May 28 2008
How to Read Your Prescription
Below are some of the more common RX abbreviations:
a.c. before meals ante cibum
ad.lib. freely as wanted ad libitum
aq. water aqua
b.i.n. twice a night bis in noctus
b.i.d. twice a day bis in die
cap. capsule capula
c with bar on top with cum
d day dies
daw dispense as written (do not substitute generic or brand name drugs)
div. divide divide
eq.pts. equal parts equalis partis
gtt drop gutta
h. hour hora
h.s. bedtime hora somni
I.M. into the muscle
I.V. into the vein
mg milligram
ml milliliter
no. number numero
noxt at night
O. pint octarius
O.D. right eye oculo dextro
O.S. left eye oculo sinistro
O.U. in each eye oculo utro
p.c. after meals post cibum
p.o. by mouth per os
p.r.n. as needed pro re nata
pil pill pilula
qh every hour quaque hora
q 1 d every day quaque 1 die
q 1 w once a week
q 3 h every 3 hours quaque 3 hora
qAM every morning
qd daily quaque die
q.i.d. 4 times a day quater in die
q.o.d. every other day
q.s. a sufficient quantity quantum sufficiat
s without sine
s.i.d. once a day semel in die
Sig., S. write on the label signa
s.l. under the tongue
stat immediately statim
tab tablet tabella
t.i.d. 3 times a day ter in die
tsp teaspoon
tbsp tablespoon
ut dict as directed by doctor
