In medication timing, ac indicates administration before meals.

• A. Before meals
• B. After meals
• C. At meals
• D. With meals

Answer: (A)

In medication timing, ac stands for ante cibum, Latin for before meals. This tells you to administer the medicine on an empty stomach, prior to eating, unless otherwise specified. Some drugs absorb better or have fewer interactions when taken before meals, which is why this timing is requested. If a medication should be taken after meals, you’d see post cibum (pc); with meals is indicated differently, not by ac. Always follow the order and the pharmacy label, and check any patient-specific instructions if there’s any doubt.