In pharmacy terms, what does 'BID' indicate for frequency of a medication?

In pharmacy terminology, 'BID' stands for 'bis in die', which is Latin for 'twice a day'. This abbreviation indicates that a medication should be administered two times within a 24-hour period. The significance of understanding this abbreviation is crucial for ensuring accurate dosing of medications, which can greatly impact patient outcomes.

For example, when a prescription specifies a medication to be taken BID, it means that the patient should take the medication at approximately evenly spaced intervals, typically once in the morning and once in the evening, to maintain therapeutic levels in the body. This dosing schedule is designed to maximize the drug's efficacy and help manage the patient's condition more effectively.