What do PR and PV mean on a prescription?
PR means rectally and PV means vaginally.
What it stands for
PR and PV comes from the Latin per rectum and per vaginam, meaning through the rectum and through the vagina. It tells you the route: where a suppository, cream or enema is placed.
How it looks on a real label
| Sig code | Label directions |
|---|---|
1 supp pr bid prn | Insert 1 suppository rectally twice daily as needed |
1 supp pv qhs | Insert 1 suppository vaginally at bedtime |
The verb on the label is "insert" rather than "take", and the dose form is usually a suppository, a cream with an applicator, or an enema.
The rectal route is not only for local problems. It is also used when someone cannot keep anything down, which is why antinausea and fever medications come in suppository form, and it partly bypasses the first pass through the liver.
PR and PV differ by one letter and are not interchangeable. A product formulated for one route should never be used for the other.
Related codes
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This page is educational and is not medical advice. Always follow the directions on your own prescription and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.