Q_h (on prescription)

If a medicine is to be taken every so- many hours, it is written 'q_h'; the 'q' standing for the Latin word for once 'quaque' and the 'h' indicating the number of hours.

So, for example, '2 caps q4h' means 'Take 2 capsules every 4 hours.' However it is written, it is one of a number of hallowed abbreviations of Latin terms that have been traditionally used in prescriptions to specify the frequency with which medicines should be taken.</P> Other examples include:</P> > >q.d.

(qd or QD) is once a day; q.d.

Stands for 'quaque die' (which means, in Latin, once a day).

>b.i.d.

(bid or BID) is twice a day; b.i.d.

Stands for 'bis in die' (which means twice a day).

>t.i.d.

(or tid or TID) is three times a day ; t.i.d.

Stands for 'ter in die' (in Latin, 3 times a day).

>q.i.d.

(or qid or QID) is four times a day; q.i.d.

Stands for 'quater in die' (in Latin, 4 times a day).</LI></UL>