Common Medical Abbreviations

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards defining common medical abbreviations, measurement units, and administration instructions derived from the lecture notes.

MAR

Medication Administration Record

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

cap

capsule

tab

tablet

cr

cream

ODT

oral dissolving tablet

CD

controlled-dose

LA

long-acting

DS

double-strength

supp

suppository

CR

controlled release

SR

slow-release

XR

extended-release

emul

emulsion

XL

extra-long-acting

elix

elixir

fld

fluid

gtt

drop

mixt

mixture

sol

solution

susp

suspension

AD, OD

Right ear, eye

AS, OS

Left ear, eye

AU, OU

Both ears, eyes

bucc

buccal

GT

gastrostomy tube

MDI

metered dose inhaler

NG (T)

nasogastric (tube)

NPO

nothing by mouth

PO

by mouth

SL, subl

sublingual

Top

topical

Vag

given per vagina

hypo

hypodermic

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

subcut / subq / SQ

subcutaneous

PN

parenteral nutrition

a or ■

before

p■

after

c■

with

s■

without

ac

before meals

pc

after meals

ad lib

as desired

bid

two time a day

tid

three times a day

qid

four times a day

on call

give when the department calls for the patient

prn

as needed

q

each or every

qh

every hour

q2h

every 2 hours

q4h

every 4 hours

q6h

every 6 hours

q8h

every 8 hours

q12h

every 12 hours

qhs

every night at bedtime

qam or q am

every morning

qpm or q pm

every evening

stat

immediately and only one dose

gr

grain

g

gram

mg

milligram

mcg

microgram

mL

milliliter

L

liter

kg

kilogram

oz

ounce

lb(s)

pound(s)

pt

pint

min

minute

qt

quart

gal

gallon

sec

second

tsp

teaspoon

tbs

tablespoon

$$m^2$$

meters squared