ABBREVIATIONS COMMONLY USED IN

PRESCRIPTIONS AND MEDICATION ORDERS

Abbreviations Meaning Abbreviations Meaning
A Before mOsmol milliosmoles
aa. or ã ã of each MR may repeat
ABW actual body weight MRX_ may repeat _ times
a.c. before meals n nostril
a.d. right ear N&V nausea and vomiting
ad lib. at pleasure, freely NG nasogastric
admin. Administer NF national formulary
a.m. morning NK none known
amp. Ampule no. or No. number
APAP Acetaminophen noct. Night
aq. Water non rep or do not repeat or no refills
N.R.
aq.dist. distilled water NPO nothing by mouth
a.s. left ear NS normal saline
ASA Aspirin ½NS half-strength normal saline
ATC around the clock NTG nitroglycerin
a.u. each ear NVD nausea, vomiting, & diarrhea
b.i.d. Twice a day O. pint
BM bowel movement OB-GYN obstetrics-gynecology
BP Blood pressure OC oral contraceptive
BS Blood sugar OD overdose
BSA body surface area o.d. right eye
BUN Blood urine nitrogen oint. Ointment
BW body weight o.l. left eye
C centigrade o.s. left eye
c. or c With OR operating room
CA cancer or cardiac arrest OT occupational therapy
cap capsule OTC over-the-counter
CBC complete blood count o.u. each eye
Cc Cubic centimeter o2 both eyes
CCT Crude coal tar oz. ounce (avoirdupois)
chart or powder or powder paper p or per by
chartulae
CHD congestive heart disease pt. patient
CHF congestive heart failure Pb Phenobarbital
CNS central nervous system p.c. after meals
comp. compound PCN Penicillin
COPD chronic obstructive p.m. afternoon; evening
pulmonary disease
CPZ Chlorpromazine p.o. by mouth
C&S culture and sensitivity p or post after
D Day PPD purified protein derivative
(tuberculin)
disc. or D.C. discontinue PPI patient package insert
disp. dispense PPM parts per million
div. Divide pr rectally
DOB date of birth pre-op before surgery
DPT diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus p.r.n. when required or as needed
DS double strength PT physical therapy
d.t.d. give of such doses pulv. powder
DW distilled water pv vaginally
D5W Dextrose 5% in water q or q every
DX diagnose q.d. every day
EC enteric coated q.h. every hour
ECG or EKG electrocardiogram q.i.d. four times a day
EDTA Edetate q.o.d. every other day
EENT eyes, ears, nose, throat q.s. a sufficient quantity
EFAD essential fatty acid deficiency q.s. ad a sufficient quantity to make
elix. Elixir r or R rectal
e.m.p. as directed R.L. or R/L Ringer’s Lactate
EPI Epinephrine s or s without
ER emergency room sat. saturated
Et And Sig. write on label
f. or ft. Make SL sublingual
F Fahrenheit SOB shortness of breath
FBS fasting blood sugar sol. solution
FFA free fatty acid s.o.s. if there is need
fl. or fld Fluid SS saturated solution
ft. Make ss. or s s one-half
g or Gm Gram SSKI saturated solution of
Potassium Iodide
GI Gastro-intestinal stat. immediately
Gr Grain subc or subq subcutaneously
or s.c.
gtt, gtts drop, drops supp. suppository
GYN gynecology susp. suspension
H hypodermic SVR alcohol
h or hr. Hour syr. syrup
HA headache SZ seizure
HBP high blood pressure T&C type and crossmatch
HCT hematocrit tab tablet
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide TAC Tetracaine, Adrenalin and
Cocaine
HEPA high efficiency particular air tal. such
h.s. at bedtime tal. dos. such dose
HT height tbsp tablespoon
HPN hypertension TCA tricyclic antidepressant
HPI history of present illness t.a.t. until all taken
IBW ideal body weight tx treatment
ICU intensive care unit TCN Tetracycline
ID Intradermal t.i.d. three times a day
IM intramuscular t.i.w. three times a week
INH Isoniazid TMP/SMX Trimethoprim/
Sulfamethoxazole
I&O input and output top topically
inj. injection TPN total parenteral nutrition
IPPB intermittent positive pressure tr. tincture
breathing
IU or iu international unit tsp teaspoon
IV intravenous U or u unit(s)
IVP intravenous push or IV UA urinalysis
pyelogram
IVPB intravenous piggy back u.d. or ut dict as directed
L Liter ung. ointment
LCD Coal Tar Solution URI upper respiratory infection
M. Mix USP United States Pharmacopeia
2 2
m or M square meter UTI urinary tract infection
mcg or g microgram UUN urine urea nitrogen
mEq milliequivalent UV ultraviolet
Mg milligram VS vital signs
MI myocardial infarction w/WBC with white blood cell count
mL milliliter w/o without
MMR measles, munps, rubella X times
MO mineral oil y.o. year old
MOM Milk of Magnesia ZnO Zinc Oxide
Taken from the contemporary pharmacy practice and Pharmaceutical Calculation by
Stocklosa