What does SIG mean on a prescription?

Asked by: Jarrell Stehr  |  Last update: December 10, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (42 votes)

"Sig" is short for the Latin "signetur." This means "let it be labeled." You may see this on your prescription just before the directions. "Sig" tells the pharmacy what they should include on the drug's label. This ensures you will know how and when to take the medication.

What is SIG in medication?

The "Sig" is the directions to follow by the provider to the patient for a given medication. Below are listed the most common abbreviations that are used in the Sig. "Sig" is an abbreviation for the Latin word "signetur," which means "let it be labeled."

How do you write a SIG prescription?

The Sig should include information on how much drug to take, how to take it, and how often to take it. For example, if you would like your patient to take one 650 mg tablet of acetaminophen every six hours, you would write “Take 1 tablet by mouth every six hours” or, using abbreviations, “1 tab PO q6h.”

What do the abbreviations on prescriptions mean?

bt - intended to mean "bedtime", but can be misread as "bid" or twice daily. d/c - can mean "discontinue" or "discharge" h.s. - can mean half strength or "hour of sleep"

What does SIG stand for in nursing?

Special Interest Groups (SIGs) provide avenues for ARN members to network within a specific topic area via professional and clinical-focused discussion. One of the primary functions of the ARN SIGs is member engagement.

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41 related questions found

What does the abbreviation SIG mean?

Sig as an abbreviation may refer to: Significant figures, a digit of a number within its measurement resolution; often abbreviated as "sig figs" "Sig", an abbreviation of the Greek letter Sigma, especially in the name of a fraternity or sorority.

What is the medical abbreviation for no refills?

NR - no refills. NS or NSS - normal saline, normal saline solution.

What does the abbreviation SIG mean on a prescription weegy?

Understanding the Prescription Abbreviation 'Sig'

The abbreviation 'Sig' comes from the Latin term signa, which means to take or to write down. In the context of a prescription, it specifically indicates the directions for the patient on how to take the medication.

How to decode a doctor's prescription?

Deciphering the Prescription
  1. Understand the different parts of a prescription. ...
  2. Learn how to read the drug name. ...
  3. Read the dosage information carefully. ...
  4. Learn the abbreviations for dosage methods. ...
  5. Decipher how often to take the medication. ...
  6. Look for refills.

What does er mean on a prescription?

XR or ER is short for extended-release which means the pill is formulated so that the drug is released slowly over time. This has the advantage of taking pills less often and there may be fewer side-effects as the levels of the drug in the body are more consistent in extended-release formulations.

Which information is represented by SIG on a prescription?

The sig code in a prescription indicates the instructions for the patient on how to take the prescribed medication. It gives information such as dosage amount, timing, and duration of therapy. Sig codes use a combination of Latin and English to convey these instructions efficiently.

What is a structured SIG?

The Structured and Codified Sig Format (Version 1.0) provides a machine-interpretable representation for the patient instructions portion of a prescription to enable more automated safety checking and improve communication between prescribers and pharmacists.

What is the pharmacy sig code practice app?

Rxpert simulates REAL prescriptions using pharmacy sig codes that a Medical Doctor (MD) or other practitioner write. Players will read prescriptions displayed and determine what translation is appropriate to write for a patient.

Does SIG mean signature?

Short for signature (def. 2).

What are sig symbols?

sig symbols. ideographic or pictographic symbols based on ASL and often used in conjunction with ASL. rebuses. pictures that represent events or objects along with words, grammatical morphemes, or both.

What does significant medication mean?

“Significant medication error” means one which causes the resident discomfort or jeopardizes his or her health and safety. Significance may be subjective or relative depending on the individual situation and duration.

Can a pharmacist override a DR prescription?

Can a pharmacist change prescriptions? In most cases, a pharmacist must follow the doctor's exact prescription, but there are a few exceptions. If the pharmacist finds interactions, dosing instructions, or other factors preventing the medication from working, a change may be necessary.

How to translate a doctor's prescription?

Translating a medical prescription therefore requires the services of a translator who specialises in the health sector. As well as mastering the source and target languages, the translator must also be familiar with the terminology specific to the sector.

What is the Rx code on a prescription?

This is the number you'll call to place the refill. Prescription number. This number is often shown as "Rx#" on the label. Although a pharmacist can look up your prescription in the computer, the refill process will go a lot faster if you have this number handy as it is the short code for your prescription.

What is SIG in medical terms?

"Sig" is short for the Latin "signetur." This means "let it be labeled." You may see this on your prescription just before the directions. "Sig" tells the pharmacy what they should include on the drug's label.

How do you read a SIG prescription?

Sig. This is an abbreviation that means instructions. The abbreviation stems from the Latin word signa (write) or signetur (let it be labeled). These are the instructions or directions the pharmacist will place on the label that goes on your medicine.

What is the full form of SIG?

SIG. /sɪɡ/ us. Add to word list Add to word list. abbreviation for special interest group.

What does om mean on a prescription?

o. m. = omni mane (every morning) o. n. = omni nocte (every night) p. c. = post cibum (after food) p. r. n. = pro re nata (when required)

Is there any app to read a doctor's prescription?

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