Translation of prescriptions, medication orders and vaccination certificates
A prescription is the shortest medical document and the most dangerous one to translate: three words, two numbers and an abbreviation, where a mistake in the dose or frequency goes straight into the patient's body. We translate prescriptions, medication orders, discharge medication instructions and vaccination certificates so that a foreign doctor, pharmacist and customs officer all read the same thing: the medicine by its active substance, the dose with its unit, the regimen without ambiguity.
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INN namesThe active substance, recognised by pharmacies in every country
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Regimen spelled outNeither "1x3" nor "b.i.d.": dose, frequency and duration in words
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1 working dayFor a prescription or medication order, often the same day
In short: prescription translation in six sentences
- A translated Georgian prescription does not acquire the force of a new prescription abroad, but it makes it easier for a local doctor to continue the same treatment.
- In the translation every medicine is written with the international non-proprietary name of its active substance, and the Georgian brand name stays in brackets.
- The dose, frequency of intake and duration of the course are spelled out in full words in the translation, without abbreviations or Latin formulas.
- When you carry medicines across a border, the translated prescription should be accompanied by a doctor's letter explaining why you need the medicine and the quantity you are carrying.
- Many countries allow a medicine containing a narcotic or psychotropic substance only with additional documents or prior permission, and a translation cannot replace that.
- A vaccination certificate is translated as a table in which each vaccination has its own date, dose number and batch number.
Three numbers that must not change in a prescription translation
An error in a prescription translation does not "show": the text is grammatically correct and logical, only the patient takes a different dose. That is why we translate prescriptions under stricter rules than ordinary text.
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Dose and unit
mg, mcg, ml, IU (international units), drops, tablets, ampoules. "0.5" and "5" differ by one decimal place, "mg" and "mcg" by a factor of a thousand. We write numbers in figures and units with the standard abbreviations of the target country, and check every number against the original.
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Frequency and timing
"1x3", "3x1", "twice a day", "every 8 hours", "before meals", "at bedtime", "b.i.d.", "q.d.": Georgian, Latin and English notations follow different logic, and some are read the other way round in another country. We always translate the regimen as a full sentence, so that no ambiguity remains.
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Duration and quantity
"10 days", "a 3-month course", "continuously", "as needed", the quantity to be dispensed. This is the field customs checks: the quantity must match the course, otherwise the medicine will not be treated as being for personal use.
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Identity of the medicine
A brand name may not exist abroad or may belong to a different substance there. In the translation we write the active substance by its international name and keep the brand name in brackets, so that the doctor can choose an equivalent safely.
Which documents we translate, and for whom
| Document | Who it goes to | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| Prescription (paper or electronic printout) | Customs, a foreign doctor issuing a new prescription, a pharmacy for over-the-counter medicines | Sometimes notarised for customs, the bureau's stamp for a doctor |
| Medication order sheet and discharge medication instructions | A foreign clinic continuing treatment, a caregiver, a rehabilitation centre | The bureau's stamp |
| Foreign medication order into Georgian | A Georgian doctor and pharmacy after you return, with equivalents indicated | Not needed |
| Vaccination certificate and immunisation card | School, nursery, university, immigration service | Notarised, often with an apostille as well |
| Doctor's certificate for carrying medicines | Customs and the airport, especially for controlled medicines | Notarised, if the country requires it |
Prescriptions and medication orders are usually one page and are ready in one working day. The price is at the lower end of the indicative range on the main medical translation page; notarisation is priced separately.
Medicines in your luggage: what should accompany a translated prescription at the border
A customs officer is not a doctor and does not assess the diagnosis. They are interested in three questions: whose medicine it is, what substance is inside, and whether the quantity matches personal use. A properly assembled package answers all three without further discussion.
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Translated prescription or medication order
The patient's first name and surname in the Latin spelling of the passport, the medicine by its INN, the dosage form (tablet, capsule, solution for injection), dose, regimen and duration of the course. We write the date of issue in the target country's format, so that there is no doubt that the prescription is current.
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Doctor's letter
A short letter from the treating doctor on clinic letterhead, with stamp and signature: for what condition you take the medicine, for how long, and what quantity you are carrying. A detailed description of the diagnosis is not mandatory; some patients prefer general wording, and you decide this together with the doctor.
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Original packaging
The medicine in its original box with the leaflet, so that the name printed on the label can be compared with the one in the translation. Tablets taken out of their blister packs or mixed in one jar are the most common cause of additional checks.
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Permit for a controlled substance
Strong opioid painkillers, benzodiazepines, some anti-epileptic drugs and medicines for attention deficit disorder are subject to a separate regime in many countries. In some places a doctor's letter is enough, in others prior approval from an authority in the destination country is required.
How a prescription line is rendered in English and German
Below are typical entries from Georgian prescriptions, their translations, and the detail we check particularly carefully in each.
| Georgian entry | English | German | What we pay attention to |
|---|---|---|---|
| ამოქსიცილინი 500 მგ, 1x3, 7 დღე | Amoxicillin 500 mg, one capsule three times a day for 7 days | Amoxicillin 500 mg, dreimal täglich eine Kapsel, 7 Tage lang | "1x3" is spelled out in words, because in another country it might be read as "three capsules once" |
| პარაცეტამოლი 500 მგ, საჭიროებისამებრ, დღეში არაუმეტეს 4-ჯერ | Paracetamol (acetaminophen) 500 mg as needed, no more than 4 times a day | Paracetamol 500 mg bei Bedarf, höchstens viermal täglich | In the USA and Canada the same substance is sold as acetaminophen, so we give both names in the English translation |
| ინსულინი 10 სე, საუზმემდე 15 წუთით ადრე | Insulin 10 units 15 minutes before breakfast | Insulin 10 I.E. 15 Minuten vor dem Frühstück | "IU" is never rendered as the letter "U", because in handwriting it resembles a zero and "increases" the dose tenfold |
| ლევოთიროქსინი 50 მკგ, დილით, უზმოზე | Levothyroxine 50 micrograms once daily in the morning on an empty stomach | Levothyroxin 50 µg einmal täglich morgens nüchtern | In English, micrograms are written out in full, so that "mcg" and "mg" are not confused |
| მეტამიზოლის ნატრიუმი, 1 ტაბლეტი ტკივილის დროს | Metamizole sodium (dipyrone), 1 tablet when in pain | Metamizol-Natrium, 1 Tablette bei Schmerzen | In some countries this substance is not on the market, so we also give the alternative name; the equivalent is chosen by the local doctor |
You can estimate the cost of a one-page prescription or vaccination certificate in advance with the translation price calculator. If the vaccination certificate is for a foreign school or immigration authority, check whether it needs an apostille or legalisation, because this determines the order of translation and certification.
Frequently asked questions about prescription translation
Will a foreign pharmacy dispense medicine on a translated Georgian prescription?
As a rule, no, and we tell you so plainly in advance. A prescription is a legal document of the country where it was issued; pharmacies in the EU, Turkey and the USA do not accept a foreign prescription, even a translated one, for a prescription-only medicine. A translated prescription helps you in two ways: a local doctor can quickly prescribe the same medicine or an equivalent on the basis of it, and at customs and the airport it confirms that the medicines you are carrying have been prescribed for you. For over-the-counter medicines, the pharmacy finds them by their INN.
Why do you write a different name in the translation from the one on the medicine box?
The box shows the brand name, which depends on the manufacturer and the country and may not exist abroad or may belong to a different substance there. In the translation we give the international non-proprietary name (INN), that is, the active substance, and keep the Georgian brand name in brackets as well. This way the foreign doctor and pharmacist see exactly what you are taking and make no mistakes when checking interactions or choosing an equivalent. We verify the active substance against the state register and the manufacturer's leaflet.
What document do I need to carry medicines across the border?
For quantities for personal use, customs authorities as a rule ask for a doctor's medication order or prescription in the patient's name, with the name of the medicine, the dose and the duration of the course, in a language they understand. For medicines containing psychotropic or narcotic substances (strong painkillers, some sleeping pills and anti-epileptic drugs) the requirements are strict, and some countries require prior permission. We translate the medication order into English or the language of the destination country, with notarisation if customs requires it, and tell you in advance which group your medicine belongs to.
Into which language and in what form is a vaccination certificate translated?
A vaccination certificate is most often needed to enrol a child in school or nursery, for the residence of an accompanying person during long-term treatment, or for some countries' entry rules. We translate it into the language of the receiving institution as a table: the vaccine with its international name and manufacturer, batch number, date, dose number and issuing institution. Schools and authorities as a rule ask for a notarised translation, sometimes with an apostille as well, because the certificate is an official document issued under a state programme. We confirm what your recipient needs before you order.
Why should I translate a doctor's letter together with the prescription, and what should it say?
A prescription only says what you should take, while a doctor's letter explains why you need this medicine throughout your trip. For customs, the airline and a foreign doctor, this letter is the most complete source. It should state the patient's details as in the passport, the condition in general or precise wording, the medicines by INN, the dose, regimen, duration of the course, the quantity carried and the doctor's contact details. We prepare the letter and the prescription as one translation with consistent terminology, so that the same medicine does not appear under different names in the two documents.
A handwritten prescription is hard to read. What happens if the dose or the name of the medicine is unclear?
We never pick the most likely reading of an unclear entry. First we ask for a close-up photo or scan, then we compare the entry with the rest of the medication order, the discharge summary or the medicine box, if you have it. If two readings still remain after that, we advise you to contact the prescribing doctor or get a new, printed prescription. When that is not possible, we mark the unclear place in the translation with a translator's note, so that the receiving doctor knows exactly which detail needs to be confirmed.
Related to prescription translation
- Individual import of medicines When a prescribed medicine is not available in Georgia and has to be imported under a permit.
- Apostille on a vaccination certificate For a school or immigration service, after notarisation.
- Discharge summary translation The discharge medication instructions are part of the discharge summary; the two are often translated together.
A prescription or medication order in one day, often the same day
Upload a photo and tell us who it is for. We will tell you whether a notary is needed and what it will cost.