How should "1 gtt ou qid" be typed on the label?
- Instill 1 drop in each eye four times daily
- Instill 1 drop in each ear four times daily
- Instill 1 drop in right eye four times daily
- Instill 1 drop in left eye every four hours
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A. Instill 1 drop in each eye four times daily
gtt is drop, ou is each (both) eyes and qid is four times a day. "au" would mean each ear, "od" right eye and "os" left eye, and every four hours would be written q4h.
Reference: Standard prescription (sig) abbreviations: ophthalmic and otic
What does "ii tabs po q6h prn pain" mean?
- Take 2 tablets by mouth every 6 hours until pain is gone
- Take 2 tablets by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain
- Take 1 tablet by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain
- Take 2 tablets by mouth 6 times a day as needed for pain
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B. Take 2 tablets by mouth every 6 hours as needed for pain
The Roman numeral ii is 2, q6h is every 6 hours (up to 4 times a day, not 6) and prn is as needed. The patient is not told to take it continuously.
Reference: Standard prescription (sig) abbreviations
A prescription for ear drops reads "3 gtt AD tid". Where are the drops placed?
- Left ear
- Both ears
- Right eye
- Right ear
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D. Right ear
AD is the right ear, AS the left ear and AU both ears. OD, the right eye, is the look-alike abbreviation that causes eye and ear mix-ups; checking that the product is otic helps catch them.
Reference: Standard prescription (sig) abbreviations: ophthalmic and otic