What is the abbreviation for before meals?

• A. a.c
• B. p.c
• C. ad lib
• D. p.o

Answer: (A)

Timing with meals on prescriptions uses Latin phrases. Ante cibum means before meals, and it is abbreviated a.c. This precisely indicates that the dose should be taken before eating. Other options refer to different ideas: post cibum means after meals (p.c.), ad libitus or ad lib means as desired or as much as needed (not tied to meals), and per os means by mouth (the route of administration, not timing). So the one that signals before meals is ante cibum, written as a.c.