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Table: Common Medical and Prescription Abbreviations
Meaning / Intended
Abbreviation Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
one-half normal saline drug or class
1/2NS
(0.45%) name
Better to spell out drug name;
drug or class
5-ASA 5-aminosalicylic acid can be misinterpreted as five
name
tablets of aspirin per FDA
a before time
A.M. morning time
aa of each measurement
abdominal aortic aneurysm Can be misinterpreted as 'apply
AAA medical condition
(called a "triple-A") to affected area'
Can be misinterpreted as route of
AAA apply to affected area
'abdominal aortic aneurysm' administration
ac before meals time
achs before meals and at bedtime time
route of
AD right ear
administration
ad lib freely; as much as desired time
ad sat. to saturation other
Caution not to confuse with AD
ad. to; up to measurement
(meaning right ear)
ALT alanine aminotransferase lab
alt. alternate time
alt. h. every other hour time
am, A.M. in the morning; before noon time
amp ampule dosage form
amt. amount measurement
ant. anterior other
ante before time
ap before dinner time
Better to spell out drug name drug or class
APAP acetaminophen
"acetaminophen" name
 activated partial
aPTT lab
thromboplastin
AQ, aq water other
route of
a.s., AS left ear
administration
Better to spell out drug name drug or class
ASA aspirin
"aspirin" name
AST aspartate aminotransferase lab
ATC around the clock time
route of
AU each ear; both ears
administration
Better to spell drug name out;
drug or class
AZT zidovudine can be misinterpreted as
name
azathioprine per FDA
drug or class
Ba barium
name
drug or class
BCP birth control pills
name
drug or class
Bi bismuth
name
bid, BID twice a day time
BM bowel movement other
BMI body mass index vitals
bol bolus measurement
BP blood pressure vitals
benign prostatic
BPH medical condition
hypertrophy
BS blood sugar lab
BSA body surface area vitals
In U.S., 'hs' or 'HS' is more
BT bedtime time
commonly used for bedtime
c with other
C.C. chief complaint other
c/o complaints of other
C&S culture and sensitivity lab
CABG coronary artery bypass graft other
drug or class
CaCO3 calcium carbonate
name
CAD coronary artery disease medical condition
CAP cancer of the prostate Do not confuse with "capsule" medical condition
Do not confuse with "cancer of
cap. capsule dosage form
the prostate"
CBC complete blood count lab
cc cubic centimeter Can also mean "with food" measurement
drug release
CD controlled delivery
technology
CF cystic fibrosis medical condition
cm centimeter measurement
CNS central nervous system other
conc concentrated other
Better to spell drug name out;
drug or class
CPZ Compazine can be misinterpreted as
name
chlorpromazine per FDA
drug release
CR controlled-release
technology
cr, crm cream dosage form
CV cardiovascular other
CXR chest x-ray lab
Multiple possible meanings;
D/C, dc, disc. discontinue OR discharge other
spell out instead of using "D/C"
5% dextrose and normal drug or class
D5/0.9 NaCl
saline solution (0.9% NaCl) name
5% dextrose and half
drug or class
D5 1/2/NS normal saline solution
name
(0.45% NaCl)
dextrose 5% in normal drug or class
D5NS
saline (0.9%) name
drug or class
D5W 5% dextrose in water
name
DAW dispense as written other
DBP diastolic blood pressure lab
dil. diluted other
disp dispense other
div divide other
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis medical condition
dL deciliter measurement
DM diabetes mellitus medical condition
 Doctor of Osteopathic
DO medical specialty
Medicine
DOB date of birth other
Better to spell out vaccine
name; can be misinterpreted as drug or class
DPT diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus
Demerol-Phenergan-Thorazine name
per FDA
drug release
DR delayed-release
technology
DVT deep vein thrombosis medical condition
dextrose in water, diabetes Multiple possible meanings;
DW other
mellitus or distilled water spell out instead of using "DW"
drug release
EC enteric-coated
technology
Medical
EENT Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat
Specialty
elix. elixir dosage form
emuls. emulsion dosage form
Can also mean "emergency drug release
ER extended-release
room" technology
Can also mean "extended-
ER emergency room other
release"
drug or class
ETOH ethyl alcohol
name
F Fahrenheit lab
f or F female other
FBS fasting blood sugar lab
Food and Drug
FDA other
Administration
drug or class
Fe Iron
name or lab
drug or class
FFP fresh frozen plasma
name
fl or fld fluid measurement
ft foot measurement
G, or g, or gm gram "g" is preferred symbol measurement
route of
garg gargle
administration
 gastroesophageal reflux
GERD medical condition
disease
GI gastrointestinal other
Apothecary measurement
(obsolete and may be
gr. grain measurement
misinterpreted as gram; do not
use)
Can be confused with gtt for
GTT glucose tolerance test lab
drops
Can be confused with GTT for
gtt, gtts drop, drops measurement
glucose tolerance test
GU genitourinary other
guttat. drop by drop measurement
h, or hr. hour time
h/o history of other
H&H hematocrit and hemoglobin lab
H2 histamine 2 other
H20 water other
highly active antiretroviral drug or class
HAART
therapy name
HCT, or Hct hematocrit lab
Better to spell out drug name;
drug or class
HCT hydrocortisone can be misinterpreted as
name
hydrochlorothiazide per FDA
Better to spell out drug name;
drug or class
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide can be misinterpreted as
name
hydrocortisone per FDA
HR heart rate vitals
better to spell out; do not
HS half-strength measurement
mistake for "bedtime"
Do not misinterpret as 'half-
hs or HS at bedtime, hours of sleep time
strength'
HTN hypertension medical condition
hx history other
IBW ideal body weight lab
Multiple possible meanings; route of
intradermal OR infectious
ID spell out word instead of using administration;
disease
"ID" other
 route of
IJ injection better to spell out 'injection'
administration
route of
IM intramuscular
administration
route of
IN intranasal
administration
route of
inf infusion
administration
route of
inj. injection
administration
route of
instill. instillation
administration
route of
IP intraperitoneal
administration
drug release
IR immediate-release
technology
Mistaken as IV (intravenous) or
10 (ten); Instead spell out
IU international unit "units" per Joint Commission's
"Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
IUD intrauterine device dosage form
route of
IV intravenous
administration
Could be confused with route of
IVP intravenous push
'intravenous pyelogram' administration
route of
IVPB intravenous piggyback
administration
J joule lab
drug or class
K potassium
name
drug or class
KOH potassium hydroxide
name
L liter measurement
drug release
LA long-acting
technology
lab laboratory other
lb. pound measurement
LDL low-density lipoprotein lab
LFT liver function tests lab
 drug or class
Li lithium
name
liq. liquid dosage form
LMP last menstrual period other
lot lotion dosage form
LPN licensed practical nurse medical specialty
drug or class
LR lactated ringer (solution)
name
mane in the morning time
Can be misinterpreted to mean
mcg microgram "mg" or milligram, better to measurement
spell out 'microgram'
MD medical doctor medical specialty
MDI metered-dose inhaler dosage form
mEq milliequivalent measurement
mEq/L milliequivalent per liter measurement
drug or class
Mg magnesium
name
mg milligram measurement
May be confused with "MSO4"
(morphine sulfate), spell out
drug or class
MgSO4 magnesium sulfate "magnesium sulfate" - Joint
name
Commission's "Do Not Use"
List of Abbreviations
mL milliliter measurement
mm millimeter measurement
mm of Hg millimeters of mercury measurement
mMol millimole measurement
measle-mumps-rubella drug or class
MMR
(vaccine) name
mol wt molecular weight measurement
drug release
MR modified-release
technology
Can mean either morphine
sulfate or magnesium sulfate,
morphine sulfate or drug or class
MS spell out drug name - Joint
magnesium sulfate name
Commission's "Do Not Use"
List of Abbreviations
 May be confused with
"MgSO4"; instead spell out
drug or class
MSO4 morphine sulfate "morphine sulfate" - Joint
name
Commission's "Do Not Use"
List of Abbreviations
n or noct. in the night time
N/A not applicable other
N/V, N&V nausea and vomiting other
lab or drug or
Na sodium
class name
route of
NAS intranasal
administration
NDC National Drug Code other
route of
NGT nasogastric tube
administration
NH3 ammonia other
NKA no known allergies other
NKDA no known drug allergies other
noct. maneq. night and morning time
NP nurse practitioner medical specialty
Preferred by AMA to spell out route of
NPO, n.p.o. nothing by mouth
"nothing by mouth" administration
drug or class
NS normal saline
name
nonsteroidal anti- drug or class
NSAID
inflammatory drug name
NTE not to exceed other
O2 oxygen other
drug or class
OC oral contraceptive
name
route of
Can also mean "overdose" or administration,
o.d., OD right eye
"once daily"; better to spell out ophthalmic
abbreviations
Preferred in the UK; Can also
o.d. once per day mean "overdose" or "right eye"; time
better to spell out
OJ orange juice other
OM otitis media medical condition
 route of
administration,
o.s., OS left eye
ophthalmic
abbreviations
OTC over-the-counter other
route of
administration,
o.u., OU both eyes
ophthalmic
abbreviations
oz ounce measurement
p after time
p.r.n., prn as needed time
PA physician assistant medical specialty
pc after meals time
PCA patient-controlled analgesia other
physical exam, pulmonary
PE other
embolism
route of
per by or through
administration
route of
per neb by nebulizer
administration
AMA prefers to spell out "by
mouth" or "orally"; can be route of
per os by mouth, orally
mistaken as "os" meaning left administration
eye per FDA
PFT pulmonary function tests lab
pH hydrogen ion concentration other
PharmD Doctor of Pharmacy medical specialty
PM evening time
PMH past medical history other
AMA prefers to spell out "by route of
PO, p.o. orally or by mouth
mouth" or "orally" administration
route of
PR, p.r. per the rectum
administration
PT prothrombin time lab
PTT partial thromboplastin time lab
pulv powder dosage form
route of
PV per the vagina
administration
q every time
as much as needed; a
q.s., qs measurement
sufficient quantity
q12h every 12 hours time
qd, q1d daily time
q2h every 2 hours time
q3h every 3 hours time
q4h every 4 hours time
q6h every 6 hours time
q6PM, etc every evening at 6 PM time
q8h every 8 hours time
qam every morning time
Mistaken as q.i.d; Instead write
"daily" or "every day" per Joint
qd, QD every day time
Commission's "Do Not Use"
List of Abbreviations
qh every hour time
Can be confused with "qh"
qhs each night at bedtime meaning every hour; better to time
spell out
qid four times a day time
Not commonly used in U.S.; 'hs'
qn Nightly or at bedtime time
more common for bedtime
Can be mistaken as qd (daily) or
qid (four times daily); Instead
qod, QOD,
every other day spell out "every other day" per time
q.o.d
Joint Commission's "Do Not
Use" List of Abbreviations
add sufficient quantity to
q.s. ad measurement
make
RA rheumatoid arthritis medical condition
recommended daily
RDA other
allowances
route of
administration,
RE right eye
ophthalmic
abbreviations
rep repeats time
RN registered nurse medical specialty
RPh pharmacist medical specialty
Rx prescription other
s without other
s.o.s. if necessary other
according to the art; best
sa other
practice
drug release
SA sustained action
technology
SBP systolic blood pressure vital sign
Can be confused to mean BID
Used ONLY in Veterinary (twice daily) and QID (four time; used in
SID medicine to mean "once times daily); pharmacists should Veterinary
daily" clarify abbreviations with medicine ONLY
DVM, if needed.
medical or prescription
sig codes other
abbreviations
Sig. write on label other
route of
SL, s.l. sublingual, under the tongue
administration
serotonin/norepinephrine drug or class
SNRI
reuptake inhibitor name
SOB shortness of breath other
sol solution; in solution dosage form
sp gr specific gravity lab
Use caution as "SC" can be
route of
SQ, SC, sub q subcutaneously mistaken for "SL," meaning
administration
sublingual per FDA
drug release
SR sustained release
technology
Use caution; can be
sliding scale (insulin) OR
ss misinterpreted; better to spell other
1/2 (apothecary; obsolete)
out "sliding scale" or "one-half"
SSI Sliding scale insulin other
sliding scale regular insulin
Spell out words to avoid
SSRI OR selective serotonin other
confusion
reuptake inhibitor
stat immediately time
sexually transmitted
STD medical condition
diseases
sup. superior other
supf. superficial other
supp suppository dosage form
susp suspension dosage form
syr. syrup dosage form
T temperature vital sign
tab tablet dosage form
tbsp tablespoon measurement
TIA transient ischemic attack medical condition
TID, t.i.d. three times a day time
three times a day before
tid ac time
meals
TIN, t.i.n. three times a night time
tinct., tr tincture dosage form
Spell out; can be confused with
TIW, tiw 3 times a week time
TID (three times a day)
route of
top. topical
administration
TO telephone order
drug or class
TPN total parenteral nutrition
name
drug release
TR timed-release
technology
troche lozenge dosage form
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone lab
tsp teaspoon measurement
Tx treatment other
Mistaken as the number "0"
(zero), the number "4" (four), or
"cc". Prescriber should instead
U or u unit measurement
spell out "unit" per Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use"
List of Abbreviations
UA urinalysis lab
ud, ut dict,
as directed other
UD
ung ointment dosage form
UTI urinary tract infection medical condition
route of
vag, pv via the vagina
administration
VLDL very low density lipoprotein lab
vol % volume percent measurement
vol. volume measurement
w/o without other
w/v weight in volume measurement
WBC white blood cell lab
WNL within normal limits lab
wt. weight vital sign
x multiplied by other
drug release
XL extended-release
technology
drug release
XR extended-release
technology
drug release
XT extended-release
technology
yo years old other
yr year time
drug or class drug
Zn zinc
or class name
μEq microequivalent measurement
μg or mcg can be misinterpreted
μg, mcg microgram as "mg", better to spell out measurement
'microgram'
μL microliter measurement
Master List of Prescription Abbreviations
http://www.everypatientsadvocate.com/columns/prescription
abbreviations.pdf

Abbreviation From the Latin Meaning

aa ana of each
ad ad up to
a.c. ante cibum before meals
a.d. aurio dextra right ear
ad lib. ad libitum use as much as one desires; freely
admov. admove apply
agit agita stir/shake
alt. h. alternis horis every other hour
a.m. ante meridiem morning, before noon
amp ampule
amt amount
aq aqua water
a.l., a.s. aurio laeva, aurio sinister left ear
A.T.C. around the clock
a.u. auris utrae both ears
bis bis twice
b.i.d. bis in die twice daily
B.M. bowel movement
bol. bolus as a large single dose (usually intravenously)
B.S. blood sugar
B.S.A body surface areas
cap., caps. capsula capsule
c cum with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c")
c cibos food
cc cum cibos with food, (but also cubic centimetre)
cf with food
comp. compound
cr., crm cream
D5W dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W)
D5NS dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)
D.A.W. dispense as written
dc, D/C, disc discontinue
dieb. alt. diebus alternis every other day
dil. dilute