Problems Understanding My Prescription Directions
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist helps decipher confusing prescription directions.
I got a prescription that reads the following: Take 1 tablet by mouth at bedtime AND take 1 tablet by mouth twice daily as needed for anxiety. What does this mean?
Oct 24, 2022- Your prescription has two parts: a regular dose you take every night, plus extra doses you can take during the day if your symptoms get worse. Your pharmacy calculates how long your prescription will last based on the highest possible daily dose, so you should have enough medication if you take it as prescribed. If you're still unsure about how to take your medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist for clarification.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out! We're more than happy to help decipher these prescription directions for you.
The directions you have been given for your prescription are for a consistent dosing schedule, but also allow you to take more medication as needed for your symptoms.
These types of directions aren't uncommon for certain conditions that are chronic, but can also flare up (or exacerbate) at times. Anxiety is a good example of where you may see these kinds of directions. Pain conditions would also be a good example here.
Breaking Down Your Directions
So, you have been given the following directions for your medication:
- Take one tablet by mouth at bedtime and take one tablet by mouth twice a day as needed for anxiety.
This means your doctor wants you to take a dose of your medication every night at bedtime, consistently, but if your symptoms worsen and you need better control, you can take additional medication up to two more times daily.
In other words, you can take up to three doses per day (at bedtime and up to two more times during the day).
The following is an example of how you may take your medication for anxiety based on the directions your doctor has given to you:
- You are experiencing worsening anxiety symptoms at 8 AM and 3 PM, and you take a dose of medication at each of those times to help alleviate those symptoms.
- You take one dose at bedtime (as you do every night).
The above example would be perfectly fine and fall in line with how your doctor prescribed the medication for you.
How Will Your Pharmacy Know When You Are Due For A Refill?
In most cases, your pharmacy will calculate the 'day supply' of your prescription based on the maximum daily dose.
In your example, the maximum daily dose is 3 tablets (one tablet always at bedtime and up to two additional during the day). Therefore, if you were prescribed #90 tablets, that would be considered a 30-day supply.
Since prescription day supplies are generally calculated on the maximum daily dose intended by the provider, you shouldn't have a situation where you run out of medication too soon, as long as you take the medication as prescribed.
Final Words
I hope this answer cleared this up for you!
As always, if you are confused or unsure how to take your medication, please reach out to your doctor or pharmacist.
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Dosing schedule
- A plan that specifies when and how often you should take your medication.
- Chronic
- A condition that lasts a long time or recurs repeatedly over months or years.
- Exacerbate
- To make something worse or cause symptoms to become more severe.
- Dose
- A specific amount of medication taken at one time.
- Day supply
- The number of days a prescribed amount of medication will last based on how much you take daily.
- Maximum daily dose
- The largest total amount of medication you are allowed to take in a single day.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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