Pharmacy SIG abbreviations: meanings and safer wording

Twice daily

Frequency does not specify dose or route.

Three times daily

Do not silently translate to every eight hours.

Four times daily

Do not silently translate to every six hours.

As needed

The indication and supported interval or maximum must come from the full directions.

By mouth

Verify the complete route and dosage form.

Before meals

Which meals and timing must come from the order.

After meals

Which meals and timing must come from the order.

Every morning

No precise clock time is supplied.

Every evening

No precise clock time is supplied.

At bedtime

Use explicit patient-facing words.

Every four hours

Check whether scheduled or as needed.

Every six hours

Check whether scheduled or as needed.

Every eight hours

Check whether scheduled or as needed.

Daily

Can be confused with QID; write daily.

Every other day

Can be confused with daily or four times daily.

Units

Write units; the abbreviation can resemble numbers.

Right eye or once daily

Ambiguous across contexts. Clarify rather than selecting a meaning automatically.

Left eye / each eye

Write the eye explicitly; eye and ear abbreviations can be confused.

Right ear / left ear / each ear

Write the ear explicitly.

Subcutaneous

Spell out the route.

Discharge or discontinue

Clarify the intended action.

Decimal notation

Write 0.5 for a fraction; avoid a trailing zero in a medication dose.