q3h

Medical abbreviation · Prescription

q3h
Stands forEvery 3 hours
CategoriesMedical

q3h stands for Every 3 hours, a prescription abbreviation.

Interval of three hours between doses, giving eight doses per day. It is used for some PRN analgesics, frequent nebulizer treatments and newborn feeding schedules.

Example: Albuterol 2.5 mg neb q3h PRN wheeze; call MD if needed more often than q2h.

Usage notes

Also written Q3H or q 3 hr. Breastfed and formula-fed newborns are often charted on q3h feeding schedules in hospital. As with other PRN intervals, q3h is a minimum gap rather than a required schedule.

More prescription abbreviations

  • q.s. – Quantum sufficit (a sufficient quantity)
  • q12h – Every 12 hours
  • q1d – Once daily
  • q24h – Every 24 hours
  • q2h – Every 2 hours
  • q2wk – Every 2 weeks
  • q4-6h – Every 4 to 6 hours
  • q4h – Every 4 hours
  • q5min – Every 5 minutes
  • q6h – Every 6 hours
  • q72h – Every 72 hours
  • q8h – Every 8 hours

See all 77 prescription abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.