What Does Take 'Two Capsules Every Day' Mean?
In our latest question and answer, our pharmacist discusses what 'take two capsules every day' means.
My script says to take 2 capsules by mouth every day for 10 days. Do I take them both at the same time?
Dec 27, 2022- When your prescription says 'take two capsules every day,' it means you should take both capsules at the same time once per day.
- If your doctor wanted you to space out the doses, the directions would say 'take one capsule twice a day' instead.
- If you're ever unsure about how to take your medication, contact your doctor or pharmacist for clarification.
Answer
Thanks so much for reaching out and trying to clarify your prescription directions. I am more than happy to help. In fact, this is a topic I have written about before (you can find that article here).
In most cases, if your prescription directions read 'take two capsules by mouth every day' that means you should take two capsules at the same time every day.
If your doctor intended for you to space the dosing of your medication, your prescription directions would read 'take one capsule by mouth twice a day'.
How Prescription Directions Are Formed
In order to reduce prescription drug errors, several organizations have set out to standardize how prescription drug directions are formatted.
One such standardization for formatting directions is as follows:
- Directions = [Verb] + [Quantity] + [Dosage Form] + [Route Of Administration] + [Frequency]
Let's use your example.
- Verb = Take
- Quantity = Two
- Dosage Form = Capsules
- Route of Administration = By mouth
- Frequency = Every day
Again, if your doctor intended for you to take your prescription as one capsule twice a day, they would have written the directions differently (they would have changed the last part of the prescription directions, the 'frequency').
Always Check With Your Doctor Or Pharmacist If You Are Unsure
I will say here that I don't know what you are being treated for, or what the medication in question is, so I can't double-check if your directions make sense with how your drug is typically prescribed.
There is always a chance your doctor isn't following the usual standard that I have outlined here, so I have to emphasize that if you are unsure how to take your medication, please reach out to them for clarification.
Final Words
Thanks again for your question. Reach back out anytime.
References & sources
- The use of Latin terminology in medical case reports: quantitative, structural, and thematic analysis — PubMed
- Inappropriate Medical Abbreviations — StatPearls
- Evaluation of the NCPDP Structured and Codified Sig Format for e-prescriptions — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Capsules
- Solid medication containers made of gelatin or plant material that dissolve in your stomach to release the drug inside.
- Dosage Form
- The physical shape and type of medication you take, such as a pill, capsule, liquid, or injection.
- Route of Administration
- The way a medication enters your body, such as by mouth, injection, or through the skin.
- Frequency
- How often you should take your medication, such as once daily, twice daily, or every eight hours.
- Prescription directions
- The written instructions on your medication label that tell you how much to take, how often, and the correct way to take it.
- Standardize
- To make something follow a consistent format or set of rules so everyone uses the same system.
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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