Abbreviations Flashcards
aa. or aa with a bar across the top
of each
a.c.
before meals
ad
up to or to make
a.d.
right ear
ad. lib.
at pleasure; freely
admin.
administer
a.m.
morning
amp.
ampul
aq.
water
a.s.
left ear
ASA
aspirin
ATC
around the clock
a.u.
each ear
b.i.d.
twice a day
BM
bowel movement
BP
blood pressure
BS
blood sugar
BSA
body surface area
cap.
capsule
cc.
cubic centimeter (equiv. mL)
CHD
coronary heart disease
CHF
congestive heart failure
comp.
compound
d.
day
dil.
dilute
disc. or DC
discontinue
disp.
dispense
div.
divide
d.t.d.
give of such doses
DW
distilled water
D5LR
dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer’s
D5NS
dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9% NaCl)
D5W
dextrose 5% in water
D10W
dextrose 10% in water
elix.
elixir
et
and
ex aq.
in water
f. or fl.
fluid
ft.
make
g
gram
GI
gastrointesitinal
gl. aq.
glass of water
GFR
glomerular filtration rate
gtt.
drop
GU
genitourinary
h. or hr.
hour
HA
headache
HBP
high blood pressure
HC
hydrocortisone
HRT
hormone replacement therapy
h.s.
at bedtime
ID
intradermal
IM
intramuscular
inj.
injection
iso.
isotonic
IU
international units
IV
intravenous
IVP
intravenous push
IVPB
intravenous piggy back
m & n
morning and night
M.
mix
min
minute
m2 or M2
square meter
mcg (or µg)
microgram
mEq
milliequivalent
mg
milligram
mg/kg
milligram (of drug) per kilogram (of body weight)
mg/m2
milligram (of drug) per square meter (of body surface area)
mL (or ml)
milliliter
mL/h (or ml/hr)
milliliter (of drug solution) administered per hour (as through IV administration)
mOsm or mOsmol
milliosmole
MI
myocardial ischemia/infarction
MS
morphine sulfate
N & V
nausea and vomiting
NF
National Formulary
NMT
not more than
No.
number
noct.
night
non rep. or N.R.
do not repeat
NPO
nothing by mouth
N.S. or NS
normal saline
1/2NS
half-strength normal saline
NTG
nitroglycerin
o.d.
right eye
o.s.
left eye
o.u.
each eye
oint.
ointment
OJ
orange juice
p.c.
after meals
p.m.
afternoon or evening
p.o.
by mouth
postop
postoperatively
ppm
parts per million
ppb
parts per billion
pr
by rectum
p.r.n. or prn
when required or as needed
pt.
patient
pulv.
powder
q.
every
q.d.
every day or once a day
q.h.
every hour
q.i.d.
four times a day
q.o.d.
every other day
q.s. or qs.
a sufficient quantity
q.s. ad
a sufficient quantity to make
rect.
rectal or rectum
rep.
repeat
R.L. or R/L
Ringer’s Lactate
Rx or
prescription symbol (Recipe, you take)
s. or s with bar across the top
without
Sig.
write on label
SL
sublingual
SOB
shortness of breath
sol.
solution
ss. or ss with bar across the top
one half
stat.
immediately
subc or subq or s.c. or SQ
subcutaneously
sup. or supp.
suppository
susp.
suspension
syr.
syrup
tab.
tablet
t.a.t.
until all taken
tbsp.
tablespoonful (i.e. 15 mL)
t.i.d.
three times a day
t.i.w.
three times a week
top.
topical
TPN
total parenteral nutrition
tsp.
teaspoonful (i.e. 5 mL)
U or u
unit (both, each) **
u.d. or ut. dict.
as directed
ung.
ointment
URI
upper respiratory infection
USP
United States Pharmacopeia
UTI
urinary tract infection
vol.
volume
w.a.
while awake
wk.
week
