How to Order Medication Gel
To order a medication gel, you need to specify the exact medication name, concentration, vehicle (gel formulation), quantity in grams, application frequency, treatment duration, and the specific anatomical area to be treated.
Essential Prescription Components
When ordering any topical gel medication, your prescription must include:
- Exact medication name and concentration (e.g., diclofenac 3%, clobetasol 0.05%) 1
- Vehicle specification - explicitly state "gel" as the formulation 1
- Quantity in grams - calculate based on treatment area and duration 1
- Application instructions - frequency (once daily, twice daily, etc.) and specific body area 1
- Treatment duration - specify the course length (e.g., 60-90 days for diclofenac gel) 1, 2
Calculating Appropriate Quantities
The amount of gel to prescribe depends on the treatment area and duration 1:
- Face and neck: 15-30 g per 2 weeks 1
- Both hands: 15-30 g per 2 weeks 1
- Scalp: 15-30 g per 2 weeks 1
- Field treatment areas: Consider that some gels like diclofenac 3% are designed for areas up to 25 cm² per application 1, 2
For a typical 60-90 day treatment course with twice-daily application, you would need to calculate: (grams per application) × (applications per day) × (days of treatment) 1, 2.
Vehicle Selection by Anatomical Site
Choose the gel formulation strategically based on the treatment location 1:
- Mucosal disease (oral, genital): Gel formulation preferred 1
- Scalp disease: Solution formulation preferred over gel 1
- Other skin areas: Cream, lotion, or ointment typically preferred over gel 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Never write vague orders like "apply as needed" without specific parameters - this creates safety concerns and interpretation problems 3. Instead, specify:
- Exact frequency (e.g., "apply twice daily") 1
- Maximum area to treat (e.g., "to affected area not exceeding 25 cm²") 1
- Duration limits (e.g., "for 90 days") 1, 2
Do not assume the pharmacy will select the appropriate vehicle - explicitly write "gel" if that is the intended formulation, as the same medication may be available in multiple vehicles (cream, ointment, solution, gel) 1.
Sample Prescription Format
A properly written gel prescription should read:
"Diclofenac 3% gel, 100 grams. Apply to affected area twice daily for 90 days." 1, 2
Or for a corticosteroid:
"Clobetasol 0.05% gel, 30 grams. Apply thin film to affected mucosal area once daily for 14 days, then taper over 3 weeks." 1
Special Considerations
For field-based treatments (treating an entire area rather than individual lesions), define the treatment field size with the patient beforehand to ensure adequate supply and set expectations for local reactions 1.
For combination products, specify both active ingredients and their concentrations (e.g., "diclofenac 3% in 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel") 2.