How to Read Your Prescription: Common Abbreviations Explained

Doctors often use short forms on prescriptions to save time. Many of these come from Latin terms. Understanding them helps you take your medicines correctly and ask the right questions at the pharmacy.

Parts of a prescription

A valid prescription usually includes:

• The doctor's name, qualification and registration number
• The clinic or hospital name and contact details
• Your name, age and sometimes weight
• The date
• The diagnosis or reason for the medicines, in some cases
• Each medicine's name, strength, dose, frequency and duration
• The doctor's signature or stamp

If any of these details are missing or unclear, ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting the medicine.

How often to take a medicine

These are the most common frequency abbreviations.

• OD: once a day
• BD or BID: twice a day, usually morning and night
• TDS or TID: three times a day
• QID or QDS: four times a day
• HS: at bedtime
• SOS: only when needed, for example for pain or fever
• STAT: immediately, as a single dose
• Q4H, Q6H, Q8H: every 4, 6 or 8 hours

Many Indian prescriptions also use a dose pattern such as 1-0-1 or 1-1-1. These show how many tablets to take in the morning, afternoon and night. For example, 1-0-1 means one tablet in the morning, none in the afternoon and one at night. A pattern of 0-0-1 means one tablet at night only.

When to take it in relation to food

• AC: before food
• PC: after food
• Empty stomach: usually 30 to 60 minutes before a meal
• With food: during or right after a meal

Following food instructions matters. Some medicines work better on an empty stomach, while others need food to prevent stomach upset.

Dosage forms and routes

• Tab: tablet
• Cap: capsule
• Syp: syrup
• Inj: injection
• Oint: ointment
• Gtt: drops
• PO: by mouth
• SL: under the tongue
• IM: into the muscle
• IV: into a vein
• Topical or LA: applied on the skin or local area

Duration and quantity

Doctors usually write how long to take a medicine, such as x 5 days, x 2 weeks or x 1 month. Some long-term medicines may be marked continue. Do not stop any medicine early without checking with your doctor, especially antibiotics, steroids and medicines for blood pressure, diabetes, heart or mental health.

Tips for avoiding mistakes

• Confirm the medicine name and strength with your pharmacist, as some names look or sound similar
• Ask how to take it if the instructions are unclear
• Check whether the medicine is a regular, SR or ER version, since they are not interchangeable
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all other medicines and supplements you take
• Set phone reminders or use a pill organiser for multiple medicines
• Keep your prescription safely for refills and future visits

Ask questions

It is always fine to ask. A good question to remember is: what is this medicine for, how should I take it, and for how long? Please consult your doctor or our registered pharmacists whenever you are unsure about any part of your prescription.