q6h
Medical abbreviation · Prescription
| Stands for | Every 6 hours |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
q6h stands for Every 6 hours, a prescription abbreviation.
Fixed interval producing four doses in 24 hours, spaced evenly through the night. It is common for antibiotics, acetaminophen and some antiemetics where steady blood levels matter more than convenience.
Example: Cefazolin 2 g IV q6h; first dose due on call to the OR.
Usage notes
Not the same as QID: QID usually means four doses during waking hours, while q6h means exactly six-hour spacing around the clock, typically 0000, 0600, 1200 and 1800. Prescribers choose q6h when a drug's half-life is short and gaps overnight would allow levels to fall below an effective range.
Related abbreviations
More prescription abbreviations
- q2h – Every 2 hours
- q2wk – Every 2 weeks
- q3h – Every 3 hours
- q4-6h – Every 4 to 6 hours
- q4h – Every 4 hours
- q5min – Every 5 minutes
- q72h – Every 72 hours
- q8h – Every 8 hours
- qAM – Every morning
- QD – Quaque die (every day, once daily)
- qds – Quater die sumendum (to be taken four times a day)
- qh – Quaque hora (every hour)
See all 77 prescription abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.