What does tab mean on a prescription?
Tab means tablet. “1 tab PO QD” means take one tablet by mouth once a day — the tab tells you the form, not the dose.
- Means:
- tablet
- From:
- tabella
- Type:
- What form
- Also written:
- tab, tabs, TAB
What it means in practice
A dose in tablets only means something alongside the strength: one tab of a 500 mg tablet is 500 mg. This is why labels pair them, as in “Amoxicillin 500 mg — 1 tab PO TID”. Cap is the capsule equivalent.
Example on a prescription
1 tab PO QD
Take one tablet by mouth once a day.
Commonly confused with
- CAPCap is a capsule. Tablets can often be split; capsules generally cannot.
Worth knowing
Do not split or crush a tablet unless the label or pharmacist says you can. Modified-release and enteric-coated tablets can release their whole dose at once if broken.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1 tab PO QD mean?
Take one tablet by mouth once a day.
Does tab tell me the dose?
No. It tells you the form. The dose is the strength printed beside the medicine name, such as 500 mg.
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.