What does Disp mean on a prescription?
Disp is the quantity to dispense — how much medicine the pharmacist should supply, as opposed to how you take it.
- Means:
- dispense (quantity to supply)
- From:
- dispensa
- Type:
- Pharmacy instruction
- Also written:
- disp, Disp., DISP
What it means in practice
A prescription separates how much to supply (Disp) from how to take it (Sig). “Disp: 21 caps” alongside “Sig: 1 cap PO TID x 7 days” is internally consistent: three a day for seven days is twenty-one capsules.
Example on a prescription
Disp: 21 caps. Sig: 1 cap PO TID x 7 days
Supply 21 capsules; take one by mouth three times a day for seven days.
Commonly confused with
- SIGSig is how to take it. Disp is how much is supplied.
Frequently asked questions
What does Disp mean on a prescription?
The quantity to dispense — the number of tablets, capsules or millilitres the pharmacy should give you.
Why does the Disp quantity matter?
It should match the Sig. If the quantity does not cover the course length, you may run out mid-treatment — worth checking with antibiotics.
Related abbreviations
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This page explains prescription notation for general information. It is not medical advice and does not replace your prescriber or pharmacist. If a label is unclear or differs from what you were told, check with your pharmacy before taking the medicine.