Question

A pharmacist receives a prescription for Cortisporin Otic #1. The prescription states: Sig: Otic iv AD t.i.d. x 7d. The pharmacist should?

1) Dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG) and instruct the patient to place 6 drops in the left ear 3 times daily for one week
2) Dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG) and instruct the patient to place 6 drops in the right ear 3 times daily for one week
3) Dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG) and instruct the patient to place 3 drops in the left ear 3 times daily for one week
4) Dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG) and instruct the patient to place 3 drops in the right ear 3 times daily for one week

Answer 1

The correct action for the pharmacist is to dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops and instruct the patient to place six drops in the right ear three times daily for one week.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pharmacist should dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG), also known as Cortisporin Otic, according to the prescription instructions, which are to place six drops ('iv' indicating the abbreviation for 'quattuor', which means four in Latin but often used for the number '6' in prescriptions) in the right ear ('AD,' auris dextra, meaning right ear) three times daily ('t.i.d.,' ter in die) for one week ('x 7d'). Therefore, the correct response is option 2:

Dispense 5 mL of Hydrocortisone/Polymixin B/Neomycin Otic Drops (FG) and instruct the patient to place six drops in the right ear three times daily for one week.