There's a move on to make all doctors use some kind of machine-written prescription-writing device to cut down on the illegible prescriptions that even pharmacists can't read. That will help a lot. But if they keep using the old tried and true Latin abbreviations most people still won't know what they meant. As a little crib sheet, here are the most common abbreviations we see on prescriptions, and what they mean:

ac = before meals

bid = twice a day

c = with

cap/caps = capsules

daw = dispense as written (no substitutes of generic or brand name drugs)

g, gm, or GM = gram

gtt = drop

h = an hour

hs = at bedtime

mg = milligram

ml = milliliter

pc = after eating

po = by mouth

prn = as needed

q = every (as in every 4 hours)

qh = every hour

q2h = every two hours

qid = four times per day

s = without

stat = immediately

tid = three times a day

ut dict = as directed by doctor