Drug Administration Time Abbreviations
| Abbreviation |
Derivation |
Meaning |
| a.c. | ante cibos | before meals |
| b.i.d. | bis in diem | twice a day |
| h | hora | hour |
| h.s. | hora somni | at bedtime |
| o.m. | omni mane | each morning |
| o.n. | omni nocte | each night |
| p.c. | post cibos | after meals |
| p.r.n. | pro re nata | when needed |
| q.d. | quaque diem | every day (daily) |
| q.2h., q.3h., q.4h. | | every 2,3, or 4 hours |
| q.i.d., or 4. i.d. | quarter in diem | four times a day |
| stat | statium | at once |
| t.i.d. | ter in diem | three times a day |
Drug Administration Hours Abbreviations
| Abbreviation: | Meaning: |
| q.i.d. | 0800, 1200, 1600, 2000 hours (four times a day) |
| q.2h | 0600, 0800, 1000, 1200, (every two hours) |
| q.3h | 0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, (every three hours) |
| q.4h | 0800, 1200, 1600, (every four hours) |
| q.6h | 0600, 1200, 1800, 2400, (every six hours) |
| b.i.d. | 1000, 1600 (twice a day) |
| t.i.d. | 1000, 1500, and 1800 |
| a.c. | (before meals) 1/2 hour for example: 0630, 1130, 1630 |
| p.c. | (after meals) for example: 0800, 1400, 1800 |
24-hour time should always be used in order to avoid misunderstandings.