Do You Know What QID, HS, and DAW Mean?

QID means four times each day. HS means at bedtime. And, DAW means dispense as written. These are three of the abbreviations doctors use when they write prescriptions.

Your doctor uses abbreviations that tell your pharmacist which medication to give you and directions on how to use that medication. You should learn to read a prescription immediately after it is written by your doctor. Doing so will help make sure that you know what medication you are getting. It will also give you a chance to ask questions about your doctor’s instructions.

Understanding your prescription may help prevent a medical error.

What do you think? Leave a comment below or in the Medication Forum.

To ask me a question about medication, email me at drugs.guide@about.com.