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Abbreviations Commonly Used In Prescriptions and Medication Orders

by Pharmapproach
September 26, 2020
in Clinical Pharmacy
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The use of abbreviations is common on prescriptions and medication orders. Some are derived from the Latin through its historical use in medicine and pharmacy, whereas others have evolved through prescribers’ use of writing shortcuts.

Unfortunately, medication errors can result from the misuse, misinterpretation, and illegible writing of abbreviations, and through the use of ad hoc, or made-up, abbreviations.

The use of a controlled vocabulary, a reduction in the use of abbreviations, care in the writing of decimal points, and the proper use of leading and terminal zeros have been urged to help reduce medication errors.

It should be emphasized that a misplaced or misread decimal point represents a minimum of a 10-fold error. A list of some of these abbreviations is presented in this article.

Contents

  • 1 Prescription Filling Directions
  • 2 Quantities and Measurement
  • 3 Signa/Patient Instructions
  • 4 Medications
  • 5 Clinical
  • 6 Dosage Forms/Vehicles
  • 7 Routes of Administration
  • 8 Reference

Prescription Filling Directions

AbbreviationMeaning
aa. or (ana)of each
ad (ad)up to; to make
disp. (dispensatur)dispense
div. (dividatur)divide
d.t.d. (dentur tales doses)give of such doses
ft (fiat)make
M. (mice)mix
No. (numero)number
non rep. or NR (non repatatur)do not repeat
q.s. (quantum sufficit)a sufficient quantity
q.s. ad (quantum sufficit ad)a sufficient quantity to make
Sig. (Signa)write (directions on label)

Read Also: Glossary of Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms and Drug Delivery Systems

Quantities and Measurement

AbbreviationMeaning
BSABody surface area
cm3Cubic centimeter
f or fl (fluidus)Fluid
gGram
galGallon
gtt (gutta)Drop
lb (libra)Pound
kgKilogram
LLitre
m2 or M2Square meter
mcgMicrogram
mEqMilliequivalent
mgMilligram
mg/kgMilligrams (of drug) per kilogram (of body weight)
mg/m2Milligrams (of drug) per square meter (of body surface area)
mLMilliliter
mL/hMillilitres (of drug administered) per hour (as through intravenous administration)
mOsm or mOsmolMilliosmoles
oz.Ounce
O. or pt.Pint
qt.Quart
ss or ss (semissem)One half
tbsp.Tablespoonful
tsp. Teaspoonful

Read Also: Common Medical Abbreviations and Their Meaning

Signa/Patient Instructions

AbbreviationMeaning
a.c. (ante cibos)Before meals
ad lib. (ad libitum)At pleasure, freely
adminAdminister
A.M. (ante meridiem)Morning
aq. (aqua)Water
ATCAround the clock
bd or b.i.d. (bis in die)Twice a day
c or c (cum)With
d (die)Day
dil. (dilutus)Dilute
etAnd
h. or hr. (hora)Hour
h.s. (hora somni)At bedtime
i.c. (inter cibos)Between meals
min. (minutum)Minute
m&nMorning and night
N&VNausea and vomiting
noct. (nocte)Night
NPO (non per os)Nothing by mouth
p.c. (post cibos)After meals
P.M. (post meridiem)Afternoon; evening
p.o. (per os)By mouth (orally)
p.r.n. (pro re nata)As needed
q (quaque)Every
qAM Every morning
q4h, q8h, etc. Every__ hours
qd (quaque die) or QDOnce a day, every day
q.i.d. (quarter in die)Four times a day
rep. (repetatur)Repeat
s (sine)Without
s.i.d. (semel in die)Once a day
s.o.s. (si opus sit)If there is need; as needed
stat. (statim)Immediately
t.i.d. (ter in die) Three times a day
ut dict. (ut dictum) As directed
wk.Week

Read Also: Common Prefixes, Roots and Suffixes in Medical Terminology


Medications

AbbreviationMeaning
3TCLamivudine
ABCAbacavir
APAPAcetaminophen
APVAmprenavir
ASAAspirin
ATZAtazanavir
AZT or ZDVZidovudine
d4TStavudine
ddCZalcitabine
ddTDidanosine
DLVDelavirdine
EESErythromycin ethylsuccinate
EFVEfavirenz
FTCEmtricitabine
HCHydrocortisone
HCTZhydrochlorothiazide
IDVIndinavir
LPV/rLopinavir/Ritonavir
MTXMethotrexate
NFVNelfinavir
NTGnitroglycerin
NVPNevirapine
RTVRitonavir
SQVSaquinavir

Read Also: Prescription Drugs and Over-The-Counter Drugs: Do You Know the Difference?

Clinical

AbbreviationMeaning
BMBowel movement
BPBlood preasure
BSBlood sugar
CHDCoronary heart disease
CHFCongestive heart failure
GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease
GIGastrointestinal
GFRGlomerular filtration rate
GUGenitourinary
HAHeadache
HBPHigh blood pressure
HRTHormone replacement therapy
HT or HTNHypertension
IOPIntraocular pressure
MIMyocardial ischemia/ infarction
OAOsteoarthritis
PtPatient
SOBShortness of breath
TPNTotal parenteral nutrition
URIUpper respiratory infection
UTIUrinary tract infection

Read Also: How to Reconstitute Oral Suspensions [Step-by-Step Guide]

Dosage Forms/Vehicles

AbbreviationMeaning
amp.ampule
cap. capsule
D5LRDextrose 5 % in lactated Ringer’s
D5NSDextrose 5 % in normal saline (0.9 % sodium chloride)
D5WDextrose 5 % in water
D10WDextrose 10 % in water
elix.Elixir
inj.Injection
NSNormal saline
1/2NSHalf-strength normal saline
oint or ungt. (unguentum)Ointment
pulv. (pulvis)Powder
RL, R/L or LRRinger’s Lactate or Lactated Ringer’s
sol. (solutio)Solution
supp. (suppositorium)Suppository
susp.Suspension
syr. (syrupus)Syrup
tab. (tabletta)Tablet

Read Also: 5 Tips on How to Identify Fake Drugs

Routes of Administration

AbbreviationMeaning
CIVIContinuous (24 hours) intravenous infusion
IDIntradermal
IMIntramuscular
ITIntrathecal
IVBIntravenous bolus
IV DripIntravenous infusion
IVPIntravenous push
IVPBIntravenous piggy back
NGTNasogastric tube
p.o. or PO (per os)By mouth
rect.Rectal or rectum
SLSublingual
SubQSubcutaneously
Top.Topically
V or PVVaginally

Read Also: Routes of Drug Administration: An Overview

Reference

Ansel, H. (2010). Pharmaceutical Calculations (13th ed.). London: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

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