine the disastrous consequences of
dispensing the wrong medicine.
 Details to be checked for
 i) Physician's details.
 ii) Patient's details.
iii) Check the product details
Checking the product details will include checking :
• Name of the product.
• Dosage form.
• Strength/ potency of the medicine.
• Total amount to be dispensed and its availability.
• Dosage and directions for use.
• Frequency of administration.
Parts of prescription
Name, address, qualification and registration number
of prescriber.
Date
Name and address of patient
Superscription.
Inscription.
Subscription.
Transcription.
Special instructions
Doctors signature.
Superscription.
The “Rx” sign is called superscription.
Used as an abbreviation of latin word recipe.
Meaning “take thou” or “you take”
It is the belief that the Rx symbol evolved from the Eye of
Horus, an ancient Egyptian symbol associated with healing
powers.

Inscription.
List of medicines and their strengths.
e.g Esomax 40 mg
Subscription.
Directions given to pharmacist with respect to dosage
form, dosage units,
E.g Tab calcium (40)
E.g liquid panadol (1 bottle)
Transcription/Signatura
Refers to directions given from doctor to patient.
How he should take the medication
Directions can usually be read and understand by care
taker.
E.g Take one tablespoonful three times a day
Abbreviations commonly used within pharmacy
Abbreviations commonly used within pharmacy
Abbreviations commonly used within pharmacy
Abbreviations commonly used within
pharmacy