Pro re nata

"Pro re nata" is a Latin phrase that literally means "for the thing born". It is commonly used in medicine to mean "as needed" or "as the situation arises." It is generally used as the acronym PRN to refer to dosage of prescribed medication that is not scheduled; instead administration is left to the caregiver or the patient's prerogative. ["Pro re nata" does not imply that the patient may take the medicine whenever the patient wants, but rather that the medicine may be taken in the prescribed dosage "if needed".] PRN administration of medication is not meant to imply and should never allow for exceeding a prescribed daily regimen.

Common PRN medications

Most often PRN medications are analgesics such as Paracetamol (acetaminophen), which is known as in Tylenol in Canada and the US, Hydrocodone (Vicodin), laxatives such as docusate, antianxiety medicines such as lorazepam (Ativan), and antiemetics such as ondansetron or dimenhydrinate (Gravol).Fact|date=April 2007

It should be noted that none of the medications above are considered maintenance. PRN is often added to the prescribed directions for medication used to treat symptoms (as above: pain/fever, constipation, insomnia, anxiety, nausea/vomiting), but generally never as a maintenance drug.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.emedicine.com/asp/dictionary.asp?keyword=PRN Definition of PRN] - Stedman's Medical Dictionary