How to understand dosage and timing on a medicine label
1-0-1, BD, TDS, SOS — decode the short codes on Indian prescriptions and packs in plain English.
By ImproveIt Health Editorial · 17 March 2026 · 5 min read
Indian prescriptions use shorthand that can confuse first-time patients. Here's the cheat sheet.
Common dosing codes
- OD — once daily
- BD / BID — twice a day
- TDS / TID — three times a day
- QID — four times a day
- SOS — only when needed
- 1-0-1 — morning, no afternoon, night
Timing words
'AC' means before food, 'PC' means after food, 'HS' means at bedtime. When timing matters (antibiotics, BP, diabetes), set a reminder.
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