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Glite Dictionary
💊 As needed 📝 Medical abbreviation
PRN

PRN

8.4
You take medicine only when you need it
  • adverb
  • Specialized
translation icon : según sea necesario
  • You can take this medication PRN if you start to feel any pain.

Examples

  • This allergy medication should be taken PRN when symptoms appear.

  • The doctor told me to use the pain relief ointment PRN for my sore back.

  • Oh yes, if you just said, you know, you can still go be PRN, but you just have to restart is all.

Synonyms

as needed
vsPRN
25 1.5

When it is necessary

is the short prescription abbreviation used in medical directions
as required
vsPRN
17 2.3

Only when needed

is a medical note indicating optional use only when necessary
pro re nata
vsPRN
  • Formal
9.9

Given or done only when needed

is the abbreviated medical form used on prescriptions

Surface Forms

PRN positive

Etymology

PRN comes from the Latin phrase pro re nata, where pro means 'for', re means 'thing', and nata means 'born' or 'arisen'. So, PRN means 'as needed' and tells you to do something only when it is necessary.