Frequently Used Medical Abbreviations

Question 1

What does a with a line over it mean?

Answer 1

before

Question 2

What does aa mean?

Answer 2

of each

Question 3

What does ac or a.c. mean?

Answer 3

before meals

Question 4

What does ad. lib. mean?

Answer 4

as desired, freely

Question 5

What does am, AM or a.m. mean?

Answer 5

morning before noon

Question 6

What does ampule mean?

Answer 6

ampule

Question 7

What does aq mean?

Answer 7

aqueous, water

Question 8

What does bid or b.i.d. mean?

Answer 8

twice a day

Question 9

What does b.i.w. mean?

Answer 9

twice a week

Question 10

What does c, c, or C mean?

Answer 10

with or cup

Question 11

What does cap mean?

Answer 11

capsule

Question 12

What does CD mean?

Answer 12

controlled dose

Question 13

What does CR mean?

Answer 13

controlled release

Question 14

What does dil. mean?

Answer 14

dilute

Question 15

What does DS mean?

Answer 15

double strength

Question 16

What does EC mean?

Answer 16

enteric coated

Question 17

What does elix mean?

Answer 17

elixir

Question 18

What does fl or fld. mean?

Answer 18

fluid

Question 19

What does GT mean?

Answer 19

gastrostomy tube

Question 20

What does gtt mean?

Answer 20

drop

Question 21

What does h or hr mean?

Answer 21

hour

Question 22

What does ID mean?

Answer 22

intradermal

Question 23

What does IM mean?

Answer 23

intramuscular

Question 24

What does IV mean?

Answer 24

intravenous

Question 25

What does IVPB mean?

Answer 25

intravenous piggyback

Question 26

What does IVSS mean?

Answer 26

intravenous Soluset

Question 27

What does KVO mean?

Answer 27

keep vein open (a very slow infusion rate)

Question 28

What does LA mean?

Answer 28

long acting

Question 29

What does LOS mean?

Answer 29

length of stay

Question 30

What does min mean?

Answer 30

minute

Question 31

What does mix mean?

Answer 31

mixture

Question 32

What does NAS mean?

Answer 32

intranasal

Question 33

What does NG or NGT mean?

Answer 33

nasogastric tube

Question 34

What does noc or noct mean?

Answer 34

at night

Question 35

What does n.p.o. or NPO mean?

Answer 35

nothing by mouth

Question 36

What does NS or N/S mean?

Answer 36

normal saline

Question 37

What does p mean?

Answer 37

after

Question 38

What does p.c. mean?

Answer 38

after meals

Question 39

What does per mean?

Answer 39

through or by

Question 40

What does pm, p.m. or PM mean?

Answer 40

evening, before midnight

Question 41

What does p.o. mean?

Answer 41

by mouth, oral

Question 42

What does p.r. mean?

Answer 42

by rectum

Question 43

What does p.r.n. mean?

Answer 43

as needed, when required/required

Question 44

What does q mean?

Answer 44

every or each

Question 45

What does q.a.m. mean?

Answer 45

every morning

Question 46

What does qh or q.h. mean?

Answer 46

every hour

Question 47

What does q2h, q4h, q6h and so on mean?

Answer 47

every 2 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, etc.

Question 48

What does qid or q.i.d. mean?

Answer 48

4 times a day

Question 49

What does q.s. mean?

Answer 49

a sufficient amount/as much as needed

Question 50

What does rect mean?

Answer 50

rectum

Question 51

What does s with a line over it mean?

Answer 51

without

Question 52

What does sl or SL mean?

Answer 52

sublingual

Question 53

What does sol or soln mean?

Answer 53

solution

Question 54

What does s.o.s. or SOS mean?

Answer 54

may be repeated once if necessary

Question 55

What does SR mean?

Answer 55

sustained release

Question 56

What does S&S mean?

Answer 56

swish and swallow

Question 57

What does stat or STAT mean?

Answer 57

immediately, at once

Question 58

What does subcut mean?

Answer 58

subcutaneous

Question 59

What does supp mean?

Answer 59

suppository

Question 60

What does susp mean?

Answer 60

suspension

Question 61

What does syr or syp mean?

Answer 61

syrup

Question 62

What does tab mean?

Answer 62

tablet

Question 63

What does tid or t.i.d. mean?

Answer 63

three times a day

Question 64

What does tr. or tinct mean?

Answer 64

tincture

Question 65

What does ung. or oint mean?

Answer 65

ointment

Question 66

What does vag or v mean?

Answer 66

vaginally

Question 67

What does XL mean?

Answer 67

long acting

Question 68

What does XR mean?

Answer 68

extended release

Question 69

What does mEq mean?

Answer 69

milliequivalent

Question 70

What does mcg mean?

Answer 70

microgram