It's important that you fully understand the directions for taking any drug that your doctor prescribes for you. Sometimes the medicine bottle's label will have abbreviations that you may not understand. Here are some of them:
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| p.r.n. |
as needed |
| q.d. |
every day, or once a day |
| b.i.d. |
twice a day |
| t.i.d. |
three times a day |
| q.i.d. |
four times a day |
| a.c. |
before meals |
| p.c. |
after meals |
| h.s. |
at bedtime |
| p.o. |
by mouth |
When you pick up a new prescription, be sure you understand how and when it should be taken. You might also want to ask your doctor or pharmacist what side effects to expect, what to do if you miss a dose and whether there are foods or other drugs that you should avoid while taking the drug. If you have any other questions at all about your medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Related information
Diabetes Information: Medications
Source: National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health. Talking with your doctor.
