Abbreviation or symbol
|
Latin, Greek, or Neo-Latin
|
English
|
Possible confusion
|
aa, āā, ĀĀ
|
ana
|
of each
|
|
AAA
|
|
apply to affected area
|
abdominal aortic aneurysm
|
a.c.
|
ante cibum
|
before meals
|
|
a.c.h.s., ac&hs
|
ante cibum et hora somni
|
before meals and at bedtime
|
|
a.d.
|
auris dextra
|
right ear
|
a single-storey a can be mistaken as an o which could read "o.d.", meaning right eye
|
ad., add.
|
adde addatur
|
add let there be added
|
|
ad lib.
|
ad libitum
|
Latin, "at one's pleasure"; as much as one desires; freely
|
compare pro re nata, "as needed", which by convention includes an aspect of "up to some maximum". Similarly, compare s.o.s., q.l., and q.s.
|
admov.
|
admove admoveatur
|
apply [or] add add; let there be added
|
|
ad us.
|
ad usum
|
according to custom
|
|
æq.
|
æquales
|
equal
|
|
agit.
|
agita
|
agitate (stir or shake)
|
|
alt. d., alt. dieb.
|
alternis diebus
|
every other day; on alternate days
|
|
alt. h., alt. hor.
|
alternis horis
|
every other hour; at alternate hours
|
|
a.m.
|
ante meridiem
|
morning, before noon
|
|
amp.
|
ampulla
|
ampule (ampul, ampoule)
|
|
amt
|
|
amount
|
|
aq.
|
aqua
|
water
|
|
aq. bull.
|
aqua bulliens
|
boiling water
|
|
aq. com.
|
aqua communis
|
common water
|
|
aq. dest.
|
aqua destillata
|
distilled water
|
|
aq. ferv.
|
aqua fervens
|
hot water
|
|
a.l., a.s.
|
auris laeva, auris sinistra
|
left ear
|
a can be mistaken as an o which could read "o.s." or "o.l", meaning left eye
|
ATC
|
|
around the clock
|
|
a.u.
|
auris utraque
|
both ears
|
a can be mistaken as an o which could read "o.u.", meaning both eyes
|
BDS, b.d.s.
|
bis die sumendum
|
twice daily
|
|
bib.
|
bibe
|
drink
|
|
bis
|
bis
|
twice
|
|
b.i.d., b.d.
|
bis in die
|
twice daily
|
AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "twice a day")
|
bis ind.
|
bis indies
|
twice a day
|
|
bis in 7 d.
|
bis in septem diebus
|
twice a week
|
|
BM
|
|
bowel movement
|
commonly used in the United Kingdom when discussing blood sugar. From BM Stix – the measurement sticks used for calculating blood sugar; BM being an abbreviation of Boehringer Mannheim.[8]
|
BNF
|
|
British National Formulary
|
|
bol.
|
bolus
|
as a large single dose (usually intravenously)
|
|
BP, Ph.Br.
|
Pharmacopoeia Britannica
|
British Pharmacopoeia
|
|
BS
|
|
blood sugar
|
|
BSA
|
|
body surface area
|
|
b.t.
|
|
bedtime
|
mistaken for "b.i.d", meaning twice daily
|
bucc.
|
bucca
|
buccal (inside cheek)
|
|
cap., caps.
|
capsula
|
capsule
|
|
cap.
|
capiat
|
let him take (let the patient take)
|
|
c.m.
|
cras mane
|
tomorrow morning
|
|
c.m.s.
|
cras mane sumendus
|
to be taken tomorrow morning
|
|
c̄, c.
|
cum
|
with (usually written with a bar on top of the c)
|
|
cib.
|
cibus
|
food
|
|
c.c.
|
cum cibo
|
with food [or] cubic centimetre
|
mistaken for U, meaning units; also has an ambiguous meaning; use "mL" or "millilitres" (1 cm3 = 1 mL)
|
cf.
|
confer
|
compare
|
|
c.n.
|
cras nocte
|
tomorrow night
|
|
cochl.
|
cochleare
|
spoonful
|
|
cochl. ampl.
|
cochleare amplum
|
an ample spoonful (a tablespoonful)
|
|
cochl. infant.
|
cochleare infantis
|
a small spoonful (a teaspoonful)
|
|
cochl. mag.
|
cochleare magnum
|
a large spoonful (a tablespoonful)
|
|
cochl. mod.
|
cochleare modicum
|
a modest spoonful (a dessert-spoonful)
|
|
cochl. parv.
|
cochleare parvum
|
a scant spoonful (a teaspoonful)
|
|
colet.
|
coletur
|
let it be strained
|
|
comp.
|
compositus
|
compound
|
|
contin.
|
continuetur
|
let it be continued
|
|
cpt.
|
capiat
|
let him take (let the patient take)
|
|
cr., crm
|
|
cream
|
|
CST
|
|
continue same treatment
|
|
cuj.
|
cujus
|
of which
|
|
c.v.
|
cras vespere
|
tomorrow evening
|
|
cyath.
|
cyathus
|
a glassful
|
|
cyath. vinos.
|
cyathus vinosus
|
a wine-glassful
|
|
D, d.
|
die [or] dosis
|
days [or] doses
|
ambiguous meaning, write out "days" or "doses"
|
D5LR
|
|
dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer's solution (intravenous sugar solution)
|
|
D5NS
|
|
dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) (intravenous sugar solution)
|
|
D5W, D5W
|
|
dextrose 5% in water (intravenous sugar solution)
|
|
D10W, D10W
|
|
dextrose 10% in water (intravenous sugar solution)
|
|
da
|
da
|
give
|
|
DAW
|
|
dispense as written (i.e., no generic substitution)
|
|
DC, dc, D/C, disc
|
|
discontinue [or] discharge
|
ambiguous meaning
|
decoct.
|
decoctum
|
decoction
|
|
det.
|
detur
|
let it be given
|
|
dieb. alt.
|
diebus alternis
|
every other day; on alternate days
|
|
dil.
|
|
dilute
|
|
dim.
|
dimidius
|
one-half
|
|
d. in p. æ.
|
divide in partes æquales
|
divide into equal parts
|
|
disp.
|
|
dispersible [or] dispense
|
|
div.
|
divide
|
divide; let it be divided
|
|
dL
|
|
deciliter
|
|
DS
|
|
double strength
|
|
d.t.d.
|
dentur tales doses
|
give of such doses
|
|
DTO
|
|
deodorized tincture of opium
|
can easily be confused with "diluted tincture of opium," which is 1/25th the strength of deodorized tincture of opium; deaths have resulted due to massive morphine overdose.[9] Compare laudanum and paregoric.
|
DW
|
|
distilled water [or] dextrose in water (intravenous sugar solution)
|
|
elix.
|
elixir
|
elixir
|
|
e.m.p.
|
ex modo prescripto
|
as directed (in the manner prescribed)
|
|
emuls.
|
emulsum
|
emulsion
|
|
et
|
et
|
and
|
|
EOD
|
|
every other day
|
|
ex aq.
|
ex aqua
|
in water; with water
|
|
exhib.
|
exhibiatur
|
let it be given
|
|
f.
|
fiat
|
make; let it be made
|
|
f.h.
|
fiat haustus
|
make a draught
|
|
fl., fld.
|
fluidus
|
fluid (usually meaning specifically liquid in health care)
|
|
f.m.
|
fiat mistura
|
make a mixture
|
|
f. pil.
|
fiat pilula
|
make a pill
|
|
f.s.a.
|
fiat secundum artem
|
make according to art
|
|
ft.
|
fiat
|
make; let it be made
|
|
g, gm
|
|
gram (modern SI symbol is g, not gm)
|
|
garg.
|
gargarisma
|
gargle
|
|
gr.
|
granum
|
grain
|
|
gtt(s)
|
gutta(e)
|
drop(s)
|
|
gutt.
|
gutta(e)
|
drop(s)
|
|
H
|
|
hypodermic
|
|
h, hr, hor.
|
hora
|
hour
|
|
habt.
|
habeat
|
let him have
|
|
hor. alt.
|
hora alternis
|
every other hour (every second hour; at alternate hours)
|
|
hor. decub.
|
hora decubitus
|
at bedtime
|
|
hor. intermed.
|
horis intermediis
|
at intermediate hours
|
|
hor. tert.
|
horis tertiis
|
every third hour
|
|
h.s.
|
hora somni (at the hour of sleep)
|
at bedtime [or] half-strength
|
ambiguous (2 meanings, easily conflated); spell out
|
IBW
|
|
ideal body weight (for dosing based on clearance estimation)
|
|
ID
|
|
intradermal
|
|
IJ, inj.
|
injectio
|
injection
|
mistaken for "IV", meaning intravenously
|
i.m., IM
|
|
intramuscular
|
|
IN
|
|
intranasal
|
mistaken for "IM", meaning intramuscular, or "IV", meaning intravenously
|
ind.
|
indies
|
daily
|
|
inf.
|
infusum
|
infusion (extraction) / intravenous infusion
|
|
i
|
unus tabuletta
|
one tablet
|
|
ii
|
duo tabuletta
|
two tablets
|
|
iii
|
tres tabuletta
|
three tablets
|
|
IO
|
|
intraosseous
|
|
IP
|
|
intraperitoneal
|
|
IT
|
|
intrathecal
|
mistaken for other abbreviations; spell out
|
IU
|
|
international unit
|
mistaken for "IV" or "10", spell out "international unit"
|
i.v., IV
|
|
intravenous
|
|
i.v.p., IVP
|
|
intravenous push
|
|
IVPB
|
|
intravenous piggyback
|
|
kg
|
|
kilogram
|
|
LAS
|
|
label as such
|
|
lat. dol.
|
lateri dolenti
|
to the painful side
|
|
lb.
|
libra
|
pound
|
|
l.c.d.
|
liquor carbonis detergens
|
coal tar solution
|
|
lin
|
linimentum
|
liniment
|
|
liq.
|
liquor
|
solution
|
|
lot.
|
lotio
|
lotion
|
|
M., m.
|
misce
|
mix
|
|
M., m., mit., mitt.
|
mitte
|
send or dispense, e.g. number of tablets provided
|
Can be confused with m,. misce, context-dependent
|
mane
|
mane
|
in the morning
|
|
max.
|
maximum
|
maximum
|
|
mcg
|
|
microgram
|
recommended replacement for "μg" which may be confused with "mg"
|
mdi
|
|
metered dose inhaler
|
|
m.d.u.
|
more dicto utendus
|
to be used as directed
|
|
mEq
|
|
milliequivalent
|
|
mg
|
|
milligram
|
|
mg/dL
|
|
milligrams per deciliter
|
|
MgSO4
|
|
magnesium sulfate
|
may be confused with "MSO4", spell out "magnesium sulfate"
|
midi
|
|
at midday
|
|
min.
|
minimum [or] minim [or] minutum
|
minimum [or] minim [or] minute
|
|
mist.
|
mistura
|
mixture
|
|
mL
|
|
millilitre
|
|
mod. præscript.
|
modo præscripto
|
in the manner directed
|
|
MS
|
|
morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate
|
can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate, spell out either
|
MSO4
|
|
morphine sulfate
|
may be confused with "MgSO4", spell out "morphine sulfate"
|
nebul, neb.
|
nebula
|
a spray (such as for insufflation)- nebulizer
|
|
NMT
|
|
not more than
|
|
noct.
|
nocte
|
at night
|
|
non rep.
|
non repetatur
|
no repeats (no refills)
|
|
NPO, n.p.o.
|
nil per os
|
nothing by mouth
|
AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "nothing by mouth")
|
NS
|
|
normal saline (0.9%)
|
|
1/2NS
|
|
half-normal saline (0.45%)
|
|
NTE
|
|
not to exceed
|
|
o 2, o2
|
|
both eyes
|
"O2" usually means oxygen or oxygen therapy
|
o.d.
|
omni die
|
every day (once daily) (preferred to "qd" in the UK[10])
|
|
o.d.
|
oculus dexter
|
right eye
|
o can be mistaken as an a which could read "a.d.", meaning right ear, confusion with "omni die"
|
o.m.
|
omni mane
|
every morning
|
|
omn. bih.
|
omni bihora
|
every 2 hours
|
|
omn. hor.
|
omni hora
|
every hour
|
|
o.n.
|
omni nocte
|
every night
|
|
OPD
|
|
once per day
|
|
o.s.
|
oculus sinister
|
left eye
|
o can be mistaken as an a which could read "a.s.", meaning left ear
|
o.u.
|
oculus uterque
|
both eyes
|
o can be mistaken as an a which could read "a.u.", meaning both ears
|
oz
|
|
ounce
|
|
p.
|
perstetur
|
continue
|
|
part. æq.
|
partes æquales
|
equal parts
|
|
per
|
per
|
by or through
|
|
p.c.
|
post cibum
|
after meals
|
|
p.c.h.s., pc&hs
|
post cibum et hora somni
|
after meals and at bedtime
|
|
Ph.Br., BP
|
Pharmacopoeia Britannica
|
British Pharmacopoeia
|
|
Ph.Eur.
|
Pharmacopoeia Europaea
|
European Pharmacopoeia
|
|
Ph.Int.
|
Pharmacopoeia Internationalis
|
International Pharmacopoeia
|
|
pig./pigm.
|
pigmentum
|
paint
|
|
p.m.
|
post meridiem
|
evening or afternoon
|
|
p.o.
|
per os
|
by mouth or orally
|
AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "orally")
|
ppt.
|
præparata
|
prepared
|
|
p.r., PR
|
per rectum
|
rectally
|
|
p.r.n., PRN
|
pro re nata
|
as needed
|
PRN is pertactin, a virulence factor of the bacterium that causes pertussis
|
pt.
|
perstetur
|
continue
|
|
pulv.
|
pulvis
|
powder
|
|
p.v., PV
|
per vaginam
|
vaginally
|
|
q
|
quaque
|
every, per
|
|
q.1 h, q.1°
|
quaque 1 hora
|
every 1 hour (can replace 1 with other numbers)
|
|
q4PM
|
|
at 4:00 pm (can replace 4 with other numbers)
|
mistaken to mean every 4 hours
|
q.a.d.
|
quaque alternis die
|
every other day
|
|
q.a.m.
|
quaque die ante meridiem
|
every morning (every day before noon)
|
|
q.d./q.1.d.
|
quaque die
|
every day
|
mistaken for "QOD" or "qds," spell out "every day" or "daily". AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "every day")
|
q.d.a.m.
|
quaque die ante meridiem
|
once daily in the morning
|
|
q.d.p.m.
|
quaque die post meridiem
|
once daily in the evening
|
|
q.d.s.
|
quater die sumendus
|
4 times a day
|
can be mistaken for "qd" (every day)
|
q.p.m.
|
quaque die post meridiem
|
every evening (every day after noon)
|
|
q.h.
|
quaque hora
|
every hour
|
|
q.h.s.
|
quaque hora somni
|
every night at bedtime
|
can be mistaken as "q.h.r." (every hour)
|
q.i.d.
|
quater in die
|
4 times a day
|
can be mistaken for "qd" or "qod," write out "4 times a day". AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "4 times a day")
|
q.l.
|
quantum libet
|
as much as is requisite
|
|
q.n.
|
quaque nocte
|
every night
|
can be mistaken as "q.h." (every hour)
|
q.o.d.
|
quaque altera die
|
every other day
|
mistaken for "QD," spell out "every other day". AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "every other day")
|
q.q.
|
quaque
|
every;[11] each
|
|
q.q.h.
|
quater quaque hora
|
every 4 hours
|
|
q.s.
|
quantum sufficiat (subjunctive), quantum sufficit (indicative), quantum satis
|
as much as suffices; a sufficient quantity
|
|
q.s. a.d
|
add up to
|
q.v.
|
quantum volueris [or] quod vide
|
at will [or] which see
|
|
QWK
|
|
every week
|
|
rep., rept.
|
repetatur
|
repeats
|
|
RL, R/L
|
|
Ringer's lactate
|
|
Rx, Rx, RX, ℞, Rp
|
recipe
|
take (often effectively a noun meaning "prescription"—medical prescription or prescription drug)
|
|
rep.
|
repetatur
|
let it be repeated
|
|
s.
|
signa
|
write (write on the label)
|
|
s.a.
|
secundum artem
|
according to the art (accepted practice or best practice)
|
|
SC
|
|
subcutaneous
|
"SC" can be mistaken for "SL," meaning sublingual. See also SQ
|
sem.
|
semen
|
seed
|
|
s.i.d.
|
semel in die
|
once a day
|
used exclusively in veterinary medicine
|
sig.
|
signa, signetur
|
write (write on the label)
|
|
s̄
|
sine
|
without (usually written with a bar on top of the s)
|
|
sing.
|
singulorum
|
of each
|
|
SL, s.l.
|
sub lingua
|
sublingually, under the tongue
|
|
SOB
|
|
shortness of breath
|
|
sol.
|
solutio
|
solution
|
|
s.o.s., si op. sit
|
si opus sit
|
if there is a need
|
|
s.s., SS
|
semisse
|
one-half [or] sliding scale
|
mistaken for "55" or "1/2"
|
SSI
|
|
sliding scale insulin or sliding scale regular insulin
|
mistaken to mean "strong solution of iodine" or "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor". See also SSRI
|
SQ
|
|
subcutaneously
|
"SQ" can be mistaken for "5Q" meaning "5 every dose". See also SC
|
SSRI
|
|
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor [or] sliding scale regular insulin
|
ambiguous. Do not abbreviate
|
st.
|
stet
|
let it stand (for example, for settling)
|
|
stat
|
statim
|
immediately
|
|
SubQ., subcut
|
|
subcutaneously
|
|
sum.
|
sumat [or] sumendum
|
let him take [or] let it be taken
|
|
supp.
|
suppositorium
|
suppository
|
|
susp.
|
suspension
|
suspension
|
|
syr.
|
syrupus
|
syrup
|
|
tab.
|
tabella
|
tablet
|
|
tal., t.
|
talus
|
such
|
|
tbsp
|
|
tablespoon
|
|
t.d.s., TDS
|
ter die sumendum
|
3 times a day
|
|
t.i.d., t.d.
|
ter in die
|
3 times a day
|
AMA style avoids use of this abbreviation (spell out "3 times a day")
|
tinct.
|
tinctura
|
tincture
|
|
t.i.w.
|
|
3 times a week
|
mistaken for "twice a week"
|
top.
|
|
topical
|
|
TPN
|
|
total parenteral nutrition
|
|
tr, tinc., tinct.
|
tinctura
|
tincture
|
|
trit.
|
triturate
|
grind to a powder
|
|
troch.
|
trochiscus
|
lozenge
|
|
tsp
|
|
teaspoon
|
|
U
|
|
unit
|
mistaken for a "4", "0" or "cc", spell out "unit"
|
u.d., ut. dict.
|
ut dictum
|
as directed
|
|
ung.
|
unguentum
|
ointment
|
|
USP
|
|
United States Pharmacopeia
|
|
vag.
|
vagine
|
vaginally
|
|
w
|
|
with
|
|
w/a
|
|
while awake
|
|
w/f
|
|
with food (with meals)
|
|
w/o
|
|
without
|
|
X, x
|
|
times
|
|
YO, y.o.
|
|
years old
|
|
μg
|
|
microgram
|
mistaken for "mg", meaning milligram
|
@
|
|
at
|
mistaken for "2"; spell out "at"
|
>
|
|
greater than
|
mistaken for a "7"
|
<
|
|
less than
|
mistaken for an "L"
|
℔
|
libra
|
pound
|
|
℥
|
uncia
|
ounce
|
|
ʒ
|
drachma
|
dram (drachm)
|
|
℈
|
scrupulus
|
scruple
|
|
°
|
|
hour
|
|