Basic pharmacy abbreviations

Right ear

a.d.

left ear

a.s.

each ear

a.u.

left eye

o.s.

each eye

o.u.

right eye

o.d.

by mouth

po

ophthalmic (eye)

opth

subcutaneous

sq

subcutaneous

sc

topical

top

intramuscular

IM

intravenous

IV

by nebulizer

per neb

injection

inj

vaginally

pv

vaginally

vag

rectally

pr

sublingually

sl

daily

qd

twice a day

bid

three times a day

tid

qid

four times a day

qod

every other day

ac

before meals

pc

after meals

hs

at bedtime

prn

as needed

am

morning

pm

evening

ā

before

p̄

after

h

hour

hr

hour

º

hour

q

every

qh

every hour

qw

every week

qow

every other week

stat

immediately

WA

while awake

ATC

around the clock

tab(s)

tablet(s)

cap(s)

capsule(s)

supp

suppository

gtt(s)

drop(s)

cm

cream

elix

elixir

ung

ointment

oint

ointment

soln

solution

susp

suspension

syp

syrup

tsp

teaspoon

tbsp

tablespoon

u

unit

fl. oz

fluid ounce

G

gram

g

gram

gm

gram

kg

kilogram

L

Liter

mL

Milliliter

mEq

Milliequivalent

mcg

Microgram

ug

Microgram

mg

Milligram

gr

Grain

cc

Cubic centimeter

qs

Quantity sufficient