LATIN ABBREVIATIONS AND THEIR MEANING

PRESENTED BY
CYNTHIA ADAMA 1
 INTRODUCTION
Greek medicines migrated to Rome at an early date, and many Latin
terms crept into its terminology. Latin was the language of science up to
the beginning of 18th century, so all medical texts were written in Latin.

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LATIN WORD INTERPRETATION MEANING

a.c ante cibum before meals

AD right auris dextra Right ear

a.m., am, ante meridiem AM morning

nocte Omne Nocte every night

a.s., as, AS auris sinistra left ear

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o.d, OD oculus dexter Right ear

o.s., os, oculus sinister left eye

o.u., ou, oculus uterque both eyes

p.c. post cibum after food

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p.m., pm, post meridiem PM afternoon or evening

PO Princeps Optumis orally / by mouth / oral administration

per orem p.r., pr, Per rectum rectally

p.r.n., prn,PRN Pertactin as needed

qd., qd quaque die every day

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q.1.h.,q1h quaque hora every hour

q.2.h q2h quaque secunda hora every 2 hours

q.4.h.,q4h hora quaque quarta every 4 hours

q.6.h.,q6h quaque sexta hora every 6 hours

q.8.h.,q8h quaque octavahora every 8 hours

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q.a.m.,qAM, qam quaque ante meridiem every morning

q.d., qd quaque die every day / daily

q.h.s., qhs quaque hora somni every night at bedtime

q.d.s, qds, QDS quater die sumendum 4 times a day

q.h., qh quaque hora every hour/ hourly

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q.o.d.,qod quaque altera die every other day / alternate days

q.p.m.,qPM, qpm quaque post meridiem every afternoon or evening

q.s., qs . quantum sufficiat sufficient quantity(enough )

qw quantum weekly (once a week)

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Rx, R x , recipe prescription

Sig., signa directions

Stat. statim immediately, with no delay,now

t.d.s, tds, ter die sumendus take by mouth 3 times a day

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a.u., au, AU aures unitas or auris uterque both ears together or each Ear

b.d.s, bds, bis die sumendum 2 times a day

gtt., gtts gutt (e) drop (s)

h, h hour hora h.s., duos doses hora somni at bedtime or half strength ii two tablets

n.p.o.,npo, nothing by mouth/not by oral

administration

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