How many doses should a patient take if told to take a medication "three times daily"?

The instruction to take a medication "three times daily" means that the patient is to take the medication at regular intervals throughout the day, typically spaced out to ensure a steady level of the medication in the body. This typically amounts to three separate doses within a 24-hour period, which maintains effective therapeutic levels and supports consistent management of the condition being treated.

This approach helps to provide a continuous response from the medication, which is crucial for effectiveness in many treatments. Each dose is usually taken at different times, such as morning, afternoon, and evening, rather than all at once.