Abbreviation of

Medication Order and

their meanings
By fagoson.
Interpretation Of the Prescription
or Medication order
 Abbreviations commonly used in
prescriptions and Medication orders
Abbreviation Meaning
a.c before meals
ad up to
a.d. Right ear
ad lib. at pleasure, freely
a.m. morning
amp. Ampul
aq. water
 Abbreviations commonly used in
prescriptions and Medication orders

Abbreviation Meaning
a.s. left ear
a.u each ear
b.i.d twice a day
BSA body surface area
c. with
cap. Capsule
cc. or cc cubic centimeter
dil. Dilute
disc. or D.C discontinue
Abbreviation Meaning
disp. Dispense
div. Divide
d.t.d. Give of such dose
DW distilled water
D5W dextrose 5% in water
elix. Elixir
e.m.p as directed
et and
p.o by mouth
p.r.n when required
Abbreviation Meaning
q.d. Every day
q.h. Every hour
q.i.d. four times a day
q.o.d. Every other day
q.s. A sufficient quantity
q.s. ad a sufficient quantity to
make
R rectal
s. without
Abbreviation Meaning
Sig. Write on label
Sol. Solution
s.o.s if there is need
ss. Or ss one half
Stat. immediately
Subc. Or subq or s.c. Subcutaneously
Sup. Suppository
Susp. Suspension
Syr. Syrup
Tab. tablet
Abbreviation Meaning
Tbsp. Tablespoonful
T.i.d. Three times a day
Tr. Tincture
Tsp. Teaspoonful
U or u unit
u.d. As directed
Ung. Ointment
U.S.P United States pharmacopoeia
Ex aq. In water
Abbreviation Meaning
Meaning
fl or fid fluid
ft. Make
g. Or Gm. Or g gram
Gtt. Drop
H hypodermic
h. Or hr. Hour
h.s. At bedtime
IM Intramuscular
Inj. Injection
Abbreviation Meaning
Iv intravenous
M mix
m2 or M square meter
mcg. Or mcg microgram
mEq milliequivalent
mg Milligram
ml Milliliter
N&V Nausea & vomiting
N.F. National Formulary
Noct. Night
Abbreviation Meaning
Non rep. Do not repeat
NPO nothing by mouth
N.S. or NS or N/S normal saline
½ NS half strength normal saline
o.d. Right eye
o.l. Left eye
o.s. Left eye
o.u. Each eye
p.c. After meals
INTERPRETATION OF THE PRESCRIPTIN
OR MEDICATION ORDER

Practice Exercises

1. Interpret each of the following Subscriptions

( direction to the pharmacist) taken from
prescriptions:
a) Disp. sup. Rect. no. xii
b) M.ft. isoton. sol.disp. 10ml
c) M. et div. in pulv. no. x
e) M.et ft.ung. Disp. 10g
f) M. et ft .sol. DTD xlvii
g) M.et ft. sol. 1g/tbsp.
h) Ft.cap#1.Disp.tal.no.xvi. N.R
i) M. et ft. pulv. Div. in dos.xiii
j) M.et ft. inj. For I.V. use.
2. Interpret each of the following Subscriptions
( direction to the pharmacist) taken from
prescriptions:
a) Gtt. ii o.u. q.4h.p.r.n.pain
b) Thsp.i in gl.aq.q.6h.
c) Appl. Am& pm for p[ain e.m.p
d) Gtt.iv a.d.m.&n.
e) Tsp. I ex aq.q.4 or 5h.p.r.n.pain
f) Appi.ung.o.s.ad lib
g) Caps I aq.h.s. N.R.
h) Gtt v a.u.3x d.S.O.S
3. Interpret each of the following taken from
medication orders.
a) Secobarbital sodium gr iss p.o.q.d.h.s.
repeat s.o.s
b) Prochlorperazine 10 rng IM q.3h. Pm N&V
c) Minocycline HC1 susp. 1tsp p.o.q.i.d disq after
5 d.
d) Propranolol HC1 10 mg p.o.t.i.d.a.c & h.s.
e) NPH U-100 insulin 40 U subc q.d. A.M.
f) Cefarnandole nafate 250mg IM q. 12 h.
g) Potassium chloride 15 rnEq p.o. b.i.d.p.c.
h) Vincristine sulfate 2 mg/rn2 BSA
 PRESCRIPTION
Part of Prescription:-
1) prescriber’s information-----
(Name, address, phone no., signature)
2)Patient’s information----
(Name, address, age , weight etc.)
3)Date of prescription
4)Superscription------
Symbol ( Take thou, you take, recipe)
5)Inscription--- medication prescribed
6)Subscription----- dispensing information to the
pharmacist
7) Signa------ Directions to the patients
8) Special Instructions

Medication scheduling and patient

compliance