Everything about prescriptions

Prescriptions often come with many abbreviations. These are often unclear and may cause confusion. Abbreviations often come from latin and aren't there to confuse people, they make the jobs of pharmacists and nurses easier. This blog will go over most of the abbreviations related to prescriptions, and help you decode what everything on the label means.

Common Dosage Frequency Abbreviations

• QD — once a day

• BID — twice a day

• TID — three times a day

• QID — four times a day

• QHS — every night at bedtime

• PRN — as needed

• Q4H, Q6H, Q8H — every 4, 6, or 8 hours, respectively

Common Route of Administration Abbreviations

• PO — by mouth

• SL — under the tongue

• IM — intramuscular (injected into a muscle)

• IV — intravenous (injected into a vein)

• SC / SubQ — subcutaneous (injected under the skin)

• PR — rectally

• Top — applied topically (to the skin)

• OU — apply to both eyes

• OD — apply to right eye

• OS — apply to left eye

Common Quantity and Form Abbreviations

• Tab — tablet

• Cap — capsule

• Susp — suspension (liquid medication)

• gtt — drops

• mL, mg, mcg — milliliter, milligram, microgram (units of measurement)

Examples

"1 tab PO BID PRN for pain": this means: take one tablet by mouth, twice a day, as needed, for pain.

"2 gtt OU QHS": this means: apply two drops in both eyes at bedtime