Medication requests are prescriptions written by your healthcare providers - official instructions for what medications you need, how much to take, how often, and for how long.

These records help track what's been prescribed for you, ensure you get the right treatments at the right doses, and provide a complete medication history for all your healthcare providers.

Note: Only your healthcare providers can create or update medication requests to ensure medical accuracy.

 

What's in Your Prescription Records

Basic prescription information:

  • Medication name - Specific drug name and strength
  • Status - Active, completed, cancelled, on hold
  • Priority - Routine, urgent, or emergency
  • When prescribed - Date the prescription was written
  • Why prescribed - Condition or symptom being treated

How to take it:

  • Dose amount - How much to take each time
  • Frequency - How often to take it
  • Route - How to take it (by mouth, injection, etc.)
  • Timing - When to take it (with food, before bed, etc.)
  • Duration - How long to continue taking it

Pharmacy information:

  • Quantity - How much the pharmacy should give you
  • Refills - How many times can you refill it
  • Days supply - How many days the medication should last
  • Substitution - Whether generic versions are allowed

 

Understanding Prescription Status

Status types:

  • Active - Current prescription you should be taking
  • On-hold - Temporarily paused
  • Completed - Finished taking as prescribed
  • Cancelled - Cancelled and should not be filled
  • Stopped - Discontinued before completion

Priority levels:

  • Routine - Standard priority
  • Urgent - Should be filled quickly
  • ASAP - Fill as soon as possible
  • STAT - Emergency - fill immediately

Common administration routes:

  • Oral - By mouth (pills, liquids)
  • Topical - Applied to skin
  • Injection - Given by needle
  • Inhalation - Breathed in (inhalers)
  • Eye/Ear drops - Applied to eyes or ears

 

How to Use Your Prescription Information

Review your prescriptions regularly:

  • Check that active prescriptions match what you're taking
  • Verify dosage instructions are correct
  • Note which prescriptions need refills soon
  • Understand why each medication was prescribed

At the pharmacy:

  • Verify dispensed medications match your prescriptions
  • Ask questions about dosage or side effects
  • Discuss insurance coverage or cost concerns
  • Confirm refill information and timing

Questions to ask your healthcare provider:

  • "Why do I need this medication?"
  • "How long will I need to take it?"
  • "What should I do if I miss a dose?"
  • "What side effects should I watch for?"
  • "Can I take this with my other medications?"
  • "Are there foods or activities I should avoid?"

Remember: Take medications exactly as prescribed and contact your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns.