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1/2NS
one-half normal saline (0.45%)
drug or class name
5-ASA
5-aminosalicylic acid
Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as five tablets of aspirin per FDA
drug or class name
a
before
time
A.M.
morning
time
aa
of each
measurement
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm (called a “triple-A”)
Can be misinterpreted as ‘apply to affected area’
medical condition
AAA
apply to affected area
Can be misinterpreted as ‘abdominal aortic aneurysm’
route of administration
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 (meaning right ear)
measurement
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
APAP
acetaminophen
Better to spell out drug name “acetaminophen”
drug or class name
aPTT
activated partial thromboplastin
lab
AQ, aq
water
other
a.s., AS
left ear
route of administration
ASA
aspirin
Better to spell out drug name “aspirin”
drug or class name
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 misinterpreted as azathioprine per FDA
drug or class name
Ba
barium
drug or class name
BCP
birth control pills
drug or class name
Bi
bismuth
drug or class name
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 used for bedtime
time
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 prostate”
dosage form
CBC
complete blood count
lab
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 misinterpreted as chlorpromazine per FDA
drug or class name
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 instead of using “D/C”
other
D5/0.9 NaCl
5% dextrose and normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl)
drug or class name
D5 1/2/NS
5% dextrose and half normal saline solution (0.45% NaCl)
drug or class name
D5NS
dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)
drug or class name
D5W
5% dextrose in water
drug or class 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
DO
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
medical specialty
DOB
date of birth
other
DPT
diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus
Better to spell out vaccine name; can be misinterpreted as Demerol-Phenergan-Thorazine per FDA
drug or class name
DR
delayed-release
drug release technology
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
medical condition
DW
dextrose in water, diabetes mellitus or distilled water
Multiple possible meanings; spell out instead of using “DW”
other
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
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 Administration
other
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 gm
gram
“g” is preferred symbol
measurement
garg
gargle
route of administration
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
medical condition
GI
gastrointestinal
other
gr.
grain
Apothecary measurement (obsolete and may be misinterpreted as gram; do not use)
measurement
GTT
glucose tolerance test
Can be confused with gtt for drops
lab
gtt, gtts
drop, drops
Can be confused with GTT for glucose tolerance test
measurement
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
HAART
highly active antiretroviral therapy
drug or class name
HCT, or Hct
hematocrit
lab
HCT
hydrocortisone
Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as hydrochlorothiazide per FDA
drug or class name
HCTZ
hydrochlorothiazide
Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as hydrocortisone per FDA
drug or class name
HR
heart rate
vitals
HS
half-strength
better to spell out; do not mistake for “bedtime”
measurement
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 disease
Multiple possible meanings; spell out word instead of using “ID”
route of administration; other
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 pyelogram’
route of administration
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
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” or milligram, better to spell out ‘microgram’
measurement
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” (morphine sulfate), spell out “magnesium sulfate” – Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
drug or class name
mL
milliliter
measurement
mm
millimeter
measurement
mm of Hg
millimeters of mercury
measurement
mMol
millimole
measurement
MMR
measle-mumps-rubella (vaccine)
drug or class name
mol wt
molecular weight
measurement
MR
modified-release
drug release technology
MS
morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate
Can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate, spell out drug name – Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
drug or class name
MSO4
morphine sulfate
May be confused with “MgSO4”; instead spell out “morphine sulfate” – Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
drug or class name
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
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 “nothing by mouth”
route of administration
NS
normal saline
drug or class name
NSAID
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
drug or class name
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 daily”; better to spell out
route of administration, ophthalmic abbreviations
o.d.
once per day
Preferred in the UK; Can also mean “overdose” or “right eye”; better to spell out
time
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
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 embolism
other
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” or “orally”; can be mistaken as “os” meaning left eye per FDA
route of administration
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” or “orally”
route of administration
PR, p.r.
per the rectum
route of administration
PT
prothrombin time
lab
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 sufficient quantity
measurement
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 “daily” or “every day” per Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
time
qh
every hour
time
qhs
each night at bedtime
Can be confused with “qh” meaning every hour; better to spell out
time
qid
four times a day
time
qn
Nightly or at bedtime
Not commonly used in U.S.; ‘hs’ more common for bedtime
time
qod, QOD, q.o.d
every other day
Can be mistaken as qd (daily) or qid (four times daily); Instead spell out “every other day” per Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
time
q.s. ad
add sufficient quantity to make
measurement
RA
rheumatoid arthritis
medical condition
RDA
recommended daily allowances
other
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 practice
other
SA
sustained action
drug release technology
SBP
systolic blood pressure
vital sign
SID
Used onLY in Veterinary medicine to mean “once daily”
Can be confused to mean BID (twice daily) and QID (four times daily); pharmacists should clarify abbreviations with DVM, if needed.
time; used in Veterinary medicine onLY
sig codes
medical or prescription abbreviations
other
Sig.
write on label
other
SL, s.l.
sublingual, under the tongue
route of administration
SNRI
serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor
drug or class name
SOB
shortness of breath
other
sol
solution; in solution
dosage form
sp gr
specific gravity
lab
SQ, SC, sub q
subcutaneously
Use caution as “SC” can be mistaken for “SL,” meaning sublingual per FDA
route of administration
SR
sustained release
drug release technology
ss
sliding scale (insulin) OR 1/2 (apothecary; obsolete)
Use caution; can be misinterpreted; better to spell out “sliding scale” or “one-half”
other
SSI
Sliding scale insulin
other
SSRI
sliding scale regular insulin OR selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Spell out words to avoid confusion
other
stat
immediately
time
STD
sexually transmitted diseases
medical condition
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 meals
time
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 (three times a day)
time
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
TSH
thyroid stimulating hormone
lab
tsp
teaspoon
measurement
Tx
treatment
other
U or u
unit
Mistaken as the number “0” (zero), the number “4” (four), or “cc”. Prescriber should instead spell out “unit” per Joint Commission’s “Do Not Use” List of Abbreviations
measurement
UA
urinalysis
lab
ud, ut dict, UD
as directed
other
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
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 “mg”, better to spell out ‘microgram’
measurement
μL
microliter
measurement