# Write a Prescription

Write a prescription on a visit in Veterian — adding medications, the per-item fields, instructions versus internal notes, and what issuing and sending lock.

A prescription is written on the visit and belongs to it. It has two states: an editable draft while you are still working, and a fixed document once you issue it.

This page is mainly about the line between those two states, because once you cross it the prescription cannot be edited at all.

## Where to Find This Section

Open the visit and go to **Prescription**. See [Record a visit](/visits/record-a-visit).

An empty visit shows *No prescription has been added.* There is no separate "create" step: *Add medication or treatment to create a prescription.*

## Adding a Medication

1. Click **Add Medication/Treatment**.
2. Fill in **Medication/Treatment Details**.
3. Save the item, and repeat for each medication.

| Field | What it holds |
|---|---|
| **Medication/Treatment** | Picked from the clinic's products and services |
| **Quantity/Dosage** | How much per dose |
| **Administration** | The route. The same eleven options as a treatment, see [Record a treatment](/visits/record-a-treatment) |
| **Directions** | How the owner should give it |
| **Duration** | How long the course runs |

Once added, the items are listed as **Description**, **Dosage**, **Route/Directions of Administration** and **Duration**.

## Instructions and Notes

Two text areas sit under the items, and they serve different purposes:

- **Instructions**: the prescription's instructions, written for the owner.
- **Note**: *Enter internal notes about the prescription.* This note is internal and does not appear in what the client receives.

> **Note**
> The prescription saves as you work, and **Auto Saving** appears while it does. There is no separate save button for the draft.

## Issuing It

**Issue Prescription** turns the draft into the document. Veterian asks for confirmation first, and that confirmation is the most important warning on this page:

> **Caution**
> *Once issued, the prescription cannot be edited. Are you sure you want to issue this prescription?*

Check the medications, the doses and the directions before you issue. You cannot edit the prescription afterwards; the only way back is to delete the issued prescription and write a new one.

Once issued, the prescription shows **Issued** with its **Published Date**. Before that it sits at **Pending Issuance**

## Sending It to the Client

**Send to Customer** sends the issued prescription to the client once you confirm. This is a real message to the client. The record then also carries a **Sent Date**.

**Print** produces the printed copy for clients who take one with them.

## Deleting

Deleting an unissued draft is straightforward. Deleting an issued prescription is not, and Veterian states this clearly: *You are about to delete this issued prescription! This action cannot be undone!*

Removing the last remaining medication also deletes the prescription itself, because a prescription cannot exist without items. The confirmation warns you before this happens.