Retseptiga

Retseptiga is an Estonian adverbial form meaning “with a prescription” or “by prescription.” It is formed from the noun retsept (prescription) with the instrumental suffix -iga. The phrase is used to describe things that require a prescription from a qualified health professional in order to obtain, dispense, or use them.

In practice, retseptiga is most commonly applied to medicines. A retseptiga ravim is a drug that can be sold in a pharmacy only when a valid prescription is presented. The expression can also modify verbs or phrases, for example as retseptiga väljastatud, meaning “dispensed by prescription.” The term is frequently encountered in pharmacy instructions, medical literature, and health policy documents.

In formal and regulatory contexts, Estonian distinguishes between prescription medicines and non-prescription (otsete) medicines. While retseptiga points to the method of procurement, the standard term for the category of prescription medicines in many contexts is retseptiravim. Nevertheless, retseptiga remains a commonly understood way to describe items or procedures that require a prescription, and is widely used in everyday language as well as official texts.

See also: retsept, retseptiravim, apteek, ravim, tervishoid.