Partial list of prescription abbreviations (source: Wikipedia)
To better understand your prescriptions details, below is a list of common Rx (Prescription) abbreviations and their meaning.
THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONFUSION ABOUT YOUR MEDICATIONS, WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR PRESCRIBING PRACTITIONER.
|
Abbreviation |
Latin |
Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| aa | ana | of each |
| ad | ad | up to |
| a.c. | ante cibum | before meals |
| a.d. | aurio dextra | right ear |
| ad lib. | ad libitum | use as much as one desires; freely |
| admov. | admove | apply |
| agit | agita | stir/shake |
| alt. h. | alternis horis | every other hour |
| a.m. | ante meridiem | morning, before noon |
| amp | ampule | |
| amt | amount | |
| aq | aqua | water |
| a.l., a.s. | aurio laeva, aurio sinister | left ear |
| A.T.C. | around the clock | |
| a.u. | auris utrae | both ears |
| bis | bis | twice |
| b.i.d. | bis in die | twice daily |
| B.M. | bowel movement | |
| bol. | bolus | as a large single dose (usually intravenously) |
| B.S. | blood sugar | |
| B.S.A | body surface areas | |
| cap., caps. | capsula | capsule |
| c | cum | with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c") |
| c | cibos | food |
| cc | cum cibos | with food, (but also cubic centimetre) |
| cf | with food | |
| comp. | compound | |
| cr., crm | cream | |
| D5W | dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W) | |
| D5NS | dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) | |
| D.A.W. | dispense as written | |
| dc, D/C, disc | discontinue | |
| dieb. alt. | diebus alternis | every other day |
| dil. | dilute | |
| disp. | dispense | |
| div. | divide | |
| d.t.d. | dentur tales doses | give of such doses |
| D.W. | distilled water | |
| elix. | elixir | |
| e.m.p. | ex modo prescripto | as directed |
| emuls. | emulsum | emulsion |
| et | et | and |
| ex aq | ex aqua | in water |
| fl., fld. | fluid | |
| ft. | fiat | make; let it be made |
| g | gram | |
| gr | grain | |
| gtt(s) | gutta(e) | drop(s) |
| H | hypodermic | |
| h, hr | hora | hour |
| h.s. | hora somni | at bedtime |
| ID | intradermal | |
| IM | intramuscular (with respect to injections) | |
| inj. | injectio | injection |
| IP | intraperitoneal | |
| IV | intravenous | |
| IVP | intravenous push | |
| IVPB | intravenous piggyback | |
| L.A.S. | label as such | |
| LCD | coal tar solution | |
| lin | linimentum | liniment |
| liq | liquor | solution |
| lot. | lotion | |
| M. | misce | mix |
| m, min | minimum | a minimum |
| mcg | microgram | |
| mEq | milliequivalent | |
| mg | milligram | |
| mist. | mistura | mix |
| mitte | mitte | send |
| mL | millilitre | |
| nebul | nebula | a spray |
| N.M.T. | not more than | |
| noct. | nocte | at night |
| non rep. | non repetatur | no repeats |
| NS | normal saline (0.9%) | |
| 1/2NS | half normal saline (0.45%) | |
| N.T.E. | not to exceed | |
| o_2 | both eyes, sometimes written as o2 | |
| o.d. | oculus dexter | right eye |
| o.s. | oculus sinister | left eye |
| o.u. | oculus uterque | both eyes |
| oz | ounce | |
| per | per | by or through |
| p.c. | post cibum | after meals |
| p.m. | post meridiem | evening or afternoon |
| prn | pro re nata | as needed |
| p.o. | per os | by mouth or orally |
| p.r. | by rectum | |
| pulv. | pulvis | powder |
| q | quaque | every |
| q.a.d. | quoque alternis die | every other day |
| q.a.m. | quaque die ante meridiem | every day before noon |
| q.h. | quaque hora | every hour |
| q.1h | quaque 1 hora | every 1 hour; (can replace "1" with other numbers) |
| q.d. | quaque die | every day |
| q.i.d. | quater in die | four times a day |
| q.o.d. | every other day | |
| qqh | quater quaque hora | every four hours |
| q.s. | quantum sufficiat | a sufficient quantity |
| R | rectal | |
| rep., rept. | repetatur | repeats |
| RL, R/L | Ringer's lactate | |
| s | sine | without (usually written with a bar on top of the "s") |
| s.a. | secundum artum | use your judgement |
| SC, subc, subq, subcut | subcutaneous | |
| sig | write on label | |
| SL | sublingually, under the tongue | |
| sol | solutio | solution |
| s.o.s., si op. sit | si opus sit | if there is a need |
| ss | semis | one half |
| stat | statim | immediately |
| supp | suppositorium | suppository |
| susp | suspension | |
| syr | syrupus | syrup |
| tab | tabella | tablet |
| tal., t | talus | such |
| tbsp | tablespoon | |
| troche | trochiscus | lozenge |
| tsp | teaspoon | |
| t.i.d. | ter in die | three times a day |
| t.d.s. | ter die sumendum | three times a day |
| t.i.w. | three times a week | |
| top. | topical | |
| T.P.N. | total parenteral nutrition | |
| tr, tinc., tinct. | tincture | |
| u.d., ut. dict. | ut dictum | as directed |
| ung. | unguentum | ointment |
| U.S.P. | United States Pharmacopoeia | |
| vag | vaginally | |
| w | with | |
| w/o | without | |
| X | times | |
| Y.O. | years old |
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