Abbreviation.docx

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions Abbreviation 1/2NS 5-ASA

Meaning / Intended Meaning one-half normal saline (0.45%) 5-aminosalicylic acid

a A.M. aa AAA

before morning of each abdominal aortic aneurysm (called a "triple-A")

AAA

apply to affected area

ac achs AD

before meals before meals and at bedtime right ear

ad lib ad sat. ad.

freely; as much as desired to saturation to; up to

ALT alt. alt. h. am, A.M.

alanine aminotransferase alternate every other hour in the morning; before noon ampule amount anterior before before dinner acetaminophen

amp amt. ant. ante ap APAP aPTT AQ, aq a.s., AS

activated partial thromboplastin water left ear

ASA

aspirin

Notes About Confusion

Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as five tablets of aspirin per FDA

Can be misinterpreted as 'apply to affected area' Can be misinterpreted as 'abdominal aortic aneurysm'

Category drug or class name drug or class name

time time measurement medical condition route of administration time time

Caution not to confuse with AD (meaning right ear)

route of administration time other measurement

lab time time time

Better to spell out drug name "acetaminophen"

Better to spell out drug name "aspirin"

dosage form measurement other time time drug or class name lab other route of administration drug or class name

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions AST ATC AU

aspartate aminotransferase around the clock each ear; both ears

AZT

zidovudine

Ba

barium

BCP

birth control pills

Bi

bismuth

bid, BID BM BMI bol BP BPH

twice a day bowel movement body mass index bolus blood pressure benign prostatic hypertrophy blood sugar body surface area bedtime

BS BSA BT

c C.C. c/o C&S CABG CaCO3

with chief complaint complaints of culture and sensitivity coronary artery bypass graft calcium carbonate

CAD

coronary artery disease

CAP

cancer of the prostate

cap.

capsule

CBC cc

complete blood count cubic centimeter

CD

controlled delivery

CF

cystic fibrosis

Better to spell drug name out; can be misinterpreted as azathioprine per FDA

In U.S., 'hs' or 'HS' is more commonly used for bedtime

lab time route of administration drug or class name

drug or class name drug or class name drug or class name time other vitals measurement vitals medical condition lab vitals time

other other other lab other

Do not confuse with "capsule" Do not confuse with "cancer of the prostate" Can also mean "with food"

drug or class name medical condition medical condition dosage form lab measurement drug release technology medical condition

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions cm CNS conc CPZ

centimeter central nervous system concentrated Compazine

CR

controlled-release

cr, crm CV CXR D/C, dc, disc.

cream cardiovascular chest x-ray discontinue OR discharge

D5/0.9 NaCl

D5W

5% dextrose and normal saline solution (0.9% NaCl) 5% dextrose and half normal saline solution (0.45% NaCl) dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) 5% dextrose in water

DAW DBP dil. disp div DKA

dispense as written diastolic blood pressure diluted dispense divide diabetic ketoacidosis

dL DM

deciliter diabetes mellitus

DO

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine date of birth diphtheria-pertussistetanus

D5 1/2/NS

D5NS

DOB DPT

DR

delayed-release

DVT

deep vein thrombosis

Better to spell drug name out; can be misinterpreted as chlorpromazine per FDA

Multiple possible meanings; spell out instead of using "D/C"

measurement other other drug or class name

drug release technology dosage form other lab other

drug or class name drug or class name

Better to spell out vaccine name; can be misinterpreted as Demerol-PhenerganThorazine per FDA

drug or class name drug or class name other lab other other other medical condition measurement medical condition medical specialty other drug or class name

drug release technology medical condition

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions DW

dextrose in water, diabetes mellitus or distilled water

EC

enteric-coated

EENT

Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat

elix. emuls. ER

elixir emulsion extended-release

ER

emergency room

ETOH

ethyl alcohol

F f or F FBS FDA Fe

Fahrenheit female fasting blood sugar Food and Drug Administration Iron

FFP

fresh frozen plasma

fl or fld ft G, or g, or gm garg

fluid foot gram gargle

GERD GI gr.

gastroesophageal reflux disease gastrointestinal grain

GTT

glucose tolerance test

gtt, gtts

drop, drops

GU guttat. h, or hr. h/o

genitourinary drop by drop hour history of

Multiple possible meanings; spell out instead of using "DW"

Can also mean "emergency room" Can also mean "extended-release"

other

drug release technology Medical Specialty dosage form dosage form drug release technology other drug or class name lab other lab other

"g" is preferred symbol

Apothecary measurement (obsolete and may be misinterpreted as gram; do not use) Can be confused with gtt for drops Can be confused with GTT for glucose tolerance test

drug or class name or lab drug or class name measurement measurement measurement route of administration medical condition other measurement

lab measurement

other measurement time other

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions H&H

HCT, or Hct HCT

hematocrit and hemoglobin histamine 2 water highly active antiretroviral therapy hematocrit hydrocortisone

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

HR HS

heart rate half-strength

hs or HS

at bedtime, hours of sleep

HTN

hypertension

hx IBW ID

history ideal body weight intradermal OR infectious disease

IJ

injection

IM

intramuscular

IN

intranasal

inf

infusion

inj.

injection

instill.

instillation

IP

intraperitoneal

IR

immediate-release

H2 H2 0 HAART

lab

Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as hydrochlorothiazide per FDA Better to spell out drug name; can be misinterpreted as hydrocortisone per FDA better to spell out; do not mistake for "bedtime" Do not misinterpret as 'half-strength'

Multiple possible meanings; spell out word instead of using "ID" better to spell out 'injection'

other other drug or class name lab drug or class name

drug or class name

vitals measurement

time medical condition other lab route of administration; other route of administration route of administration route of administration route of administration route of administration route of administration route of administration drug release technology

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions IU

international unit

IUD IV

intrauterine device intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

J K

joule potassium

KOH

potassium hydroxide

L LA

liter long-acting

lab lb. LDL LFT Li

laboratory pound low-density lipoprotein liver function tests lithium

liq. LMP lot LPN

liquid last menstrual period lotion licensed practical nurse

LR

lactated ringer (solution)

mane mcg

in the morning microgram

MD

medical doctor

MDI mEq mEq/L Mg

metered-dose inhaler milliequivalent milliequivalent per liter magnesium

Mistaken as IV (intravenous) or 10 (ten); Instead spell out "units" per Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations

Could be confused with 'intravenous pyelogram'

Can be misinterpreted to mean "mg" or milligram, better to spell out 'microgram'

dosage form route of administration route of administration route of administration lab drug or class name drug or class name measurement drug release technology other measurement lab lab drug or class name dosage form other dosage form medical specialty drug or class name time measurement

medical specialty dosage form measurement measurement drug or class name

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions mg MgSO4

milligram magnesium sulfate

mL mm mm of Hg mMol MMR

milliliter millimeter millimeters of mercury millimole measle-mumps-rubella (vaccine) molecular weight modified-release

mol wt MR MS

morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate

MSO4

morphine sulfate

n or noct. N/A N/V, N&V Na

in the night not applicable nausea and vomiting sodium

NAS

intranasal

NDC NGT

National Drug Code nasogastric tube

NH3 NKA NKDA noct. maneq. NP

ammonia no known allergies no known drug allergies night and morning nurse practitioner

May be confused with "MSO4" (morphine sulfate), spell out "magnesium sulfate" Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations

Can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate, spell out drug name Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations May be confused with "MgSO4"; instead spell out "morphine sulfate" Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations

measurement drug or class name

measurement measurement measurement measurement drug or class name measurement drug release technology drug or class name

drug or class name

time other other lab or drug or class name route of administration other route of administration other other other time medical specialty

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions NPO, n.p.o.

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

NSAID NTE O2 OC

nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug not to exceed oxygen oral contraceptive

o.d., OD

right eye

o.d.

once per day

OJ OM

orange juice otitis media

o.s., OS

left eye

OTC o.u., OU

over-the-counter both eyes

oz p p.r.n., prn PA

ounce after as needed physician assistant

pc PCA

per

after meals patient-controlled analgesia physical exam, pulmonary embolism by or through

per neb

by nebulizer

per os

by mouth, orally

PE

Preferred by AMA to spell out "nothing by mouth"

Can also mean "overdose" or "once daily"; better to spell out Preferred in the UK; Can also mean "overdose" or "right eye"; better to spell out

route of administration drug or class name drug or class name other other drug or class name route of administration, ophthalmic abbreviations time

other medical condition route of administration, ophthalmic abbreviations other route of administration, ophthalmic abbreviations measurement time time medical specialty time other other

AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" or

route of administration route of administration route of administration

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions "orally"; can be mistaken as "os" meaning left eye per FDA PFT pH PharmD

pulmonary function tests hydrogen ion concentration Doctor of Pharmacy

PM PMH PO, p.o.

evening past medical history orally or by mouth

PR, p.r.

per the rectum

PT PTT pulv PV

prothrombin time partial thromboplastin time powder per the vagina

q q.s., qs q12h qd, q1d q2h q3h q4h q6h q6PM, etc q8h qam qd, QD

every as much as needed; a sufficient quantity every 12 hours daily every 2 hours every 3 hours every 4 hours every 6 hours every evening at 6 PM every 8 hours every morning every day

qh qhs

every hour each night at bedtime

qid qn

four times a day Nightly or at bedtime

lab other

AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" or "orally"

medical specialty time other route of administration route of administration lab lab dosage form route of administration time measurement

Mistaken as q.i.d; Instead write "daily" or "every day" per Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations Can be confused with "qh" meaning every hour; better to spell out Not commonly used in U.S.; 'hs' more common for bedtime

time time time time time time time time time time

time time

time time

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions qod, QOD, q.o.d

every other day

q.s. ad

add sufficient quantity to make rheumatoid arthritis

RA RDA RE

recommended daily allowances right eye

rep RN

repeats registered nurse

RPh

pharmacist

Rx s s.o.s. sa

prescription without if necessary according to the art; best practice sustained action

SA SBP SID

systolic blood pressure Used ONLY in Veterinary medicine to mean "once daily"

sig codes

medical or prescription abbreviations write on label sublingual, under the tongue serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor shortness of breath solution; in solution specific gravity

Sig. SL, s.l. SNRI SOB sol sp gr

Can be mistaken as qd (daily) or qid (four times daily); Instead spell out "every other day" per Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations

time

measurement medical condition other route of administration, ophthalmic abbreviations time medical specialty medical specialty other other other other

Can be confused to mean BID (twice daily) and QID (four times daily); pharmacists should clarify abbreviations with DVM, if needed.

drug release technology vital sign time; used in Veterinary medicine ONLY

other other route of administration drug or class name other dosage form lab

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions SQ, SC, sub q

subcutaneously

SR

sustained release

ss

sliding scale (insulin) OR 1/2 (apothecary; obsolete)

SSI SSRI

Sliding scale insulin sliding scale regular insulin OR selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor immediately sexually transmitted diseases superior superficial suppository suspension syrup temperature tablet tablespoon transient ischemic attack

stat STD sup. supf. supp susp syr. T tab tbsp TIA TID, t.i.d. tid ac TIN, t.i.n. tinct., tr TIW, tiw

three times a day three times a day before meals three times a night tincture 3 times a week

top.

topical

TO TPN

telephone order total parenteral nutrition

TR

timed-release

troche TSH

lozenge thyroid stimulating hormone teaspoon treatment

tsp Tx

Use caution as "SC" can be mistaken for "SL," meaning sublingual per FDA

Use caution; can be misinterpreted; better to spell out "sliding scale" or "one-half" Spell out words to avoid confusion

route of administration

drug release technology other

other other

time medical condition other other dosage form dosage form dosage form vital sign dosage form measurement medical condition time time

Spell out; can be confused with TID (three times a day)

time dosage form time

route of administration drug or class name drug release technology dosage form lab measurement other

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions U or u

unit

UA ud, ut dict, UD ung UTI

urinalysis as directed ointment urinary tract infection

vag, pv

via the vagina

VLDL vol % vol. w/o w/v WBC WNL wt. x XL

very low density lipoprotein volume percent volume without weight in volume white blood cell within normal limits weight multiplied by extended-release

XR

extended-release

XT

extended-release

yo yr Zn

years old year zinc

μEq μg, mcg

microequivalent microgram

μL

microliter

Mistaken as the number "0" (zero), the number "4" (four), or "cc". Prescriber should instead spell out "unit" per Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations

measurement

lab other dosage form medical condition route of administration lab

μg or mcg can be misinterpreted as "mg", better to spell out 'microgram'

measurement measurement other measurement lab lab vital sign other drug release technology drug release technology drug release technology other time drug or class drug or class name measurement measurement

measurement

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions

Medical Abbreviations on Pharmacy Prescriptions