Doctors' prescriptions often seem mysterious or incomprehensible to us. They contain various abbreviated words or medical terms that ordinary people cannot easily understand. One such term is BDPC. Many people get confused when they see this term on prescriptions. Do you know what BDPC written on prescriptions means? Why do doctors write this?
What does writing BDPC mean?
BDPC is actually an abbreviated form of medication instructions. Its full meaning is 'Bis in Die Post Cibum'. This is a Latin phrase. Here, Bis in Die means twice a day, and Post Cibum means after meals. That is, when BDPC is written next to any medicine on a prescription, it means the medicine should be taken twice a day, after eating meals.
The practice of using Latin words in medical science is very old. Doctors in almost all countries of the world use these abbreviated Latin terms so that instructions remain brief yet specific in meaning. BDPC is mainly written to indicate to patients the correct time to take medicine.
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Why is understanding this important?
Following this instruction is very important. Many medicines can cause stomach problems, gastric issues or nausea if taken on an empty stomach. When taken after meals, those medicines work well in the body. Also, the risk of side effects is reduced. So when a doctor writes BDPC, it should be understood that the medicine needs to be taken after morning and evening meals.
Many people confuse BDPC with BD or PC. Here, it needs to be clarified— BD means twice a day, but whether before or after meals is not specified. So if BD is written on any prescription, it means the medicine should be taken twice a day. PC (Post Cibum) means after meals.
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Remember, understanding prescriptions and taking medicines accordingly is very important. Because taking medicine at the wrong time can reduce its effectiveness. It can have harmful effects on the body. If you ever have difficulty understanding any word or instruction written on a prescription, don't guess on your own but definitely consult with the doctor or pharmacist.
