Medical Abbreviations
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Physicians use medical "shorthand" to write patients' prescriptions.
Some of these abbreviations are:
- p.o.
- taken orally or "by mouth"
- p.r.n.
- as needed
- q.h.s.
- at bedtime
- b.i.d.
- twice daily
- t.i.d.
- three times daily
- q.i.d.
- four times daily
- #xx
- quantity per fill
Example: Trazodone 50 mg #30 one to two p.o. q. h.s. p.r.n. sleep - would translate as "Fill thirty (30) trazodone hydrochloride 50 mg tablets, take one to two pills at bedtime as needed for sleep".
NOTE: It should be noted that these abbreviations appear to be different in the UK (and likely other countries).