Which abbreviation stands for 'before meals'?

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

Answer: (B)

Timing around meals is often shown with Latin abbreviations. The one that means “before meals” is ante cibum, abbreviated a.c. This tells you to take the medication on an empty stomach, which can be important for proper absorption or to avoid interactions with food. By contrast, p.o. describes the route of administration (by mouth) rather than timing. p.c. stands for post cibum, after meals, used when a drug should be taken after eating. ad lib means as desired, taken freely or as needed, and isn’t tied to meal timing.