How to use it
- Pick how often you take the medication: every 3, 4, 6 or 8 hours.
- Set when you wake up and go to bed. Your sleep shows up as the purple block on the timeline.
- Drag any dose (or use ◀ / ▶) to move the whole schedule. The doses stay evenly spaced, and any that fall while you're asleep turn purple.
What do q4h, q6h and q8h mean?
These are the abbreviations doctors and pharmacists use for how often to take a medication. The q comes from the Latin quaque, meaning "every", and the doses are evenly spaced around the full 24 hours, including overnight.
| Abbreviation | Meaning | Doses a day | Example times |
|---|---|---|---|
| q3h | every 3 hours | 8 | 6am, 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm, 12am, 3am |
| q4h | every 4 hours | 6 | 8am, 12pm, 4pm, 8pm, 12am, 4am |
| q6h | every 6 hours | 4 | 6am, 12pm, 6pm, 12am |
| q8h | every 8 hours | 3 | 7am, 3pm, 11pm |
Common questions
Is q8h the same as three times a day?
Not always. Three times a day (TID) usually means three doses spread across your waking hours, often with meals. q8h means evenly spaced doses every 8 hours, including overnight. If you're not sure which your prescription means, ask your pharmacist.
Do I have to wake up at night for a dose?
It depends on the medication. Some need steady levels in your body and others are more flexible. This planner shows which doses fall during your sleep so you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about a specific schedule.
Is my information saved or shared?
Your schedule is saved only in your own browser so it's there when you come back, and there's no account. We use Google Analytics to understand how people use the page, such as which interval they pick. It doesn't include your dose times or sleep hours.