Common pharmacy abbreviations

Question 1

a.c.

Answer 1

before food

Question 2

ad

Answer 2

to, up to

Question 3

ad lib

Answer 3

freely

Question 4

b.i.d.

Answer 4

twice a day

Question 5

_

c

Answer 5

with

Question 6

q.d.

Answer 6

each day

Question 7

gt or gtt

Answer 7

drop

Question 8

h.s.

Answer 8

at bedtime

Question 9

i.m. or IM

Answer 9

into the muscle

Question 10

i.v. or IV

Answer 10

into the vein

Question 11

non rep or nr

Answer 11

do not repeat

Question 12

o.d.

Answer 12

right eye

Question 13

o.s.

Answer 13

left eye

Question 14

o.u.

Answer 14

both eyes

Question 15

p.c.

Answer 15

after food

Question 16

p.o. or po

Answer 16

by mouth

Question 17

p.r.

Answer 17

by rectum

Question 18

qAM

Answer 18

each morning

Question 19

q.h.

Answer 19

each hour

Question 20

q[2.3.4…]h

Answer 20

every [two, three, four, etc] hours

Question 21

q.i.d

Answer 21

four times a day

Question 22

qs

Answer 22

quantity sufficient

• When qs is used in a compounded prescription, you should “add up” the total amount indicated by qs with the appropriate ingredient

Question 23

RX

Answer 23

take

Question 24

_

s

Answer 24

without

Question 25

s.l.

Answer 25

under the tongue

Question 26

stat

Answer 26

immediately

Question 27

t.i.d.

Answer 27

three times a day

Question 28

ud

Answer 28

as directed