List of prescription abbreviations

List of prescription abbreviations

This is a list of all abbreviations used in prescriptions. Capitalization and the use of a period is a matter of style.
aa (ana) - of each
ad - to, 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) - a large pill
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 - cubic centimeter; also means "with food" (cum cibos)
cf - with food
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
disp. - dispense
div. - divide
d.t.d. (dentur tales doses) - give of such doses
D.W. - distilled water
elix. - elixir
e.m.p. (ex modo prescripto) - as directed
emuls. (emulsum) - emulsion
et - and
ex aq - in water
fl., fld. - fluid
ft. (fiat) - make; let it be made
g - gram
GI - gastrointestinal
gr - grain
gtt(s) (gutta(e)) - drop(s)
GU - genitourinary
H - hypodermic
h, hr - hour
h.s. (hora somni) - at bedtime
ID - intradermal
IM - intramuscular (with respect to injections)
inj. (injectio) - injection
IP - intraperitoneal
IV - intravenous
IVP - intravenous push
IVPB - intravenous piggyback
L.A.S. - label as such
LCD - coal tar solution
lin (linimentum) - liniment
liq (liquor) - solution
lot. - lotion
M. (misce) - mix
m, min (minimum) - a minimum
mcg - microgram
mEq - milliequivalent
mg - milligram
mist. (mistura) - mix
mitte (mitte) - send
mL - millilitre
N&V, N/V - nausea and vomiting
nebul (nebula) - a spray
NKA. - no known allergies
NKDA - no known drug allergies
non rep. (non repetatur) - no repeats
NPO, n.p.o. (nil per os) - nothing by mouth
NS - normal saline (0.9%)
1/2NS - half normal saline (0.45%)
N.T.E. - not to exceed
o.d. (oculus dexter) - right eye
o.s. (oculus sinister) - left eye
o.u. (oculo utro) - both eyes
oz - ounce
per - by or through
p.c. (post cibum) - after meals
p.m. (post meridiem) - evening or afternoon
prn (pro re nata) - as needed
p.o. (per os) - by mouth or orally
p.r. - by rectum
pulv. (pulvis) - powder
q (quaque) - every
q.a.d. (quoque alternis die) - every other day
q.h. (quaque hora) - every hour
q.1h (quaque 1 hora) - every 1 hour; (can replace "1" with other numbers)
q.d. (quaque die) - every day
q.i.d. (quater in die) - four times a day
q.o.d. - every other day
q.s. (quantum sufficiat) - a sufficient quantity
R - rectal
rep., rept. (repetatur) - repeats
RL, R/L - Ringer's lactate
s (sine) - without (usually written with a bar on top of the "s")
s.a. (secundum artum) - use your judgment
SC, subc, subq, subcut - subcutaneous
sig - write on label
SL - sublingually, under the tongue
sol (solutio) - solution
s.o.s., si op. sit (si opus sit) - if there is a need
ss (semis) - one half
stat (statim) - immediately
supp (suppositorium) - suppository
susp - suspension
syr (syrupus) - syrup
tab (tabella) - tablet
tal., t (talus) - such
tbsp - tablespoon
troche (trochiscus) - lozenge
tsp - teaspoon
t.i.d. (ter in die) - three times a day
t.i.w. - three times a week
top. - topical
TPN - total parenteral nutrition
tr, tinc., tinct. - tincture
u.d., ut. dict. (ut dictum) - as directed
ung. (unguentum) - ointment
USP - United States Pharmacopoeia
vag - vaginally
w/o - without
X - times