By the MedicalPassbook team4 min read
Prescriptions are written in shorthand so doctors can write quickly. Here is how the common patterns are usually read. If anything is unclear, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
The three-number pattern
1-0-1 usually means one dose in the morning, none in the afternoon and one at night. 1-1-1 means morning, afternoon and night. 0-0-1 means night only.
Common letters
OD is once a day. BD is twice a day. TDS is three times a day. HS is at bedtime. AC is before food and PC is after food.
Why wording matters
Before food and after food can change how a medicine works or how it sits on the stomach. That is why a reminder should say it in words, not just show a number.
When to ask
If a pattern, a dose or a duration is not clear, call the clinic or ask the pharmacist. Do not guess, and do not change a dose on your own.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Follow your doctor's instructions, and in an emergency call 112.
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