Medication Schedule
Iterative Calculation
The medication schedule is created through a simple loop that adds the specified interval repeatedly to generate the time for each subsequent dose.
- Set the Starting Point: The calculator begins with the date and time of your first dose.
- Loop and Add: It then enters a loop that runs for the total number of doses you specified.
- In each cycle, it records the current dose time.
- Then, it adds the dose interval (e.g., 4 hours) to the current time to find the time for the *next* dose.
- Repeat: This process repeats until the schedule is complete for all required doses.
Example From Your Schedule
Based on your inputs, here's how the first few doses were calculated:
- First Dose: Starts at Feb 26, 2026 at 8:00 AM.
- Second Dose: The interval of 4 hours and 0 minutes is added to the first dose time, resulting in 12:00 PM.
- Third Dose: The same interval is added to the second dose time, resulting in 4:00 PM.
- This continues for all 6 doses.
Post-Surgery Pain Relief
A full-day plan that keeps pain medication on a strict 6-hour cycle.
First Dose
Feb 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM
Interval
6 hours
Total Doses
5
Schedule Preview
Dose #1
Thursday, Feb 26
6:00 AM
Dose #2
Thursday, Feb 26
12:00 PM
Dose #3
Thursday, Feb 26
6:00 PM
Dose #4
Friday, Feb 27
12:00 AM
...and 1 more doses calculated automatically.
How the calculation is done
- Start with the first dose on February 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
- The interval of 6 hours is added to reach dose #2 at 12:00 PM.
- Continue adding the same interval after each dose until all 5 doses are scheduled. The final dose occurs on February 27 at 6:00 AM.
Antibiotic Three Times Daily
A single-day antibiotic course that needs three evenly spaced doses.
First Dose
Feb 26, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Interval
8 hours
Total Doses
3
Schedule Preview
Dose #1
Thursday, Feb 26
8:00 AM
Dose #2
Thursday, Feb 26
4:00 PM
Dose #3
Friday, Feb 27
12:00 AM
How the calculation is done
- Start with the first dose on February 26, 2026 at 8:00 AM.
- The interval of 8 hours is added to reach dose #2 at 4:00 PM.
- Continue adding the same interval after each dose until all 3 doses are scheduled. The final dose occurs on February 27 at 12:00 AM.
Bedtime Medication with Short Interval
A short burst therapy that begins at night and repeats every 4 hours.
First Dose
Feb 26, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Interval
4 hours and 30 minutes
Total Doses
5
Schedule Preview
Dose #1
Thursday, Feb 26
10:00 PM
Dose #2
Friday, Feb 27
2:30 AM
Dose #3
Friday, Feb 27
7:00 AM
Dose #4
Friday, Feb 27
11:30 AM
...and 1 more doses calculated automatically.
How the calculation is done
- Start with the first dose on February 26, 2026 at 10:00 PM.
- The interval of 4 hours and 30 minutes is added to reach dose #2 at 2:30 AM.
- Continue adding the same interval after each dose until all 5 doses are scheduled. The final dose occurs on February 27 at 4:00 PM.
How it works
The schedule is generated as a time sequence: start at your first dose timestamp, then repeatedly add interval hours + interval minutes until the requested number of doses is reached. It does not adjust for meal timing, renal dosing, or dose windows unless you do that manually.
Worked real-world examples
- Antibiotic q8h: first dose 07:00, interval 8h, 6 doses produces 07:00, 15:00, 23:00, 07:00, 15:00, 23:00.
- Pain medicine q6h after procedure: first dose 10:30, interval 6h, 4 doses yields 10:30, 16:30, 22:30, 04:30 next day.
- Mixed-hour interval: first dose 09:15, interval 4h30m, 5 doses gives 09:15, 13:45, 18:15, 22:45, 03:15.
Common mistakes
- Confusing q6h (every 6 hours) with 4 times daily (not always evenly spaced).
- Entering local time after travel without re-checking with the prescription label.
- Using this planner to compensate for missed doses instead of following pharmacist guidance.
When not to use this tool
- High-risk medicines needing individualized titration (for example warfarin or insulin correction plans).
- Pediatric or renal/hepatic dosing that requires prescriber-specific intervals.
- Emergency decisions for adverse reactions or overdose.
Sources and standards
- General medication timing conventions used in prescription shorthand (q6h, q8h, q12h).
- FDA and ISMP medication safety principles: verify labels, route, and dose with clinician/pharmacist instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about this calculator below.