1. Prescription Abbreviations (When to Take
Medicine)
|
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Example |
|
OD |
Once daily |
Take medicine 1 time per day |
|
BD / BID |
Twice daily |
Take medicine 2 times per day |
|
TID |
Three times daily |
Take medicine 3 times per day |
|
QID |
Four times daily |
Take medicine 4 times per day |
|
HS |
At bedtime |
Take medicine before sleeping |
|
AC |
Before meals |
Take medicine before eating |
|
PC |
After meals |
Take medicine after eating |
|
PRN |
When needed |
Take medicine only if required |
|
STAT |
Immediately |
Take medicine right away |
2. How to Take
Medicine (Routes of Medicine)
|
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
|
PO |
Take by mouth (oral) |
|
IV |
Injection into vein |
|
IM |
Injection into muscle |
|
SC / SQ |
Injection under skin |
|
SL |
Medicine under the tongue |
|
PR |
Medicine through rectum |
|
TOP |
Apply on skin (cream/gel) |
|
INH |
Inhale (for asthma etc.) |
3. Medicine
Forms Abbreviations
|
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
|
Tab. |
|
|
Cap. |
Capsule |
|
Syr. |
Syrup |
|
Susp. |
Suspension |
|
Inj. |
Injection |
|
Supp. |
Suppository |
4. Important
Health Abbreviations
|
Abbreviation |
Meaning |
|
BP |
Blood Pressure |
|
HR |
Heart Rate |
|
RR |
Breathing Rate |
|
NPO |
Nothing by mouth (No food or drink) |
|
FU |
Follow-up (Next doctor visit) |
|
Pt. |
Patient |
|
C/O |
Complains of (Your problem) |
|
D/C |
Stop medicine or discharge from
hospital |
Why It’s Important to
Understand These Abbreviations?
Helps you follow the prescription correctly
Improves communication with your doctor
Avoids mistakes in taking medicines
Makes you feel more involved in your
health care
Quick Tips:
●
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist if
you don’t understand any part of your prescription.
●
Write down your schedule to
remember when to take your medicines.
● Never guess abbreviations. When in doubt, double-check!
Reading a doctor’s prescription
doesn’t have to be confusing! With this simple guide, you can now easily
understand common doctor abbreviations and feel more confident about your
treatment.
If you are looking for trusted and
doctor-recommended medicines, explore Steris Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. – a reliable
name in the pharma industry since 2018. We provide high-quality,
result-oriented medicines across various health categories. Doctors across India
recommend Steris for its effective, safe, and affordable products.Steris is
dedicated to improving patient health outcomes with scientifically proven
medicines.
Next time you get a prescription, look
for Steris Healthcare medicines — where quality meets trust.
