What the hell is prn?

Hey guys...not to add more "useful" stuff, but I thought I'd share some pharm abbreviations if it was helpful. They are all abbreviations of latin phrases, which is why they look so confusing. I included the translation not to brag about my useless knowledge, but instead because sometimes it's easier to remember if you know the "why" behind all the seemingly meaningless random compilation of letters. Also, they are kinda in order to how often I ran into them while I was a pharm tech. Enjoy.

prn = "pro re nata" = as needed

q = "quaque" = every (example: qday = every day)

h = "hora" = hour

bid = "bis in die" = twice per day (can also be written q12h = every 12 hours)

tid = "ter in die" = you guessed it, three times per day (or q8h = every 8 hours)

qid = "quater in die" = four times per day (or q6h = every 6 hours)

po = "per os" = by mouth

hs = "hora somni" = before bed

ac = "ante cibos" = before breakfast-I've hardly ever seen this but it fits after "before bed"

stat = "statim" = immediately

gtt = "gutta" = drops

supp = suppository

sl = sublingual

iv = intravenous

Not latin, but other abbreviations (in the context of Rx):

SA = sustained action

SR = sustained release

LA = long acting

XR or XL = extended release

From the limited experience I've had with this, docs and pharmacists don't go too crazy with these, although theoretically you could write entire sentences. Mostly this will help with putting in orders (as these directions are given as options in the computer) and understanding what the hell they're talking about on rounds when they say "Mr. Parkinsons is getting levodopa/carbidoba qid (four times a day) with no improvement of his symptoms..."

Another common example is "Mr. PTSD is taking prazosin 10 mg po hs (by mouth before bed) for his nightmares."

Sorry for all the neuro correlates but I'm just finishing that rotation at the VA, which I will eventually blog about.

Miss you crazy kids....