Medical Abbreviations

RMA Abbreviations

ā

before

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

AM, am

morning

amp

ampule

bid

two times a day

c̅

with

cap

capsule

Cl

chloride

cm

centimeter

DS

double strength

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

EC

enteric coated

elix

elixir

ER

extended release

Fe

iron

fl

fluid

Gm, g

gram

gtt

drop

h, hr

hour

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

K

potassium

KCL

potassium chloride

Kg, Kilo

kilogram

KVO

keep vein open

L

liter

LA

long acting

lb

pounds

LR

lactated Ringer's

mcg

micrograms

mEq

milliequivalents

mg

milligram

ml, mL

milliliters

mm

millimeters

Na

sodium

NaCl

sodium chloride

NEB

nebulizer

NG

nasogastric

noc

at night

NPO, npo

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline, 0.9% NaCl

oint

ointment

OTC

over the counter

oz

ounce

p̄

after

pc

after meal

PM, pm

afternoon

PO, po

by mouth/orally

PRN, prn

whenever necessary

pt

pint

qh

every hour

q2h

every two hours

q4h

every 4 hours

qid

4 times a day

tid

three times a day

QNS

quantity not sufficient

qs

quantity sufficient

qt

quart

R, pr

per rectal

supp

suppository

SL

under the tongue

sol

solution

SR

sustained release

stat

as soon as possible

subcu

subcutaneous

tab

tablet

tbsp, tbs, T

tablespoon

TO

telephone order

tsp

teaspoon

vag

vaginal

VO

verbal order

vit

vitamin

agit

shake

aq

aqueous

BSA

Body Surface Area

cc

cubic cm

d/c - D/C

discontinued

dil

dilute

dr

dram

Dx

diagnosis

emul

emultion

ext

extract

G

guage

gal

gallon

gr

grain

hs

bedtime

inj

injection

non rep

do not repeat

OD

right eye

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

pulv

powder

Rx

prescription

sig

write on label

top

topical

wt

wait

Ht

height

Hx

history