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If an ophthalmologist instructs a patient to take drops bid, how often should the patient take the drops?

  1. Three times a day

  2. Once a week

  3. Once a day

  4. Twice a day

The correct answer is: Twice a day

When a physician instructs a patient to take medication "bid," it means the patient should administer the drops twice a day. The term "bid" comes from the Latin phrase "bis in die," which translates to "twice a day." This dosing schedule is commonly used in medical practice to help manage conditions that require consistent medication levels throughout the day while minimizing potential side effects from higher dosing frequencies. Therefore, for the patient to adhere to the prescribed regimen appropriately, understanding that "bid" refers specifically to two administrations daily is crucial.