Sunday, June 12, 2011

Abbreviations in the Pharmacy

Abbreviations are used in the pharmacy for just about everything and knowing what they mean is critical to filling a prescription accurately and quickly. There are abbreviations to cover just about everything. Unfortunately this blog will be a little dense... there's no "fun" way to write them up. The abbreviations are separated as follows:



Time of Day






Abbreviation Meaning
a.c. Before Meals
p.c. After Meals
c.f. With Food
a.m. Morning
p.m. Afternoon
h.s. Bedtime


Frequency of Administration






Abbreviation Meaning
d OR q.d. Daily
b.i.d. Twice Daily
t.i.d. three times daily
q.i.d. four times daily
p.i.d. five times daily
q every
q.o.d. Every other day
q_h OR q_ every _ hours
p.r.n. as needed
q.w. once weekly
b.i.w. twice weekly
t.i.w. three times a week
q.m. once a month
stat immediately


Route of Administration






Abbreviation Meaning
p.o. By mouth, orally
p.r. per rectum, rectally
a.s. in left ear
a.d. in right ear
a.u. in both ears
o.s. in left eye
o.d. in right eye
o.u. in each eye
ap apply
afa affected area(s)
bil bilateral, both
sl sublingual
I.M. intramuscular
SC OR SQ OR subq subcutaneously
IV Intravenous
IVP Intravenous push


Dosage Form






Abbreviation Meaning
tab tablet
cap capsule
sol OR soln OR sln solution
spn OR spsn OR sus suspension
crm cream
oint OR ung ointment
o/o ophthalmic ointment
gtt drops
supp suppository
elx OR elix elixir
ODT orally disintigrating tablet
lot lotion
sp OR spy spray
EC enteric coated
DR delayed release
ER OR XL OR XR Extended Release
SR sustained release
CR Controlled Release


Dosage Size






Abbreviation Meaning
tsp teaspoonful
cc cubic centimeter
mL milliliter
tbs OR tbsp tablespoon
mg milligram
mEq millequivalent
IU international units
ss one half tablet
gr. grain
oz. ounce
fl.oz. fluid ounce
g OR gm grams
μcg OR mcg micrograms


Diagnosis






Abbreviation Meaning
HTN hypertension
HBP high blood pressure
UTI urinary tract infection
URI Upper-Respiratory Infection
HA Headache
PA Pain
BTP Break-through pain
n&v Nausea and Vomitting
SOB Shortness of Breath
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease


Miscellaneous Other Abbreviations






Abbreviation Meaning
u.d. as directed
APAP acetaminophen
ASA aspirin
NSAID Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
PCN Penicillin
NTG nitroglycerin
NS Normal Saline
D_W dextrose _% in water
MSIR Morphine Sulfate Immediate Release
MOM Milk of Magnesia
PEG polyethylene glycol
q.s. quantity sufficient
u.d. Unit dose
uou unit of use

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