Table: Common Medical and Prescription Abbreviations

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category

Meaning

1/2NS one-half normal saline drug or class name

(0.45%)

5-ASA 5-aminosalicylic acid Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as five tablets of
aspirin per FDA

a before time

A.M. morning time

aa of each measurement

AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm Can be misinterpreted as 'apply to medical condition

(called a "triple-A") affected area'

AAA apply to affected area Can be misinterpreted as 'abdominal route of administration

aortic aneurysm'

ac before meals time

achs before meals and at bedtime time

AD right ear route of administration

ad lib freely; as much as desired time

ad sat. to saturation other

ad. to; up to Caution not to confuse with AD measurement

(meaning right ear)

ALT alanine aminotransferase lab

alt. alternate time

alt. h. every other hour time

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

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

APAP acetaminophen Better to spell out drug name drug or class name
"acetaminophen"

aPTT activated partial lab

thromboplastin

AQ, aq water other

a.s., AS left ear route of administration

ASA aspirin Better to spell out drug name drug or class name
"aspirin"

AST aspartate aminotransferase lab

ATC around the clock time

AU each ear; both ears route of administration

AZT zidovudine Better to spell drug name out; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as azathioprine per
FDA

Ba barium drug or class name

BCP birth control pills drug or class name

Bi bismuth drug or class name

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

bid, BID twice a day time

BM bowel movement other

BMI body mass index vitals

bol bolus measurement

BP blood pressure vitals

BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy medical condition

BS blood sugar lab

BSA body surface area vitals

BT bedtime In U.S., 'hs' or 'HS' is more commonly time

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

CaCO3 calcium carbonate drug or class name

CAD coronary artery disease medical condition

CAP cancer of the prostate Do not confuse with "capsule" medical condition

cap. capsule Do not confuse with "cancer of the dosage form

prostate"

CBC complete blood count lab

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

cc cubic centimeter Can also mean "with food" measurement

CD controlled delivery drug release technology

CF cystic fibrosis medical condition

cm centimeter measurement

CNS central nervous system other

conc concentrated other

CPZ Compazine Better to spell drug name out; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as chlorpromazine per
FDA

CR controlled-release drug release technology

cr, crm cream dosage form

CV cardiovascular other

CXR chest x-ray lab

D/C, dc, disc. discontinue OR discharge Multiple possible meanings; spell out other
instead of using "D/C"

D5/0.9 NaCl 5% dextrose and normal drug or class name

saline solution (0.9% NaCl)

D5 1/2/NS 5% dextrose and half normal drug or class name

saline solution (0.45% NaCl)

D5NS dextrose 5% in normal drug or class name

saline (0.9%)

D5W 5% dextrose in water drug or class name

DAW dispense as written other

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

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

DO Doctor of Osteopathic medical specialty

Medicine

DOB date of birth other

DPT diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus Better to spell out vaccine name; can drug or class name
be misinterpreted as Demerol-
Phenergan-Thorazine per FDA

DR delayed-release drug release technology

DVT deep vein thrombosis medical condition

DW dextrose in water, diabetes Multiple possible meanings; spell out other

mellitus or distilled water instead of using "DW"

EC enteric-coated drug release technology

EENT Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Medical Specialty

elix. elixir dosage form

emuls. emulsion dosage form

ER extended-release Can also mean "emergency room" drug release technology

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

ER emergency room Can also mean "extended-release" other

ETOH ethyl alcohol drug or class name

F Fahrenheit lab

f or F female other

FBS fasting blood sugar lab

FDA Food and Drug other

Administration

Fe Iron drug or class name or lab

FFP fresh frozen plasma drug or class name

fl or fld fluid measurement

ft foot measurement

G, or g, or gram "g" is preferred symbol measurement

gm

garg gargle route of administration

GERD gastroesophageal reflux medical condition

disease

GI gastrointestinal other

gr. grain Apothecary measurement (obsolete measurement

and may be misinterpreted as gram;
do not use)

GTT glucose tolerance test Can be confused with gtt for drops lab

gtt, gtts drop, drops Can be confused with GTT for measurement
glucose tolerance test

GU genitourinary other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

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

HAART highly active antiretroviral drug or class name

therapy

HCT, or Hct hematocrit lab

HCT hydrocortisone Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as hydrochlorothiazide
per FDA

HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as hydrocortisone per
FDA

HR heart rate vitals

HS half-strength better to spell out; do not mistake for measurement

"bedtime"

hs or HS at bedtime, hours of sleep Do not misinterpret as 'half-strength' time

HTN hypertension medical condition

hx history other

IBW ideal body weight lab

ID intradermal OR infectious Multiple possible meanings; spell out route of administration;

disease word instead of using "ID" other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

IJ injection better to spell out 'injection' route of administration

IM intramuscular route of administration

IN intranasal route of administration

inf infusion route of administration

inj. injection route of administration

instill. instillation route of administration

IP intraperitoneal route of administration

IR immediate-release drug release technology

IU international unit Mistaken as IV (intravenous) or 10

(ten); Instead spell out "units" per
Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List
of Abbreviations

IUD intrauterine device dosage form

IV intravenous route of administration

IVP intravenous push Could be confused with 'intravenous route of administration

pyelogram'

IVPB intravenous piggyback route of administration

J joule lab

K potassium drug or class name

KOH potassium hydroxide drug or class name

L liter measurement

LA long-acting drug release technology

lab laboratory other

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

lb. pound measurement

LDL low-density lipoprotein lab

LFT liver function tests lab

Li lithium drug or class name

liq. liquid dosage form

LMP last menstrual period other

lot lotion dosage form

LPN licensed practical nurse medical specialty

LR lactated ringer (solution) drug or class name

mane in the morning time

mcg microgram Can be misinterpreted to mean "mg" measurement

or milligram, better to spell out
'microgram'

MD medical doctor medical specialty

MDI metered-dose inhaler dosage form

mEq milliequivalent measurement

mEq/L milliequivalent per liter measurement

Mg magnesium drug or class name

mg milligram measurement

MgSO4 magnesium sulfate May be confused with "MSO4" drug or class name
(morphine sulfate), spell out
"magnesium sulfate" - Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

mL milliliter measurement

mm millimeter measurement

mm of Hg millimeters of mercury measurement

mMol millimole measurement

MMR measle-mumps-rubella drug or class name

(vaccine)

mol wt molecular weight measurement

MR modified-release drug release technology

MS morphine sulfate or Can mean either morphine sulfate or drug or class name
magnesium sulfate magnesium sulfate, spell out drug
name - Joint Commission's "Do Not
Use" List of Abbreviations

MSO4 morphine sulfate May be confused with "MgSO4"; drug or class name
instead spell out "morphine sulfate" -
Joint 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

Na sodium lab or drug or class name

NAS intranasal route of administration

NDC National Drug Code other

NGT nasogastric tube route of administration

NH3 ammonia other

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

NKA no known allergies other

NKDA no known drug allergies other

noct. maneq. night and morning time

NP nurse practitioner medical specialty

NPO, n.p.o. nothing by mouth Preferred by AMA to spell out route of administration
"nothing by mouth"

NS normal saline drug or class name

NSAID nonsteroidal anti- drug or class name

inflammatory drug

NTE not to exceed other

O2 oxygen other

OC oral contraceptive drug or class name

o.d., OD right eye Can also mean "overdose" or "once route of administration,
daily"; better to spell out ophthalmic abbreviations

o.d. once per day Preferred in the UK; Can also mean time
"overdose" or "right eye"; better to
spell out

OJ orange juice other

OM otitis media medical condition

o.s., OS left eye route of administration,

ophthalmic abbreviations

OTC over-the-counter other

o.u., OU both eyes route of administration,

ophthalmic abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

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

PE physical exam, pulmonary other

embolism

per by or through route of administration

per neb by nebulizer route of administration

per os by mouth, orally AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" route of administration
or "orally"; can be mistaken as "os"
meaning left 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

PO, p.o. orally or by mouth AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" route of administration
or "orally"

PR, p.r. per the rectum route of administration

PT prothrombin time lab

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

PTT partial thromboplastin time lab

pulv powder dosage form

PV per the vagina route of administration

q every time

q.s., qs as much as needed; a 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

qd, QD every day Mistaken as q.i.d; Instead write time

"daily" or "every day" per Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations

qh every hour time

qhs each night at bedtime Can be confused with "qh" meaning time
every hour; better to spell out

qid four times a day time

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

qn Nightly or at bedtime Not commonly used in U.S.; 'hs' time

more common for bedtime

qod, QOD, every other day Can be mistaken as qd (daily) or qid time
q.o.d (four times daily); Instead spell out
"every other day" per Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations

q.s. ad add sufficient quantity to measurement

make

RA rheumatoid arthritis medical condition

RDA recommended daily other

allowances

RE right eye route of administration,

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

sa according to the art; best other

practice

SA sustained action drug release technology

SBP systolic blood pressure vital sign

SID Used ONLY in Veterinary Can be confused to mean BID (twice time; used in Veterinary
medicine to mean "once daily) and QID (four times daily); medicine ONLY
daily"
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

pharmacists should clarify

abbreviations with DVM, if needed.

sig codes medical or prescription other

abbreviations

Sig. write on label other

SL, s.l. sublingual, under the tongue route of administration

SNRI serotonin/norepinephrine drug or class name

reuptake inhibitor

SOB shortness of breath other

sol solution; in solution dosage form

sp gr specific gravity lab

SQ, SC, sub subcutaneously Use caution as "SC" can be mistaken route of administration
q for "SL," meaning sublingual per FDA

SR sustained release drug release technology

ss sliding scale (insulin) OR 1/2 Use caution; can be misinterpreted; other

(apothecary; obsolete) better to spell out "sliding scale" or
"one-half"

SSI Sliding scale insulin other

SSRI sliding scale regular insulin Spell out words to avoid confusion other
OR selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor

stat immediately time

STD sexually transmitted medical condition

diseases
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

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

tid ac three times a day before time

meals

TIN, t.i.n. three times a night time

tinct., tr tincture dosage form

TIW, tiw 3 times a week Spell out; can be confused with TID time
(three times a day)

top. topical route of administration

TO telephone order

TPN total parenteral nutrition drug or class name

TR timed-release drug release technology

troche lozenge dosage form

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

TSH thyroid stimulating hormone lab

tsp teaspoon measurement

Tx treatment other

U or u unit Mistaken as the number "0" (zero), measurement

the number "4" (four), or "cc".
Prescriber should instead 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

vag, pv via the vagina route of 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
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning

XL extended-release drug release technology

XR extended-release drug release technology

XT extended-release drug release technology

yo years old other

yr year time

Zn zinc drug or class drug or class

name

μEq microequivalent measurement

μg, mcg microgram μg or mcg can be misinterpreted as measurement

"mg", better to spell out 'microgram'

μL microliter measurement