What is the difference between inscription and subscription?

What is the difference between inscription and subscription?

• A. Inscription is the description of the medication being prepared; subscription is the directions to the pharmacist
• B. Inscription is the strength; subscription is the color
• C. Inscription is the patient name; subscription is the dosage form
• D. Inscription is the flavoring; subscription is the packaging

Answer: (B)

In prescription terminology, the inscription identifies what is to be used—the drug’s name and its strength (and sometimes its dosage form). The subscription, on the other hand, provides the instructions to the pharmacist about how to prepare or dispense the medicine, including the amount to be dispensed and any preparation steps. The color of the medication is not a standard element of the subscription or of the inscription. So the distinction is that inscription deals with the medicine itself (identity and strength), while subscription covers the pharmacist’s instructions for compounding/dispensing.

In prescription terminology, the inscription identifies what is to be used—the drug’s name and its strength (and sometimes its dosage form). The subscription, on the other hand, provides the instructions to the pharmacist about how to prepare or dispense the medicine, including the amount to be dispensed and any preparation steps. The color of the medication is not a standard element of the subscription or of the inscription. So the distinction is that inscription deals with the medicine itself (identity and strength), while subscription covers the pharmacist’s instructions for compounding/dispensing.