A medicine is any chemical substance in a regulated dose intended for use in the medical diagnosis, cure, treatment, or prevention of disease or any substance that is prescribed and administered to patients to produce therapeutic effects in the body.

The rights that should be observed:

1. Right patient.
2. Right medicine.
3. Right dosage.
4. Right route.
5. Right time.
6. Right storage.
7. Right formulation.
8. Right disposal.
9. Right site.
10. Right equipment.

• Oral: Drugs taken by mouth, including tablets, capsules, liquids, and suspensions, that are absorbed through the stomach or intestinal lining.
• Sublingual: Drugs placed under the tongue that dissolve and are absorbed into the bloodstream via the tissues under the tongue, providing rapid onset of action.
• Buccal: Drugs placed between the gums and cheek, where they dissolve and are absorbed into the bloodstream through the buccal mucosa.
• Rectal: Suppositories or enemas administered into the rectum, where they are absorbed through the rectal mucosa.

Injections:

• Intravenous (IV): Direct injection into a vein for immediate systemic effect.
• Intramuscular (IM): Injection into a muscle, where the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream.
• Subcutaneous (SC): Injection into the fatty tissue under the skin.
• Intra-arterial: Injection directly into an artery, typically used in specialized medical procedures.
• Intra-articular: Injection into a joint space for local effect.
• Intrathecal: Injection into the cerebrospinal fluid in the spinal canal.
• Intradermal: Injection into the dermis layer just beneath the epidermis, often used for allergy testing and tuberculosis screening.
• Epidural: Injection into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord, commonly used for pain relief during labor and surgery.
• Intraperitoneal: Injection into the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen, used in some chemotherapy treatments.
• Intracardiac: Injection directly into the heart muscle, often used in emergencies.

• Skin topical: Application of creams, ointments, gels, or lotions to the skin for local treatment of skin conditions.
• Intranasal: Sprays or drops administered through the nasal passages for local or systemic effect.
• Ocular drops: Solutions or suspensions administered into the eyes to treat local conditions like infections or glaucoma.
• Otic drops: Solutions administered into the ear canal to treat local ear conditions such as infections.
• Intraosseous: Injection directly into the bone marrow, used in emergency situations when IV access is not available.
• Intralymphatic: Injection into the lymphatic system, used in certain cancer treatments and vaccinations.
• Intrapleural: Injection into the pleural space surrounding the lungs, used for treating pleural effusions and certain cancers.
• Inhalation: Drugs administered through the respiratory tract, typically using inhalers or nebulizers, for rapid absorption into the bloodstream via the lungs.
• Transdermal: Patches or gels applied to the skin that release the drug slowly for absorption over time.
• Mucosal:
  • Throat: Lozenges, sprays, or gargles for local treatment of throat conditions.
  • Vaginal: Creams, tablets, or rings inserted into the vagina for local treatment of infections or hormonal therapy.
  • Rectal: Suppositories or enemas for local treatment of rectal or lower gastrointestinal conditions.

Inhalation is the breathing of air vapor or volatile medicine into the lungs.

• Dry inhalation: Oxygen Administration: this is given when the respiratory capacity is diminished as in chest injuries, pneumonia and cardiac failure.
• Moist/steam inhalation: It is used in case of inflammation of air passages and the nasal sinuses. These are given to:
  • Warm and moisten the air breathed in and relieve irritation e.g. in bronchitis, after tracheotomy and other chest conditions.
  • To relieve inflammation and coughing e.g. in colds.
  • To relieve congestion and oedema e.g. in sinusitis and acute laryngitis.
• Nebuliser: this produces vapors which is inhaled by the patient for example in asthma to relieve spasms of the bronchial tubes or for the relief of chest pain in angina pectoris. Other indications include Respiratory diseases eg asthma, pneumonia, Airway obstruction, Nasal congestion, Nasal bleeding, Chest injuries and Cardiac failure.

• Solutions: Medicine dissolved in water.
• Syrups: Medicine dissolved in sugar and water.
• Mixtures: Medicine mixed with liquid but not dissolved in it.
• Milks: White medicine substances mixed with water.
• Emulsions: Medicine mixed with oil and water.
• Elixirs: Medicine dissolved in a sweetened flavored solution containing alcohol.
• Tinctures: Medicine dissolved in alcohol or alcohol and water.
• Fluidextracts: Medicine that has been boiled and evaporated to concentrate their strength and dissolve them in alcohol.
• Liniments: Medicine mixed in oil, soap, or alcohol (for external use only).
• Lotion: Mixed with water for external application.

• Capsules: Medicine enclosed in gelatine containers used for liquids, powders, and oils.
• Powders: Medicine in powder form.
• Pills: Medicines molded in a round shape coated with sugar.
• Tablets: A solid dosage form of varying weight, size, and shape.
• Enteric Coated Tablets: A tablet coated with a substance that blocks absorption of the medicine until it reaches the small intestines.
• Lozenges: To be dissolved in the mouth for throat or oral treatment.
• Ointment: Medicines mixed with oil or fat.
• Pastes: Ointments with various powders added.
• Suppositories: Medicines mixed with a firm base, which can be molded for insertion into a body cavity.
• Ampoules: Sealed glass containers that contain a dose of powdered or liquid medicine.
• Vials: Rubber-stoppered glass containers that may contain a single or several doses of medicines.

• Four hourly: (eight times in 24 hours) 2 am., 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6pm, and 10 p.m.
• Six hourly: (four times a day) 6 a.m., 12 p.m., 6pm, and 12 midnight.
• Eight hourly: (three times a day) 6 a.m., 2 p.m., and 10 p.m.
• Twelve hourly: (twice daily) 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.

• Aa.: of each
• Ad lib.: as much as desired
• B.i.d. or b.d.: twice a day
• t.d.s. or t.i.d.: three times a day
• a.c.: before
• P.c.: after
• g.: gram
• Gr.: grain
• Gutt.: a drop
• Mane: in the morning
• Mist.: a mixture
• Nocte: at night
• q.h.: every hour
• o.m.: every morning
• o.n.: every night
• p.r.n.: whenever necessary
• q.4h: every 4 hours
• s.o.s.: if necessary in an emergency
• Stat: immediately
• q.i.d.: 4 times a day/every 6 hours
• o.d.: once a day

1. Read the instructions carefully and incase of any doubt ask the Doctor or ward in charge.
2. Never give a drug from a container or a bottle which is not clearly labeled.
3. Check the label against the instructions 3 times .The 1 st time before having the container, 2nd time before the drug is drawn, 3rd time before the drug is administered to the patient.
4. Give the drug following 10Rs i.e -right patient, right time, right dose, right route, right drug/medication, right formulation, right disposal, right storage, right equipment and right site.
5. Once a drug is drawn from its container it shouldn’t be returned.
6. Always identify the drug by reading its label on the container not by its color, smell, shape and size.
7. Do not transfer drugs to another container when the old label is still on.
8. Ask for clarification if any order regarding the dose is not readable.
9. Watch all patients for drug reactions, especially parental drugs.
10. If any drug changes its color, it should not be administered.
11. Liquid preparations should always be shaken before drawing from the bottles.
12. Never use a drug which has been left in an unlabeled container.
13. Always measure the dose of the drug in good light.
14. Observe strictly the time of administration of medication.

Top Shelf:

• Bottles of mixtures
• Bottle or boxes of tablets, capsules
• Medicine cups
• Teaspoons, mortar and pestle
• Jug of drinking water, milk/fruit juice
• Glasses
• Medicine charts
• Small medication tray
• Scissors
• Kidney dish

Bottom Shelf:

• 1 bowl of soapy water

• Hand washing equipment