Table: Common Medical and Prescription Abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
1/2NS one-half normal saline drug or class name
(0.45%)
5-ASA 5-aminosalicylic acid Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as five tablets of
aspirin per FDA
a before time
A.M. morning time
aa of each measurement
AAA abdominal aortic aneurysm Can be misinterpreted as 'apply to medical condition
(called a "triple-A") affected area'
AAA apply to affected area Can be misinterpreted as 'abdominal route of administration
aortic aneurysm'
ac before meals time
achs before meals and at bedtime time
AD right ear route of administration
ad lib freely; as much as desired time
ad sat. to saturation other
ad. to; up to Caution not to confuse with AD measurement
(meaning right ear)
ALT alanine aminotransferase lab
alt. alternate time
alt. h. every other hour time
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
am, A.M. in the morning; before noon time
amp ampule dosage form
amt. amount measurement
ant. anterior other
ante before time
ap before dinner time
APAP acetaminophen Better to spell out drug name drug or class name
"acetaminophen"
aPTT activated partial lab
thromboplastin
AQ, aq water other
a.s., AS left ear route of administration
ASA aspirin Better to spell out drug name drug or class name
"aspirin"
AST aspartate aminotransferase lab
ATC around the clock time
AU each ear; both ears route of administration
AZT zidovudine Better to spell drug name out; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as azathioprine per
FDA
Ba barium drug or class name
BCP birth control pills drug or class name
Bi bismuth drug or class name
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
bid, BID twice a day time
BM bowel movement other
BMI body mass index vitals
bol bolus measurement
BP blood pressure vitals
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy medical condition
BS blood sugar lab
BSA body surface area vitals
BT bedtime In U.S., 'hs' or 'HS' is more commonly time
used for bedtime
c with other
C.C. chief complaint other
c/o complaints of other
C&S culture and sensitivity lab
CABG coronary artery bypass graft other
CaCO3 calcium carbonate drug or class name
CAD coronary artery disease medical condition
CAP cancer of the prostate Do not confuse with "capsule" medical condition
cap. capsule Do not confuse with "cancer of the dosage form
prostate"
CBC complete blood count lab
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
cc cubic centimeter Can also mean "with food" measurement
CD controlled delivery drug release technology
CF cystic fibrosis medical condition
cm centimeter measurement
CNS central nervous system other
conc concentrated other
CPZ Compazine Better to spell drug name out; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as chlorpromazine per
FDA
CR controlled-release drug release technology
cr, crm cream dosage form
CV cardiovascular other
CXR chest x-ray lab
D/C, dc, disc. discontinue OR discharge Multiple possible meanings; spell out other
instead of using "D/C"
D5/0.9 NaCl 5% dextrose and normal drug or class name
saline solution (0.9% NaCl)
D5 1/2/NS 5% dextrose and half normal drug or class name
saline solution (0.45% NaCl)
D5NS dextrose 5% in normal drug or class name
saline (0.9%)
D5W 5% dextrose in water drug or class name
DAW dispense as written other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
DBP diastolic blood pressure lab
dil. diluted other
disp dispense other
div divide other
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis medical condition
dL deciliter measurement
DM diabetes mellitus medical condition
DO Doctor of Osteopathic medical specialty
Medicine
DOB date of birth other
DPT diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus Better to spell out vaccine name; can drug or class name
be misinterpreted as Demerol-
Phenergan-Thorazine per FDA
DR delayed-release drug release technology
DVT deep vein thrombosis medical condition
DW dextrose in water, diabetes Multiple possible meanings; spell out other
mellitus or distilled water instead of using "DW"
EC enteric-coated drug release technology
EENT Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Medical Specialty
elix. elixir dosage form
emuls. emulsion dosage form
ER extended-release Can also mean "emergency room" drug release technology
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
ER emergency room Can also mean "extended-release" other
ETOH ethyl alcohol drug or class name
F Fahrenheit lab
f or F female other
FBS fasting blood sugar lab
FDA Food and Drug other
Administration
Fe Iron drug or class name or lab
FFP fresh frozen plasma drug or class name
fl or fld fluid measurement
ft foot measurement
G, or g, or gram "g" is preferred symbol measurement
gm
garg gargle route of administration
GERD gastroesophageal reflux medical condition
disease
GI gastrointestinal other
gr. grain Apothecary measurement (obsolete measurement
and may be misinterpreted as gram;
do not use)
GTT glucose tolerance test Can be confused with gtt for drops lab
gtt, gtts drop, drops Can be confused with GTT for measurement
glucose tolerance test
GU genitourinary other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
guttat. drop by drop measurement
h, or hr. hour time
h/o history of other
H&H hematocrit and hemoglobin lab
H2 histamine 2 other
H20 water other
HAART highly active antiretroviral drug or class name
therapy
HCT, or Hct hematocrit lab
HCT hydrocortisone Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as hydrochlorothiazide
per FDA
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide Better to spell out drug name; can be drug or class name
misinterpreted as hydrocortisone per
FDA
HR heart rate vitals
HS half-strength better to spell out; do not mistake for measurement
"bedtime"
hs or HS at bedtime, hours of sleep Do not misinterpret as 'half-strength' time
HTN hypertension medical condition
hx history other
IBW ideal body weight lab
ID intradermal OR infectious Multiple possible meanings; spell out route of administration;
disease word instead of using "ID" other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
IJ injection better to spell out 'injection' route of administration
IM intramuscular route of administration
IN intranasal route of administration
inf infusion route of administration
inj. injection route of administration
instill. instillation route of administration
IP intraperitoneal route of administration
IR immediate-release drug release technology
IU international unit Mistaken as IV (intravenous) or 10
(ten); Instead spell out "units" per
Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List
of Abbreviations
IUD intrauterine device dosage form
IV intravenous route of administration
IVP intravenous push Could be confused with 'intravenous route of administration
pyelogram'
IVPB intravenous piggyback route of administration
J joule lab
K potassium drug or class name
KOH potassium hydroxide drug or class name
L liter measurement
LA long-acting drug release technology
lab laboratory other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
lb. pound measurement
LDL low-density lipoprotein lab
LFT liver function tests lab
Li lithium drug or class name
liq. liquid dosage form
LMP last menstrual period other
lot lotion dosage form
LPN licensed practical nurse medical specialty
LR lactated ringer (solution) drug or class name
mane in the morning time
mcg microgram Can be misinterpreted to mean "mg" measurement
or milligram, better to spell out
'microgram'
MD medical doctor medical specialty
MDI metered-dose inhaler dosage form
mEq milliequivalent measurement
mEq/L milliequivalent per liter measurement
Mg magnesium drug or class name
mg milligram measurement
MgSO4 magnesium sulfate May be confused with "MSO4" drug or class name
(morphine sulfate), spell out
"magnesium sulfate" - Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
mL milliliter measurement
mm millimeter measurement
mm of Hg millimeters of mercury measurement
mMol millimole measurement
MMR measle-mumps-rubella drug or class name
(vaccine)
mol wt molecular weight measurement
MR modified-release drug release technology
MS morphine sulfate or Can mean either morphine sulfate or drug or class name
magnesium sulfate magnesium sulfate, spell out drug
name - Joint Commission's "Do Not
Use" List of Abbreviations
MSO4 morphine sulfate May be confused with "MgSO4"; drug or class name
instead spell out "morphine sulfate" -
Joint Commission's "Do Not Use" List
of Abbreviations
n or noct. in the night time
N/A not applicable other
N/V, N&V nausea and vomiting other
Na sodium lab or drug or class name
NAS intranasal route of administration
NDC National Drug Code other
NGT nasogastric tube route of administration
NH3 ammonia other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
NKA no known allergies other
NKDA no known drug allergies other
noct. maneq. night and morning time
NP nurse practitioner medical specialty
NPO, n.p.o. nothing by mouth Preferred by AMA to spell out route of administration
"nothing by mouth"
NS normal saline drug or class name
NSAID nonsteroidal anti- drug or class name
inflammatory drug
NTE not to exceed other
O2 oxygen other
OC oral contraceptive drug or class name
o.d., OD right eye Can also mean "overdose" or "once route of administration,
daily"; better to spell out ophthalmic abbreviations
o.d. once per day Preferred in the UK; Can also mean time
"overdose" or "right eye"; better to
spell out
OJ orange juice other
OM otitis media medical condition
o.s., OS left eye route of administration,
ophthalmic abbreviations
OTC over-the-counter other
o.u., OU both eyes route of administration,
ophthalmic abbreviations
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
oz ounce measurement
p after time
p.r.n., prn as needed time
PA physician assistant medical specialty
pc after meals time
PCA patient-controlled analgesia other
PE physical exam, pulmonary other
embolism
per by or through route of administration
per neb by nebulizer route of administration
per os by mouth, orally AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" route of administration
or "orally"; can be mistaken as "os"
meaning left eye per FDA
PFT pulmonary function tests lab
pH hydrogen ion concentration other
PharmD Doctor of Pharmacy medical specialty
PM evening time
PMH past medical history other
PO, p.o. orally or by mouth AMA prefers to spell out "by mouth" route of administration
or "orally"
PR, p.r. per the rectum route of administration
PT prothrombin time lab
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
PTT partial thromboplastin time lab
pulv powder dosage form
PV per the vagina route of administration
q every time
q.s., qs as much as needed; a measurement
sufficient quantity
q12h every 12 hours time
qd, q1d daily time
q2h every 2 hours time
q3h every 3 hours time
q4h every 4 hours time
q6h every 6 hours time
q6PM, etc every evening at 6 PM time
q8h every 8 hours time
qam every morning time
qd, QD every day Mistaken as q.i.d; Instead write time
"daily" or "every day" per Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
qh every hour time
qhs each night at bedtime Can be confused with "qh" meaning time
every hour; better to spell out
qid four times a day time
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
qn Nightly or at bedtime Not commonly used in U.S.; 'hs' time
more common for bedtime
qod, QOD, every other day Can be mistaken as qd (daily) or qid time
q.o.d (four times daily); Instead spell out
"every other day" per Joint
Commission's "Do Not Use" List of
Abbreviations
q.s. ad add sufficient quantity to measurement
make
RA rheumatoid arthritis medical condition
RDA recommended daily other
allowances
RE right eye route of administration,
ophthalmic abbreviations
rep repeats time
RN registered nurse medical specialty
RPh pharmacist medical specialty
Rx prescription other
s without other
s.o.s. if necessary other
sa according to the art; best other
practice
SA sustained action drug release technology
SBP systolic blood pressure vital sign
SID Used ONLY in Veterinary Can be confused to mean BID (twice time; used in Veterinary
medicine to mean "once daily) and QID (four times daily); medicine ONLY
daily"
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
pharmacists should clarify
abbreviations with DVM, if needed.
sig codes medical or prescription other
abbreviations
Sig. write on label other
SL, s.l. sublingual, under the tongue route of administration
SNRI serotonin/norepinephrine drug or class name
reuptake inhibitor
SOB shortness of breath other
sol solution; in solution dosage form
sp gr specific gravity lab
SQ, SC, sub subcutaneously Use caution as "SC" can be mistaken route of administration
q for "SL," meaning sublingual per FDA
SR sustained release drug release technology
ss sliding scale (insulin) OR 1/2 Use caution; can be misinterpreted; other
(apothecary; obsolete) better to spell out "sliding scale" or
"one-half"
SSI Sliding scale insulin other
SSRI sliding scale regular insulin Spell out words to avoid confusion other
OR selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor
stat immediately time
STD sexually transmitted medical condition
diseases
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
sup. superior other
supf. superficial other
supp suppository dosage form
susp suspension dosage form
syr. syrup dosage form
T temperature vital sign
tab tablet dosage form
tbsp tablespoon measurement
TIA transient ischemic attack medical condition
TID, t.i.d. three times a day time
tid ac three times a day before time
meals
TIN, t.i.n. three times a night time
tinct., tr tincture dosage form
TIW, tiw 3 times a week Spell out; can be confused with TID time
(three times a day)
top. topical route of administration
TO telephone order
TPN total parenteral nutrition drug or class name
TR timed-release drug release technology
troche lozenge dosage form
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone lab
tsp teaspoon measurement
Tx treatment other
U or u unit Mistaken as the number "0" (zero), measurement
the number "4" (four), or "cc".
Prescriber should instead spell out
"unit" per Joint Commission's "Do Not
Use" List of Abbreviations
UA urinalysis lab
ud, ut dict, as directed other
UD
ung ointment dosage form
UTI urinary tract infection medical condition
vag, pv via the vagina route of administration
VLDL very low density lipoprotein lab
vol % volume percent measurement
vol. volume measurement
w/o without other
w/v weight in volume measurement
WBC white blood cell lab
WNL within normal limits lab
wt. weight vital sign
x multiplied by other
Abbreviation Meaning / Intended Notes About Confusion Category
Meaning
XL extended-release drug release technology
XR extended-release drug release technology
XT extended-release drug release technology
yo years old other
yr year time
Zn zinc drug or class drug or class
name
μEq microequivalent measurement
μg, mcg microgram μg or mcg can be misinterpreted as measurement
"mg", better to spell out 'microgram'
μL microliter measurement
