List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions

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List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions

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This is a <b>list of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions</b> (sometimes referred to as <b>sig codes</b>). This listing does not include abbreviations for actual pharmaceuticals (which is a separate article in itself). Capitalization and the use of periods is a matter of style. In the attached list, Latin is not capitalized whereas English acronyms are. The period is used wherever there are letters omitted in the abbreviation. Abbreviations which are officially not to be used as required by the Joint Commission are marked in red. Those abbreviations which are discouraged from use by other organizations are marked in orange.

<table class="wikitable">
<caption> <b>Key</b>
</caption> <tbody>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> Official Do-Not-Use list in the United States required by Joint Commission<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1">[1]</sup>
</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> Not recommended for use by other organizations<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-2">[2]</sup>
</td> </tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table class="wikitable"><tbody>
<tr>
<th colspan="4"> <b>List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions</b><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-3">[3]</sup>
</th> </tr>
<tr>
<th> Abbreviation</th> <th> Latin</th> <th> Meaning</th> <th> Possible confusion</th> </tr>
<tr>
<td> aa</td> <td> ana</td> <td> of each</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> AAA</td> <td> </td> <td> apply to affected area</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> a.c.</td> <td> ante cibum</td> <td> before meals</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> a.d.</td> <td> auris dextra</td> <td> right ear</td> <td> "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.d.", meaning right eye</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> ad lib.
</td> <td> ad libitum</td> <td> use as much as one desires; freely</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> admov.</td> <td> admove</td> <td> apply</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> agit</td> <td> agita</td> <td> stir/shake</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> alt. h.</td> <td> alternis horis</td> <td> every other hour</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> a.m.m.</td> <td> ad manu medicae</td> <td> at doctors hand</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> a.m.</td> <td> ante meridiem
</td> <td> morning, before noon</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> amp</td> <td> </td> <td> ampule</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> amt</td> <td> </td> <td> amount</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> aq</td> <td> aqua</td> <td> water</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> a.l., a.s.</td> <td> auris laeva, auris sinistra</td> <td> left ear</td> <td> "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.s." or "o.l", meaning left eye</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> A.T.C.</td> <td> </td> <td> around the clock</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> a.u.</td> <td> auris utraque</td> <td> both ears</td> <td> "a" can be mistaken as an "o" which could read "o.u.", meaning both eyes</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> bis</td> <td> bis</td> <td> twice</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> b.d./b.i.d.</td> <td> bis in die</td> <td> twice daily</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> B.M.</td> <td> </td> <td> bowel movement</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> BNF</td> <td> </td> <td> British National Formulary
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> bol.</td> <td> bolus
</td> <td> as a large single dose (usually intravenously)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> B.S.</td> <td> </td> <td> blood sugar</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> B.S.A</td> <td> </td> <td> body surface areas</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> b.t.</td> <td> </td> <td> bedtime</td> <td> mistaken for "b.i.d", meaning twice daily</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> BUCC</td> <td> bucca</td> <td> inside cheek</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> cap., caps.</td> <td> capsula</td> <td> capsule</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> c, c.</td> <td> cum</td> <td> with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c")</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> cib.</td> <td> cibus</td> <td> food</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> cc</td> <td> cum cibo</td> <td> with food, (but also cubic centimetre)</td> <td> mistaken for "U", meaning units; also has an ambiguous meaning; use "mL" or "milliliters"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> cf</td> <td> </td> <td> with food</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> comp.</td> <td> </td> <td> compound</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> cr., crm</td> <td> </td> <td> cream</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> CST</td> <td> </td> <td> Continue same treatment</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> D or d</td> <td> </td> <td> days or doses</td> <td> ambiguous meaning, write out "days" or "doses"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> D5W</td> <td> </td> <td> dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D₅W)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> D5NS</td> <td> </td> <td> dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> D.A.W.</td> <td> </td> <td> dispense as written (i.e., no generic substitution)</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> dc, D/C, disc</td> <td> </td> <td> discontinue or discharge</td> <td> ambiguous meaning</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> dieb. alt.</td> <td> diebus alternis</td> <td> every other day</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> dil.</td> <td> </td> <td> dilute</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> disp.</td> <td> </td> <td> dispersible or dispense</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> div.</td> <td> </td> <td> divide</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> dL</td> <td> </td> <td> deciliter</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> d.t.d.</td> <td> dentur tales doses</td> <td> give of such doses</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> DTO
</td> <td> </td> <td> deodorized tincture of opium</td> <td> 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</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> D.W.</td> <td> </td> <td> distilled water</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> elix.</td> <td> </td> <td> elixir</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> e.m.p.</td> <td> ex modo prescripto</td> <td> as directed</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> emuls.</td> <td> emulsum</td> <td> emulsion</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> et</td> <td> et</td> <td> and</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> eod</td> <td> </td> <td> every other day</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> ex aq</td> <td> ex aqua</td> <td> in water</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> fl., fld.</td> <td> </td> <td> fluid</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> ft.</td> <td> fiat</td> <td> make; let it be made</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> g</td> <td> </td> <td> gram</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> gr</td> <td> </td> <td> grain</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> gtt(s)</td> <td> gutta(e)</td> <td> drop(s)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> H</td> <td> </td> <td> hypodermic</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> h, hr</td> <td> hora</td> <td> hour</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> h.s.</td> <td> hora somni</td> <td> at bedtime</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> h.s</td> <td> </td> <td> hour sleep or half-strength</td> <td> ambiguous meaning</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> ID</td> <td> </td> <td> intradermal</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> IJ, inj</td> <td> injectio</td> <td> injection</td> <td> mistaken for "IV", meaning intravenously</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> IM</td> <td> </td> <td> intramuscular (with respect to injections)</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> IN</td> <td> </td> <td> intranasal</td> <td> mistaken for "IM", meaning intramuscular, or "IV", meaning intravenously</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> IP</td> <td> </td> <td> intraperitoneal</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> IU</td> <td> </td> <td> international unit
</td> <td> mistaken for "IV" or "10", spell out "international unit"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> IV</td> <td> </td> <td> intravenous
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> IVP</td> <td> </td> <td> intravenous push</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> IVPB</td> <td> </td> <td> intravenous piggyback</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> kg</td> <td> </td> <td> kilogram</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> L.A.S.</td> <td> </td> <td> label as such</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> LCD</td> <td> </td> <td> coal tar solution
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> lin</td> <td> linimentum</td> <td> liniment</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> liq</td> <td> liquor</td> <td> solution</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> lot.</td> <td> </td> <td> lotion</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> MAE</td> <td> </td> <td> Moves All Extremities</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mane</td> <td> mane</td> <td> in the morning</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> M.</td> <td> misce</td> <td> mix</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> m, min</td> <td> minimum</td> <td> a minimum</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mcg</td> <td> </td> <td> microgram
</td> <td> Recommended replacement for "g" which may be confused with "mg"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> m.d.u.</td> <td> more dicto utendus</td> <td> to be used as directed</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mEq</td> <td> </td> <td> milliequivalent</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mg</td> <td> </td> <td> milligram</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mg/dL</td> <td> </td> <td> milligrams per deciliter</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> MgSO4</td> <td> </td> <td> magnesium sulfate
</td> <td> may be confused with "MSO4", spell out "magnesium sulfate"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mist.</td> <td> mistura</td> <td> mix</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mitte</td> <td> mitte</td> <td> send</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> mL</td> <td> </td> <td> millilitre</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> MS</td> <td> </td> <td> morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate
</td> <td> can mean either morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate, spell out either</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> MSO4</td> <td> </td> <td> morphine sulfate
</td> <td> may be confused with "MgSO4", spell out "morphine sulfate"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> nebul</td> <td> nebula</td> <td> a spray</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> N.M.T.</td> <td> </td> <td> not more than</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> noct.</td> <td> nocte</td> <td> at night</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> non rep.</td> <td> non repetatur</td> <td> no repeats</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> NPO</td> <td> nil per os</td> <td> nothing by mouth</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> NS</td> <td> </td> <td> normal saline (0.9%)
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> 1/2NS</td> <td> </td> <td> half normal saline (0.45%)
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> N.T.E.</td> <td> </td> <td> not to exceed</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> o_2</td> <td> </td> <td> both eyes, sometimes written as o₂
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> od</td> <td> omne in die</td> <td> every day/once daily (preferred to qd in the UK<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4">[4]</sup>)</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> od</td> <td> oculus dexter</td> <td> right eye</td> <td> "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.d.", meaning right ear, confusion with omne in die</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> om</td> <td> omne mane</td> <td> every morning</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> on</td> <td> omne nocte</td> <td> every night</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> o.p.d.</td> <td> </td> <td> once per day</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> o.s.</td> <td> oculus sinister</td> <td> left eye</td> <td> "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.s.", meaning left ear</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> o.u.</td> <td> oculus uterque</td> <td> both eyes</td> <td> "o" can be mistaken as an "a" which could read "a.u.", meaning both ears</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> oz</td> <td> </td> <td> ounce
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> per</td> <td> per</td> <td> by or through</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> p.c.</td> <td> post cibum</td> <td> after meals</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> pig./pigm.</td> <td> pigmentum</td> <td> paint</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> p.m.</td> <td> post meridiem
</td> <td> evening or afternoon</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> p.o.</td> <td> per os
</td> <td> by mouth or orally</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> p.r.</td> <td> per rectum
</td> <td> by rectum</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> PRN, prn</td> <td> pro re nata
</td> <td> as needed</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> pulv.</td> <td> pulvis</td> <td> powder</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> PV</td> <td> per vaginam
</td> <td> via the vagina</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q</td> <td> quaque</td> <td> every, per</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.a.d.</td> <td> quaque alternis die</td> <td> every other day</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.a.m.</td> <td> quaque die ante meridiem</td> <td> every day before noon</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.d.s.</td> <td> quater die sumendus</td> <td> four times a day</td> <td> can be mistaken for "qd" (every day)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.p.m.</td> <td> quaque die post meridiem</td> <td> every day after noon or every evening</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.h.</td> <td> quaque hora</td> <td> every hour</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.h.s.</td> <td> quaque hora somni</td> <td> every night at bedtime</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.1 h, q.1</td> <td> quaque 1 hora</td> <td> every 1 hour; (can replace "1" with other numbers)</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> q.d., q1d</td> <td> quaque die</td> <td> every day</td> <td> mistaken for "QOD" or "qds," spell out "every day" or "daily"</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> q.i.d.</td> <td> quater in die</td> <td> four times a day</td> <td> can be mistaken for "qd" or "qod," write out "four times a day"</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> q4PM</td> <td> </td> <td> at 4pm</td> <td> mistaken to mean every four hours</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> q.o.d.</td> <td> </td> <td> every other day</td> <td> mistaken for "QD," spell out "every other day"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> qqh</td> <td> quater quaque hora</td> <td> every four hours</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> q.s.</td> <td> quantum sufficiat</td> <td> a sufficient quantity</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> QWK</td> <td> </td> <td> every week</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> R</td> <td> </td> <td> rectal</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> rep., rept.</td> <td> repetatur</td> <td> repeats</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> RL, R/L</td> <td> </td> <td> Ringer's lactate
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> s
</td> <td> sine</td> <td> without (usually written with a bar on top of the "s")</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> s.a.</td> <td> secundum artem</td> <td> according to the art (accepted practice); use your judgement</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> SC, subc, subcut, subq, SQ</td> <td> </td> <td> subcutaneous</td> <td> "SC" can be mistaken for "SL," meaning sublingual; "SQ" can be mistaken for "5Q" meaning five every dose</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> s.i.d/SID</td> <td> semel in die</td> <td> once a day</td> <td> used exclusively in veterinary medicine</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> sig</td> <td> signa</td> <td> write on label</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> SL</td> <td> </td> <td> sublingually, under the tongue</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> sol</td> <td> solutio</td> <td> solution</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> s.o.s., si op. sit</td> <td> si opus sit</td> <td> if there is a need</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> ss</td> <td> semis</td> <td> one half or sliding scale</td> <td> mistaken for "55" or "1/2"</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> SSI, SSRI</td> <td> </td> <td> sliding scale insulin or sliding scale regular insulin
</td> <td> mistaken to mean "strong solution of iodine" or "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> SNRI (antidepressant)</td> <td> </td> <td> Serotoninnorepinephrine reuptake inhibitor</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> SSRI (antidepressant)</td> <td> </td> <td> selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (a specific class of antidepressant)
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> stat</td> <td> statim</td> <td> immediately</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> SubQ</td> <td> </td> <td> subcutaneously</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> supp</td> <td> suppositorium</td> <td> suppository
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> susp</td> <td> </td> <td> suspension</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> syr</td> <td> syrupus</td> <td> syrup</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> tab</td> <td> tabella</td> <td> tablet</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> tal., t</td> <td> talus</td> <td> such</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> tbsp</td> <td> </td> <td> tablespoon
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> troche</td> <td> trochiscus</td> <td> lozenge</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> t.d.s.</td> <td> ter die sumendum</td> <td> three times a day</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> t.i.d.</td> <td> ter in die</td> <td> three times a day</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> t.i.w.</td> <td> </td> <td> three times a week</td> <td> mistaken for twice a week</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> top.</td> <td> </td> <td> topical</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> T.P.N.</td> <td> </td> <td> total parenteral nutrition
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> tr, tinc., tinct.</td> <td> </td> <td> tincture</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> tsp</td> <td> </td> <td> teaspoon
</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FF4D4D">
<td> U</td> <td> </td> <td> unit</td> <td> mistaken for a "4", "0" or "cc", spell out "unit"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> u.d., ut. dict.</td> <td> ut dictum</td> <td> as directed</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> ung.</td> <td> unguentum</td> <td> ointment</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> U.S.P.</td> <td> </td> <td> United States Pharmacopoeia
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> vag</td> <td> </td> <td> vaginally</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> w</td> <td> </td> <td> with</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> w/a</td> <td> </td> <td> while awake</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> wf</td> <td> </td> <td> with food (with meals)</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> w/o, s</td> <td> </td> <td> without</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> X</td> <td> </td> <td> times</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> Y.O.</td> <td> </td> <td> years old</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> g</td> <td> </td> <td> microgram
</td> <td> mistaken for "mg", meaning milligram
</td> </tr>
<tr>
<th colspan="4"> <b>List of symbols used in prescriptions</b>
</th> </tr>
<tr>
<th> Symbols</th> <th> Latin</th> <th> Meaning</th> <th> Possible confusion</th> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> @
</td> <td> </td> <td> at</td> <td> mistaken for "2"; spell out "at"</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> ></td> <td> </td> <td> greater than</td> <td> mistaken for a "7"</td> </tr>
<tr style="background: #FFA64D">
<td> </td>
<td> </td> <td> less than</td> <td> mistaken for an "L"</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td> </td> <td> recipe</td> <td> take, take this, or take thus</td> <td> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
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