PRN

My son asked a simple question: What does prn mean (he read his Rx for an allergy treatment after a recent doctors visit)?

"It means as needed," I said.

"What does the prn stand for?"

I couldn't remember, even though I also use it on many Rx's a day.

I looked it up.

It's Latin and stands for Pro Re Nata.

I took three years of Latin, years ago, in high school at my Mom's insistence.

She would not be pleased to know I had forgotten.

I never did have much of an aptitude for foreign languages, much less a dead language.