IPCaL - Common SIGs & Abbreviations, entire list, 2025

AAA, aa (in medication directions)

apply to affected area, affected area (in medication directions)

ad

right ear

as

left ear

au

both ears; each ear

IM

Intramuscular; into the muscle

inh

inhale, inhalation

IV

intravenous

od

right eye

os

left eye

ou

both eyes; each eye

po

by mouth, orally

pr, rect.

into the rectum; rectally

pv, V, vag.

into the vagina; vaginally

SubQ, SC, SQ

under the skin; subcutaneously

SL

under the tongue; sublingually

CIVI

continuous intravenous infusion

ID

intradermal; into the dermis

IT

intrathecal (under the membrane covering the brain or spinal cord)

IVP

intravenous push

IVB

intravenous bolus (a single dose through the IV line)

IVPB

intravenous piggyback (a secondary IV solution whose output is joined into the main IV line carrying the primary IV solution)

IV drip

intravenous infusion

NGT

nasogastric tube

per neb

by nebulizer

top.

topically; onto the skin

a, a̅ (in medication directions)

before (in medication directions)

ac

before meals

ATC

around the clock

am

morning

bid

twice daily; two times per day

d (in medication directions)

day (in medication directions)

h, hr

hour

hs

at bedtime

min

minute

p, p̅

after

pc

after meals

pm

afternoon; evening

q

every; each

q__h, q__hr, q__°

every__ hour

qd

every day

qhs

every day at bedtime; every night at bedtime

stat

immediately; now

tid

three times daily; three times per day

wk

week

1/d, 2/d, 3/d, etc

1 per day, 2 per day, 3 per day, etc

x7d, x2wk, etc

for 7 days, for two weeks, etc

ic

between meals

m & n

morning and night

noct

at night

qid

four times daily

qod

every other day

c, c̅, w/ (in medication directions)

with (in medication directions)

DAW

dispense as written

d/c

discontinue (or discharge)

n/v, NV

nausea & vomiting

prn

as needed; when required

s, s̅, w/o (in medication directions)

without (in medication directions)

ud

as directed

ug, uf, uat

until gone; until finished; until all taken

wa

while awake

ad lib

freely; as desired

admin

administer

aq, H2O

water

et

and

MR

may repeat

NTE

not to exceed

rep

repeat

NPO

nothing by mouth

NR

no refills

ss, s̅s̅ (in roman numerals)

one-half (in roman numerals)

i, ii, iii

1, 2, 3

v

5

x (in roman numerals)

10 (in roman numerals)

L (in roman numerals)

50 (in roman numerals)

C (in roman numerals)

100 (in roman numerals)

D (in roman numerals)

500 (in roman numerals)

M (in roman numerals)

1000 (in roman numerals)

g

grams

mg

milligram

mcg, µg

microgram

kg

kilogram

L (in measurement)

liter (in measurement)

mL

milliliter

m (in measurement)

meter (in measurement)

cm

centimeter

km

kilometer

cc, cm3

cubic centimeter (1 mL)

lb

pound

gtt, gtts

drop, drops

oz

ounce

pt (in measurement)

pint (in measurement)

tsp

teaspoon; teaspoonful (5 mL)

Tbsp

tablespoon; tablespoonful (15 mL)

u

units

fl oz

fluid ounce (30 mL)

gal

gallon

gr

grain

IU

International Units

mEq

milliequivalent

mOsm

milliosmole