Drug Abbreviations, Labels & Packaging

ac

Before meals

pc

After meals

Daily

Everyday/Daily

bid

Twice a day

tid

Three times a day

qid

Four times a day

qh

Every hour

At bedtime

At bedtime/hour of sleep

qn

Every night

stat

immediately

q2h

every 2 hours

q4h

every 4 hours

q6h

every 6 hours

q8h

every 8 hours

q12h

every 12 hours

Every other day

Interpreted by days of the month, do not use QOD

prn

As needed, combined with time abbreviations (ex: q4h prn)

3 times weekly

Days of the week, 3x weekly

biw

2x weekly, relates to days of the week

The ears

Write out which ones (ex: Right ear, left ear, both ears)

HHN

handheld nebulizer

IM

intramuscularly

IV

intravenously

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

NEB

nebulizer

NGT or NG

nasogastric tube

Each eyes

Write out each eye(s) (ex: Right eye, left eye, both eyes)

po or PO

by mouth

pr or PR

in rectum

SL

sublingual, under tongue

Sub q

must write out: subcutaneously

S&S

swish and swallow