If a patient is prescribed "1 tab po bid x 7 days," how many tablets are needed?

When interpreting the prescription "1 tab po bid x 7 days," we need to break it down into its components. The term "1 tab" indicates that the patient should take one tablet. The "po" stands for "per os," which means the tablet should be taken by mouth. The "bid" signifies that the tablet should be taken twice a day. The "x 7 days" specifies the duration of the treatment.

To calculate the total number of tablets needed, multiply the number of tablets taken per day by the number of days of treatment. Since the patient is to take 1 tablet twice a day (bid), that results in 2 tablets per day. Over the course of 7 days, this totals to:

2 tablets/day × 7 days = 14 tablets.

Therefore, a total of 14 tablets is required for the entire course of treatment as prescribed.