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Glite Dictionary
💊 As needed 📝 Medical abbreviation
PRN

PRN

8.9
A short medical form that means take medicine only when you need it
  • symbol
  • Specialized
translation icon : PRN
  • Your inhaler should be used PRN if you experience shortness of breath.

Examples

  • The nurse instructed him to take the pain medication PRN after surgery.

  • The doctor wrote a prescription for anti-nausea tablets to be taken PRN.

  • Take it PRN.

  • Use the cream PRN!

  • The nurse instructed him to take the pain medication PRN after surgery.

  • Your inhaler should be used PRN if you experience shortness of breath.

  • The doctor wrote a prescription for anti-nausea tablets to be taken PRN.

Synonyms

as needed
vsPRN
25 1.5

When it is necessary

is the medical abbreviation used in prescriptions rather than general wording
pro re nata
vsPRN
  • Formal
9.9

Given or done only when needed

is the shortened abbreviation used in prescriptions rather than the full instruction

Surface Forms

PRN main

Etymology

PRN is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase pro re nata, where pro means 'for', re means 'thing', and nata means 'born' or 'arisen'. On a prescription, PRN tells you to take medicine 'as needed' or 'when necessary'.