What Does 'Take Two Tablets By Mouth Once Weekly' Mean?

Hello and thanks for your question!

It's not uncommon that prescription directions are misinterpreted, often through no fault of the user.

In fact, many governing bodies in the healthcare space publish lists of 'do not use' medical abbreviations and directions to reduce the risk of error.

Let's get to what you asked about.

Two Tablets By Mouth Weekly

In regard to the directions you ask about in your question, 'take two tablets once weekly', I can certainly see it as being somewhat ambiguous.

In most cases, however, the intent of this is for you to take two tablets by mouth, at the same time, one time weekly.

This is based on the commonly accepted way that prescription directions are written, which is:

• Verb > Quantity > Dosage Form >Route of administration> Frequency

We've got:

• Verb: Take
• Quantity: Two
• Dosage Form: Tablets
• Route of administration: By mouth
• Frequency: One time weekly

So, for example, let's say you received a prescription that is for 10 tablets of 'drug X' with these directions, and you are supposed to take it for 5 weeks.

You would take two tablets (at the same time) on week one, two tablets on week two (at the same time and day as week one), and so, on until completed.

If your doctor intended for you to take your doses at different times or days, they would have written the prescription differently (e.g. it would have said something along the lines of 'take one tablet two times weekly').

Final Words

During my years as a pharmacist, I've seen the directions you asked about written even more ambiguously (i.e. take two tablets weekly), where the 'once weekly' part was missing completely.

Although, as mentioned, this would still generally be assumed to be taking your doses at one time, on a weekly basis. Nevertheless, it never hurts to reach out to your prescriber anytime you are unsure about how to take your medicine.

Thanks again for your question!