1. LATIN TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Commonly used in Prescription Writing
Shantanu Patil

2. a.c. ante cibum before meals b.i.d. bis in die twice a day b.i.n.
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
a.c.
ante cibum
before meals
b.i.d.
bis in die
twice a day
b.i.n.
bis in noctus
twice a night c
cum
with
cap
capsula
capsule d
dies
day

3. gtt gutta drop h.s. hora somni bedtime I.M. into the muscle I.V.
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
gtt
gutta
drop
h.s.
hora somni
bedtime
I.M.
into the muscle
I.V.
into the vein mg
milligram ml
milliliter
noxt
at night

4. dispense as written (no substituting generic or brand name drugs)
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
daw
dispense as written (no substituting generic or brand name drugs)
O.D.
oculo dextro
right eye
O.S.
oculo sinistro
left eye
O.U.
oculo utro
in each eye
p.c.
post cibum
after meals
p.o.
per os
by mouth

5. p.r.n. pro re nata as needed pil pilula pill qh quaque hora every hour
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
p.r.n.
pro re nata
as needed
pil
pilula
pill qh
quaque hora
every hour
q 3 h
quaque 3 hora
every 3 hours
qAM
every morning qd
quaque die
daily

6. q.i.d. quater in die four times a day q.o.d every other day s sine
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
q.i.d.
quater in die
four times a day
q.o.d
every other day s
sine
without
s.l.
under the tongue
tab
tabella
tablet

7. t.i.d. ter in die three times a day tsp teaspoon tbsp tablespoon
ABBREVIATION
LATIN TRANSLATION
WHAT IT MEANS
t.i.d.
ter in die
three times a day
tsp
teaspoon
tbsp
tablespoon
ut dict
as directed by doctor

8. REFERENCE
Shomon Mary, Deciphering your prescription. Available at: htm. Accessed on: 14th April 2011.

9. THANK YOU