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," 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," 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," 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 |
|