Pharmaceutical Mathematics - Medical Abbreviations

aa. or aa with a bar across the top

of each

a.c.

before meals

ad

up to
OR to make

a.d.

right ear

ad. lib.

as tolerated

admin.

administer

a.m.

morning

amp.

ampul

APAP

acetaminophen

aq.

water

a.s.

left ear

ASA

aspirin

ATC

around the clock

a.u.

each ear

b.i.d.

twice a day

BMD

bone mineral density

BM

bowel movement

BP

blood pressure

BS

blood sugar

BSA

body surface area

c. or c with a bar across the top

with

cap.

capsule

cc.

cubic centimeter (equiv. mL)

CC

chief complaint

CAD

coronary artery disease

CHF

congestive heart failure

comp.

compound

d.

day

dil.

dilute

disc. or DC

discontinue

disp.

dispense

div.

divide

DTD or d.t.d.

dispense or give of such doses

DW

distilled deionized water

DW

dextrose in water

D5LR

dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer’s

D5NS

dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9% NaCl)

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

D10W

dextrose 10% in water

elix.

elixir

et

and

ex aq.

in water

f. or fl.

fluid

ft.

make

G

gram

g

gram

gm

gram

GI

gastrointestinal

gl. aq.

glass of water

GFR

glomerular filtration rate

gr

grain

gtt.

drop

GU

genitourinary

h..

hour

h.hr.

hour

HR

heart rate

HA

headache

HBP

high blood pressure

HC

hydrocortisone

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

h.s.

at bedtime

HS

at bedtime

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

I.M.

intramuscular

inj.

injection

iso.

isotonic

IU

international units

IV

intravenous

I.V.

intravenous

IVP

intravenous pylogram

IVPB

intravenous piggy back

m & n

morning and night

M.

mix

min

minute

m² or M²

square meter

mcg (or µg)

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

mg/kg

milligram (of drug) per kilogram (of body weight)

mg/m²

milligram (of drug) per square meter (of body surface area)

mL (or ml)

milliliter

mL/h (or ml/hr)

milliliter (of drug solution) administered per hour (as through IV administration)

mOsm or mOsmol

milliosmole

MI

myocardial infarction

MS

multiple sclerosis

N & V

nausea and vomiting

NF

National Formulary

NMT

not more than

No.

number

noct.

night

N.R.

do not repeat

NPO

nothing by mouth

N.S. or NS

normal saline

1/2NS

half-strength normal saline

NTG

nitroglycerin

o.d.

right eye

o.s.

left eye

o.l.

left eye

o.u.

each eye