Pharmacy Abbreviations

Flashcards for routes of administration, frequency, and key terminology.

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Right Ear

as

Left Ear

au

Both Ears

bu

Buccal

im

Intramuscular

it

Intrathecal

od

Right Eye

os

Left Eye

ou

Both Eyes

po

By Mouth

pr

Rectal

pv

Vaginal

sc, sq, sub q

Subcutaneous

sl

Sublingual (under the tongue)

qh

Every hour

qid

Four times daily

tid

Three times daily

wa

While awake

ac

Before meals

bid

Twice Daily

hs

At bedtime

pc

After meals

prn

As needed

ADE

adverse drug effect

ADR

adverse drug reaction

amt

amount

AWP

average wholesale price

cmpd or cpd

compound

conc

concentration

D5/1/2NS

dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride

D5NS

dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

DRG

diagnosis-related group

dil

diluent (dilution)

D/C or DC

discontinue

disp.

dispense

DAW

dispense as written

DEA

Drug Enforcement Administration

DUR

drug utilization review

elix

elixir

EC

enteric coated (prevents dissolving in acidic stomach pH to be broken down in small intestine)

XL

extended release (active ingredients are released slowly in prolonged period)

fl

fluid

FDA

Food and Drug Administration

LR

lactated ringer’s solution (electrolyte solution used to rehydrate patients)

liq

liquid

lot

lotion

MAC

maximum allowable cost

MDI

metered dose inhaler

NF

national formulary

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NS

normal saline (sodium chloride 0.9%)

NPO

nothing by mouth

oint or ung

ointment

OTC

over the counter

pt

patient

ped

pediatric

pwdr

powder

Rx

prescription

C-I

Schedule I

C-II

Schedule II

C-III

Schedule III

C-IV

Schedule IV

C-V

Schedule V

soln

solution

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

vit

vitamin

aq or aqua

water

WAC

wholesale acquisition cost

gtt or gtts

drop or drops

amp

ampule

cap

capsule

mEq

milliequivalent