List of abbreviations used in medical

prescriptions

Abbr Latin,
eviati Greek,
on or or Ne English Possible confusion
symb w
ol Latin
aa,
āā, ana of each
ĀĀ
apply to abdominal aortic
AAA
affected area aneurysm
ante
a.c. before meals
cibum
ante
a.c.h. before meals
cibum
s., and at
et hora
ac&hs bedtime
somni
A single-storey "a"
can be mistaken as
auris
a.d. right ear an "o" which could
dextra
read "o.d.", meaning
right eye
adde add
ad.,
addatu let there be
add.
r added
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
Compare pro re nata,
"as needed", which by
Latin, "at
convention includes
one's
ad an aspect of "up to
ad lib. pleasure"; as
libitum some maximum".
much as one
Similarly,
desires; freely
compare s.o.s., q.l.,
and q.s.
admov
apply [or] add
admo e
add; let there
v. admov
be added
eatur
ad according to
ad us.
usum custom
æqual
æq. equal
es
agitate (stir or
agit. agita
shake)
alt. d., every other
alternis
alt. day; on
diebus
dieb. alternate days
every other
alt. h.,
alternis hour; at
alt.
horis alternate
hor.
hours
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
ante
morning,
a.m. meridie
before noon
m
ampull ampule (amp
amp.
a ul, ampoule)
amt amount
aq. aqua water
aqua
aq.
bullien boiling water
bull.
s
aqua
aq. common
commu
com. water
nis
aqua
aq.
destilla distilled water
dest.
ta
aq. aqua
hot water
ferv. fervens
auris "a" can be mistaken
a.l., laeva, as an "o" which could
left ear
a.s. auris read "o.s." or "o.l",
sinistra meaning left eye
around the
ATC
clock
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
"a" can be mistaken
auris
as an "o" which could
a.u. utraqu both ears
read "o.u.", meaning
e
both eyes
bis die
BDS,
sumen twice daily
b.d.s.
dum
bib. bibe drink
bis bis twice
AMA style avoids use
b.i.d., bis in of this abbreviation
twice daily
b.d. die (spell out "twice a
day")
bis bis
twice a day
ind. indies
bis in
bis in
septem twice a week
7 d.
diebus
bowel
BM
movement
British
BNF National
Formulary
as a large
bol. bolus
single dose
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
(usually intrav
enously)
Pharm
acopoe British
BP,
ia Pharmacopoe
Ph.Br.
Britann ia
ica
BS blood sugar
body surface
BSA
area
mistaken for "b.i.d",
b.t. bedtime
meaning twice daily
buccal (inside
bucc. bucca
cheek)
cap., capsul
capsule
caps. a
let him take
cap. capiat (let the
patient take)
cras tomorrow
c.m.
mane morning
cras
to be taken
mane
c.m.s. tomorrow
sumen
morning
dus
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
with (usually
written with a
c, c. cum
bar on top of
the "c")
cib. cibus food
mistaken for "U",
meaning units; also
with food [or]
cum has an ambiguous
c.c. cubic
cibo meaning; use "mL" or
centimetre
"milliliters" (1 cm³ = 1
mL)
cf. confer compare
cras tomorrow
c.n.
nocte night
cochle
cochl. spoonful
are
cochle an ample
cochl. are spoonful
ampl. amplu (a tablespoon
m ful)
a small
cochle
cochl. spoonful
are
infant. (a teaspoonfu
infantis
l)
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
cochle a large
cochl. are spoonful
mag. magnu (a tablespoon
m ful)
cochle a modest
cochl. are spoonful
mod. modicu (a dessert-
m spoonful)
cochle a scant
cochl. are spoonful
parv. parvu (a teaspoonfu
m l)
let it
colet. coletur
be strained
compo
comp. compound
situs
contin continu let it be
. etur continued
let him take
cpt. capiat (let the
patient take)
cr.,
cream
crm
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
continue
CST same
treatment
cuj. cujus of which
cras
tomorrow
c.v. vesper
evening
e
cyathu
cyath. a glassful
s
cyathu
cyath. s a wine-
vinos. vinosu glassful
s
ambiguous meaning,
die [or] days [or]
D, d. write out "days" or
dosis doses
"doses"
dextrose 5%
in lactated
Ringer's
D5LR
solution (intra
venous sugar
solution)
dextrose 5%
D5NS in normal
saline(0.9%)
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
(intravenous
sugar
solution)
dextrose 5%
D5W, in water(intrav
D5W enous sugar
solution)
dextrose 10%
D10W
in water(intrav
,
enous sugar
D10W
solution)
da da give
dispense as
written (i.e.,
DAW
no generic
substitution)
DC,
discontinue
dc,
[or] ambiguous meaning
D/C,
discharge
disc
decoc decoct
decoction
t. um
det. detur let it be given
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
every other
dieb. diebus
day; on
alt. alternis
alternate days
dil. dilute
dimidiu
dim. one-half
s
divide
in
d. in divide into
partes
p. æ. equal parts
æqual
es
dispersible
disp. [or]
dispense
div. divide divide
dL deciliter
double
DS
strength
dentur
give of such
d.t.d. tales
doses
doses
can easily be
deodorized
confused with "diluted
DTO tincture of
tincture of opium,"
opium
which is 1/25th the
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
strength of deodorized
tincture of opium;
deaths have resulted
due to massive
morphine
overdose.[7] Compare
laudanum and pareg
oric.
distilled
water [or]
dextrose in w
DW
ater (intraven
ous sugar
solution)
elix. elixir elixir
ex
as directed (in
modo
e.m.p. the manner
prescri
prescribed)
pto
emuls emulsu
emulsion
. m
et et and
every other
EOD
day
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
ex
ex aq. in water
aqua
exhibia
exhib. let it be given
tur
make; let it be
f. fiat
made
fiat
make a
f.h. haustu
draught
s
fluid (usually
meaning
fl., fld. fluidus specifically liq
uid in health
care)
fiat make a
f.m.
mistura mixture
fiat
f. pil. make a pill
pilula
fiat
make
secund
f.s.a. according to
um
art
artem
make; let it be
ft. fiat
made
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
gram (modern
g, gm SI symbol is
g, not gm)
gargari
garg. gargle
sma
granu
gr. grain
m
gutta(e
gtt(s) drop(s)
)
gutta(e
gutt. drop(s)
)
H hypodermic
h, hr,
hora hour
hor.
habt. habeat let him have
every other
hour (every
hor. hora
second hour;
alt. alternis
at alternate
hours)
hor. hora
decub decubit at bedtime
. us
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
hor. horis at
interm interm intermediate
ed. ediis hours
hor. horis every third
tert. tertiis hour
hora
somni at bedtime ambiguous (2
h.s. (at the [or] meanings, easily
hour of half-strength conflated); spell out
sleep)
ideal body
weight (for
IBW dosing based
on clearancee
stimation)
ID intradermal
mistaken for "IV",
IJ, inj. injectio injection meaning
intravenously
i.m.,
intramuscular
IM
mistaken for "IM",
IN intranasal meaning
intramuscular, or "IV",
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
meaning
intravenously
ind. indies daily
infusion
infusu (extraction) / i
inf.
m ntravenous
infusion
unus
i tabulett one tablet
a
duo
ii tabulett two tablets
a
tres
iii tabulett three tablets
a
intraperitonea
IP
l
mistaken for other
IT intrathecal abbreviations; spell
out
mistaken for "IV" or
international
IU "10", spell out
unit
"international unit"
i.v., IV intravenous
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
i.v.p., intravenous
IVP push
intravenous
IVPB
piggyback
kg kilogram
LAS label as such
lat. lateri to the painful
dol. dolenti side
lb. libra pound
liquor
carboni
coal tar
l.c.d. s
solution
deterg
ens
linimen
lin liniment
tum
liq. liquor solution
lot. lotio lotion
M., m. misce mix
in the
mane mane
morning
maxim
max. maximum
um
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
Recommended
replacement for "µg"
mcg microgram
which may be
confused with "mg"
metered dose
mdi
inhaler
more
dicto to be used as
m.d.u.
utendu directed
s
mEq milliequivalent
mg milligram
milligrams per
mg/dL
deciliter
may be confused with
MgSO magnesium
"MSO4", spell out
4 sulfate
"magnesium sulfate"
minimu
m [or]
minimum [or]
minim [
min. minim [or]
or]
minute
minutu
m
mist. mistura mixture
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
mit.,
mitte send
mitt.
mL millilitre
mod. modo
in the manner
præsc præscr
directed
ript. ipto
morphine can mean either
sulfate or ma morphine sulfate or
MS
gnesium magnesium sulfate,
sulfate spell out either
may be confused with
morphine
MSO4 "MgSO4", spell out
sulfate
"morphine sulfate"
a spray (such
nebul, as
nebula
neb. for insufflation
)- nebulizer
NMT not more than
noct. nocte at night
non
non no repeats
repetat
rep. (no refills)
ur
NPO, nil per nothing by AMA style avoids use
n.p.o. os mouth of this abbreviation
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
(spell out "nothing by
mouth")
normal saline
NS
(0.9%)
half-normal
1/2NS saline
(0.45%)
NTE not to exceed
"O2" usually
o 2, o2 both eyes means oxygen or oxy
gen therapy
every day
(once daily)
omni
o.d. (preferred to
die
"qd" in the
UK[8])
"o" can be mistaken
as an "a" which could
oculus
o.d. right eye read "a.d.", meaning
dexter
right ear, confusion
with "omni die"
omni every
o.m.
mane morning
omn. omni
every 2 hours
bih. bihora
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
omn. omni
every hour
hor. hora
omni
o.n. every night
nocte
OPD once per day
"o" can be mistaken
oculus as an "a" which could
o.s. left eye
sinister read "a.s.", meaning
left ear
"o" can be mistaken
oculus
as an "a" which could
o.u. uterqu both eyes
read "a.u.", meaning
e
both ears
oz ounce
perstet
p. continue
ur
partes
part.
æqual equal parts
æq.
es
per per by or through
post
p.c. after meals
cibum
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
post
p.c.h. after meals
cibum
s., and at
et hora
pc&hs bedtime
somni
Pharm
acopoe British
Ph.Br.
ia Pharmacopoe
, BP
Britann ia
ica
Pharm
acopoe European
Ph.Eu
ia Pharmacopoe
r.
Europa ia
ea
Pharm
acopoe International
Ph.Int
ia Pharmacopoe
.
Interna ia
tionalis
pig./pi pigmen
paint
gm. tum
post
evening or
p.m. meridie
afternoon
m
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
by AMA style avoids use
p.o. per os mouth or orall of this abbreviation
y (spell out "orally")
præpar
ppt. prepared
ata
p.r., per
rectally
PR rectum
p.r.n., pro re
as needed
PRN nata
perstet
pt. continue
ur
pulv. pulvis powder
per
p.v.,
vagina vaginally
PV
m
quaqu
q every, per
e
every 1 hour
quaqu
q.1 h, (can replace
e1
q.1° "1" with other
hora
numbers)
at 4 pm (can
replace "4" mistaken to mean
q4PM
with other every 4 hours
numbers)
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
quaqu
e every other
q.a.d.
alternis day
die
quaqu
every
e die
morning
q.a.m. ante
(every day
meridie
before noon)
m
mistaken for "QOD" or
"qds," spell out "every
q.d./q. quaqu day" or "daily". AMA
every day
1.d. e die style avoids use of
this abbreviation (spell
out "every day")
quaqu
e die
q.d.a. once daily in
ante
m. the morning
meridie
m
quaqu
e die
q.d.p. once daily in
post
m. the evening
meridie
m
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
quarter
die can be mistaken for
q.d.s. 4 times a day
sumen "qd" (every day)
dus
quaqu
e die every evening
q.p.m. post (every day
meridie after noon)
m
quaqu
q.h. every hour
e hora
quaqu
every night at can be mistaken as
q.h.s. e hora
bedtime "q.h.r." (every hour)
somni
can be mistaken for
"qd" or "qod," write
out "4 times a
quarter
q.i.d. 4 times a day day". AMA styleavoids
in die
use of this
abbreviation (spell out
"4 times a day")
quantu as much as is
q.l.
m libet requisite
quaqu can be mistaken as
q.n. every night
e nocte "q.h." (every hour)
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
mistaken for "QD,"
quaqu spell out "every other
e every other day". AMA
q.o.d.
altera day style avoids use of
die this abbreviation (spell
out "every other day")
quaqu
q.q. every;[9] each
e
quarter
q.q.h. quaqu every 4 hours
e hora
quantu
m
sufficia
t
(subjun
as much
ctive),
as suffices; a
q.s. quantu
sufficient
m
quantity
sufficit
(indicat
ive),
quantu
m satis
quantu at will [or]
q.v.
m which see
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
volueri
s [or]
quod
vide
QWK every week
rep., repetat
repeats
rept. ur
RL, Ringer's
R/L lactate
take (often
effectively a
Rx, noun
Rx, meaning
RX, recipe "prescription"
, ℞, —medical
Rp prescription o
r prescription
drug)
repetat let it be
rep.
ur repeated
write (write on
s. signa
the label)
secund according to
s.a. um the art
artem (accepted
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
practice
or best
practice)
"SC" can be mistaken
for "SL," meaning
SC subcutaneous
sublingual. See
also SQ
sem. semen seed
semel used exclusively in
s.i.d. once a day
in die veterinary medicine
signa,
write (write on
sig. signetu
the label)
r
without
(usually
s sine written with a
bar on top of
the "s")
singulo
sing. of each
rum
sublingually,
SL, sub
under
s.l. lingua
the tongue
shortness of
SOB
breath
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
sol. solutio solution
s.o.s.,
si opus if there is a
si op.
sit need
sit
s.s., semiss one-half [or] mistaken for "55" or
SS e sliding scale "1/2"
mistaken to mean
sliding "strong solution of iodi
scale insulin o ne" or "selective
SSI
r sliding scale serotonin reuptake
regular insulin inhibitor". See
also SSRI
"SQ" can be mistaken
subcutaneous for "5Q" meaning "5
SQ
ly every dose". See
also SC
selective
serotonin
reuptake ambiguous. Do not
SSRI
inhibitor [or] abbreviate
sliding scale
regular insulin
let it stand
st. stet (for example,
for settling)
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
stat statim immediately
subcutaneous
SubQ
ly
sumat
let him take
[or]
sum. [or]
sumen
let it be taken
dum
suppos
supp. suppository
itorium
suspen
susp. suspension
sio
syrupu
syr. syrup
s
tab. tabella tablet
tal., t. talus such
tbsp tablespoon
ter die
t.d.s.,
sumen 3 times a day
TDS
dum
AMA style avoids use
t.i.d., ter in of this abbreviation
3 times a day
t.d. die (spell out "3 times a
day")
tinct. tinctura tincture
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
3 times a mistaken for "twice a
t.i.w.
week week"
top. topical
total
TPN parenteral
nutrition
tr,
tinc., tinctura tincture
tinct.
triturat grind to
trit.
e a powder
trochis
troch. lozenge
cus
tsp teaspoon
mistaken for a "4", "0"
U unit
or "cc", spell out "unit"
u.d.,
ut
ut. as directed
dictum
dict.
ungue
ung. ointment
ntum
United States
USP Pharmacopei
a
 List of abbreviations used in medical
prescriptions
vag. vagine vaginally
w with
w/a while awake
with food
w/f
(with meals)
w/o without
X, x times
YO,
years old
y.o.
mistaken for "mg",
μg microgram
meaning milligram
mistaken for "2"; spell
@ at
out "at"
> greater than mistaken for a "7"
< less than mistaken for an "L"
℔ libra pound
℥ uncia ounce
drach dram (drachm
ʒ
ma )
scrupul
℈ scruple
us