Understanding Prescription Abbreviations

You may have seen prescription abbreviations like qd, hs, or bid on your medication labels. These abbreviations are derived from the Latin words for "every day," "at bedtime," and "twice daily," respectively.

Perhaps one of the most common is Rx, the official symbol for "prescription." Thought to be derived from the Latin word for "recipe," this abbreviation relays to pharmacists that a prescription is authorized to be filled.

Your pharmacy will translate your healthcare provider's instructions on the medicine's label. Sometimes, a mistake can happen, and a shorthand abbreviation will appear on your medication. Here's a list of common abbreviations and the ones you're most likely to see on home medications.

The Origins of "Rx" as an Abbreviation for "Prescription"

Rx is an abbreviation for "prescription." In the U.S. it is believed that the origin of the symbol is an abbreviation of the Latin word for "recipe," which means "take."

In Europe, another suggestion of the origin of the symbol appears to represent the astronomical sign of the planet Jupiter.

According to another theory, the Rx symbol is based on the Roman deity Jupiter. Jupiter's symbol looked similar to the Rx symbol. The symbol may have been placed on a prescription to invoke Jupiter's blessing.

What Is the Difference Between Rx and Px?

Px and Rx are often confused for one another. However, Px does not mean prescription like Rx does. Depending on where it is used, Px can be a shorthand for "prognosis" or for "procedure code." As a procedure code, Px will precede a numerical code that represents a specific medical procedure indicated for a patient.

An Example of Prescription Abbreviations

Here is an example of what a healthcare provider might write on a prescription:

Sig: 1 tab po qid pc & hs

These abbreviations are instructions for taking the medication. The pharmacist will translate them for the medication label. In this case, the instructions will read: "Take one tablet by mouth four times a day, after meals, and at bedtime."

The abbreviations may be written in capital letters or small letters, and may or may not include periods.

List of Common Prescription Abbreviations

It is unlikely that you will see Latin-based prescription abbreviations for medications you take at home. If they are on your prescription, your pharmacist is responsible for reviewing your medications with you and counseling you to ensure you understand your home medications.

If you ever pick up a prescription and see shorthand like these abbreviations, double-check their meaning with the pharmacist to ensure you take your medications as prescribed.

There are well over 100 prescription abbreviations. A shortened list of prescription abbreviations includes the following:

Declining Use of Prescription Abbreviations

The Latin terms are still in use, but some healthcare providers are retiring them. It is becoming more common for healthcare providers to write prescription instructions in plain language.

Readable prescriptions can help prevent medication errors. That is why many medical professionals believe written instructions should be used instead of hard-to-read abbreviations.

For example, the abbreviation qd, which means "daily," could be mistaken for qid, which means "four times a day." It could also be confused for od, which means "right eye." Simply writing "daily" prevents confusion.

E-prescribing, or electronic prescribing, can also help prevent medication errors. Instructions sent directly to the pharmacy electronically are less prone to human error. If your healthcare provider uses electronic prescribing, you may never see the abbreviations.

E-prescribing improves patient safety in a number of ways, such as:

• Eliminating hard-to-read prescriptions
• Reducing the need for verbal communication, which can lead to mistakes
• Alerting the healthcare provider if the patient has a drug allergy
• Alerting the healthcare provider to possible drug interactions
• Making it easier for the healthcare provider to view the patient's medication history

Summary

Prescription abbreviations like bid, which stands for "twice a day," and Rx, which stands for "prescription," are commonly used by healthcare providers when detailing prescription drug information in shorthand.

If you receive a written prescription, make sure you understand the directions. If the directions are unclear or confusing, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist to explain. Don't take chances: ask a medical professional what the shorthand means before you take the prescription home.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Ohashi K. [Memorandum on the origin of Rx, the signal be employed to the heading in the prescription]. Yakushigaku Zasshi. 1995;30(2):91-95. PMID: 11613537
2. Voice of America. Take this medicine: the story of the sign 'Rx'.
3. University of Minnesota Duluth. Prescription abbreviations.
4. Minnesota Health Related Licensing Boards. Partial list of prescription abbreviations.
5. Porterfield A, Engelbert K, Coustasse A. Electronic prescribing: improving the efficiency and accuracy of prescribing in the ambulatory care setting. Perspect Health Inf Manag. 2014;11(Spring):1g.

By Carol Eustice
Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

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