Sig code: frequency

QD medical abbreviation

QD means "every day", from the Latin "quaque die".

On The Joint Commission's Do Not Use list. ISMP suggests: Write "daily".

Each meaning matched at least two public references (5 in all for QD), checked October 23, 2026. The table lists them.

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What QD means

Example

Training example of a Do Not Use entry: "QD" written on an order.

A made-up line that shows the abbreviation in place. It is not about any patient and is not an instruction.

Related abbreviations

  • QODevery other day
  • QIDfour times a day
  • BIDtwice a day
  • QHSevery night at bedtime
  • QAMevery morning
  • PRNas needed

Elsewhere on Rivvi

Questions

What does QD mean in medical terms?

QD means "every day", from the Latin "quaque die".

What does QD stand for in Latin?

QD comes from "quaque die", meaning "every day".

Where is QD used?

QD shows up in prescriptions and medication labels. Its category here is sig code: frequency.

Is QD on the Joint Commission Do Not Use list?

Yes. The Joint Commission's Do Not Use list includes QD. ISMP's suggested practice: Write "daily".

Source: NCI Thesaurus, including CDISC SDTM terminology (NCI EVS); NLM SPECIALIST Lexicon abbreviations file (LRABR); FDA Acronyms and Abbreviations; ISMP List of Error-Prone Abbreviations, Symbols, and Dose Designations (2024); The Joint Commission Do Not Use List. Data as of October 23, 2026. Last updated October 23, 2026. How we source data. Spotted an error? Send a correction.

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