qwk
Medical abbreviation · Prescription
| Stands for | Every week (once weekly) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
qwk stands for Every week (once weekly), a prescription abbreviation.
Weekly dosing interval used for drugs such as low-dose methotrexate, alendronate 70 mg and many injectable biologics or GLP-1 agonists. Accidental daily dosing of weekly oral methotrexate has caused fatal toxicity.
Example: Methotrexate 15 mg PO qwk on Mondays; folic acid 1 mg daily.
Usage notes
Also written QW, q week or q.w. Because confusion between weekly and daily dosing of methotrexate has repeatedly killed patients, ISMP recommends defaulting electronic orders for oral methotrexate to weekly, requiring a stated indication, and writing "once weekly" with the day named.
Related abbreviations
More prescription abbreviations
- QHS – Quaque hora somni (every night at bedtime)
- QID – Quater in die (four times a day)
- qn – Quaque nocte (every night)
- QOD – Quaque altera die (every other day)
- qPM – Every evening
- qty – Quantity
- Rf – Refills
- Rx – Recipe (take; prescription)
- s.o.s. – Si opus sit (if necessary)
- Sig – Signa (write, label)
- SS – Sliding scale
- SSI – Sliding scale insulin
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.