biquotidienne

Biquotidienne is a French adjective used to describe something that occurs twice within a 24-hour period. In medical and pharmacological contexts, it commonly denotes a dosing regimen where a substance is taken two times per day, typically at roughly 12-hour intervals. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to routines or events that happen twice daily.

The word derives from bi- (two) and quotidien (daily), from Latin quotidianus. The feminine form is biquotidienne, the masculine form biquotidien, and the adverbial form is biquotidiennement. In practice, the feminine form is the most commonly encountered variant in medical writing.

In pharmacology, formulations such as "prise biquotidienne" or "administration biquotidienne" indicate a dosage rate of two administrations per day, equivalent to "deux fois par jour." This is often abbreviated in prescriptions as bid, derived from bis in die in Latin. The expression may also appear in clinical documentation or patient instructions to specify regular morning and evening doses.

Timing and exact intervals may vary according to the medication and patient needs; prescribers may specify specific times (for example, matin et soir) to ensure consistent therapeutic levels. While biquotidienne conveys the intended frequency, everyday French more commonly uses "deux fois par jour," especially outside formal or medical writing.

See also: dosage frequency, bis in die (bid), two times daily.