Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions

Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Category

Meaning Confusion
1/2NS one-half normal saline drug or class
(0.45%) name
5-ASA 5-aminosalicylic acid Better to spell out drug drug or class
name; can be 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 medical
(called a "triple-A") as 'apply to affected condition
area'
AAA apply to affected area Can be misinterpreted route of
as 'abdominal aortic administration
aneurysm'
ac before meals time
achs before meals and at time
bedtime
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 measurement
with AD (meaning right
ear)
ALT alanine aminotransferase lab
alt. alternate time
alt. h. every other hour time
am, A.M. in the morning; before time
noon
amp ampule dosage form
amt. amount measurement
ant. anterior other
ante before time
ap before dinner time
APAP acetaminophen Better to spell out drug drug or class
name "acetaminophen" name
aPTT activated partial lab
thromboplastin
AQ, aq water other
a.s., AS left ear route of
administration
ASA aspirin Better to spell out drug drug or class
name "aspirin" name
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
AST aspartate aminotransferase lab
ATC around the clock time
AU each ear; both ears route of
administration
AZT zidovudine Better to spell drug drug or class
name out; can be 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
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 medical
hypertrophy condition
BS blood sugar lab
BSA body surface area vitals
BT bedtime In U.S., 'hs' or 'HS' is time
more 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 other
graft
CaCO3 calcium carbonate drug or class
name
CAD coronary artery disease medical
condition
CAP cancer of the prostate Do not confuse with medical
"capsule" condition
cap. capsule Do not confuse with dosage form
"cancer of the prostate"
CBC complete blood count lab
cc cubic centimeter Can also mean "with measurement
food"
CD controlled delivery drug release
technology
CF cystic fibrosis medical
condition
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
cm centimeter measurement
CNS central nervous system other
conc concentrated other
CPZ Compazine Better to spell drug drug or class
name out; can be 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 other
meanings; spell out
instead of using "D/C"
D5/0.9 NaCl 5% dextrose and normal drug or class
saline solution (0.9% NaCl) name
D5 1/2/NS 5% dextrose and half drug or class
normal saline solution name
(0.45% NaCl)
D5NS dextrose 5% in normal drug or class
saline (0.9%) 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 medical
Medicine specialty
DOB date of birth other
DPT diphtheria-pertussis- Better to spell out drug or class
tetanus vaccine name; can be name
misinterpreted as
Demerol-Phenergan-
Thorazine per FDA
DR delayed-release drug release
technology
DVT deep vein thrombosis medical
condition
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
DW dextrose in water, diabetes Multiple possible other
mellitus or distilled water meanings; spell out
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 drug release
"emergency room" technology
ER emergency room Can also mean other
"extended-release"
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 gm gram "g" is preferred symbol measurement
garg gargle route of
administration
GERD gastroesophageal reflux medical
disease condition
GI gastrointestinal other
gr. grain Apothecary measurement
measurement (obsolete
and may be
misinterpreted as gram;
do not use)
GTT glucose tolerance test Can be confused with lab
gtt for drops
gtt, gtts drop, drops Can be confused with measurement
GTT for glucose
tolerance test
GU genitourinary other
guttat. drop by drop measurement
h, or hr. hour time
h/o history of other
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
H&H hematocrit and lab
hemoglobin
H2 histamine 2 other
H2 0 water other
HAART highly active antiretroviral drug or class
therapy name
HCT, or Hct hematocrit lab
HCT hydrocortisone Better to spell out drug drug or class
name; can be name
misinterpreted as
hydrochlorothiazide per
FDA
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide Better to spell out drug drug or class
name; can be name
misinterpreted as
hydrocortisone per FDA
HR heart rate vitals
HS half-strength better to spell out; do measurement
not mistake for
"bedtime"
hs or HS at bedtime, hours of sleep Do not misinterpret as time
'half-strength'
HTN hypertension medical
condition
hx history other
IBW ideal body weight lab
ID intradermal OR infectious Multiple possible route of
disease meanings; spell out administration;
word instead of using other
"ID"
IJ injection better to spell out route of
'injection' 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
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
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 route of
'intravenous pyelogram' 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 measurement
to mean "mg" 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
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
mg milligram measurement
MgSO4 magnesium sulfate May be confused with drug or class
"MSO4" (morphine name
sulfate), spell out
"magnesium sulfate" -
Joint Commission's "Do
Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
mL milliliter measurement
mm millimeter measurement
mm of Hg millimeters of mercury measurement
mMol millimole measurement
MMR measle-mumps-rubella drug or class
(vaccine) name
mol wt molecular weight measurement
MR modified-release drug release
technology
MS morphine sulfate or Can mean either drug or class
magnesium sulfate morphine sulfate or name
magnesium sulfate,
spell out drug name -
Joint Commission's "Do
Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
MSO4 morphine sulfate May be confused with drug or class
"MgSO4"; instead spell name
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
NKA no known allergies other
NKDA no known drug allergies other
noct. maneq. night and morning time
NP nurse practitioner medical
specialty
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
NPO, n.p.o. nothing by mouth Preferred by AMA to route of
spell out "nothing by administration
mouth"
NS normal saline drug or class
name
NSAID nonsteroidal anti- drug or class
inflammatory drug name
NTE not to exceed other
O2 oxygen other
OC oral contraceptive drug or class
name
o.d., OD right eye Can also mean route of
"overdose" or "once administration,
daily"; better to spell ophthalmic
out abbreviations
o.d. once per day Preferred in the UK; Can time
also mean "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
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 other
analgesia
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 route of
out "by mouth" or administration
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
"orally"; can be
mistaken as "os"
meaning left eye per
FDA
PFT pulmonary function tests lab
pH hydrogen ion other
concentration
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 route of
out "by mouth" or administration
"orally"
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 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; time
Instead write "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 time
"qh" meaning every
hour; better to spell out
qid four times a day time
qn Nightly or at bedtime Not commonly used in time
U.S.; 'hs' more common
for bedtime
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
qod, QOD, q.o.d every other day Can be mistaken as qd time
(daily) or qid (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 time; used in
medicine to mean "once mean BID (twice daily) Veterinary
daily" and QID (four times medicine
daily); pharmacists ONLY
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 route of
tongue administration
SNRI serotonin/norepinephrine drug or class
reuptake inhibitor name
SOB shortness of breath other
sol solution; in solution dosage form
sp gr specific gravity lab
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
SQ, SC, sub q subcutaneously Use caution as "SC" can route of
be mistaken for "SL," administration
meaning sublingual per
FDA
SR sustained release drug release
technology
ss sliding scale (insulin) OR Use caution; can be other
1/2 (apothecary; obsolete) misinterpreted; better
to spell out "sliding
scale" or "one-half"
SSI Sliding scale insulin other
SSRI sliding scale regular insulin Spell out words to avoid other
OR selective serotonin confusion
reuptake inhibitor
stat immediately time
STD sexually transmitted medical
diseases 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 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 time
confused with TID
(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
TSH thyroid stimulating lab
hormone
tsp teaspoon measurement
Tx treatment other
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
U or u unit Mistaken as the number measurement
"0" (zero), 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, 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 lab
lipoprotein
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 measurement
misinterpreted as "mg",
better to spell out
'microgram'
μL microliter measurement
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions
Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions