Convert pharmacy prescription SIG codes into plain English instructions and vice versa. Translate medical abbreviations used in prescriptions instantly.
SIG codes are Latin-based abbreviations used by healthcare professionals on prescriptions to communicate dosing instructions. These codes tell pharmacists and patients how to take medications. Common examples include "BID" (twice daily), "PRN" (as needed), and "QD" (once daily).
Medical professionals use SIG codes for efficiency, but patients often struggle to understand them. This translator converts cryptic abbreviations like "1 tab PO QID PC & HS" into clear instructions like "Take 1 tablet by mouth 4 times daily after meals and at bedtime." It works both ways - you can also convert plain English into proper SIG notation.
1 tab PO BID
Take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily
ii gtt OU QID
Instill 2 drops in both eyes 4 times daily
Apply TOP PRN
Apply topically as needed
1 cap PO QHS
Take 1 capsule by mouth at bedtime
Take one tablet by mouth three times daily with food
1 tab PO TID PC
Frequency: QD (once daily), BID (twice daily), TID (three times daily), QID (four times daily), QHS (at bedtime), PRN (as needed)
Route: PO (by mouth), TOP (topically), OU (both eyes), OD (right eye), OS (left eye), SL (under tongue)
Timing: AC (before meals), PC (after meals), HS (at bedtime)
Form: tab (tablet), cap (capsule), gtt (drops), supp (suppository)
TT is not a standard SIG code abbreviation. You may be thinking of 'TID' (three times daily) or 'TOP' (topically). If you see TT on a prescription, consult your pharmacist for clarification.
TX typically stands for 'treatment' or 'therapy' in medical contexts, but it's not a standard SIG code for prescription instructions. Common frequency codes are QD, BID, TID, and QID instead.
Yes, SIG codes are still widely used in healthcare, though many electronic prescription systems now include plain English translations alongside the codes to improve patient understanding and medication adherence.
Yes, veterinary prescriptions use the same SIG code system as human prescriptions. The abbreviations and their meanings are identical across both fields.
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