med calc abbreviation

ac

before meals

qod

every other day

pc

after meals

daily

every day, 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 or q2°

every 2 hrs

q4h or q4°

every 4 hrs

q6h or q6°

every 6 hrs

q8h or q8°

every 8 hrs 

q12h or q12°

every 12 hrs

prn

as needed

3 times weekly

three times per week

biw

twice per week

HHN

handheld nebulizer

IM

intramuscularly 

IV

intravenously 

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

NEB

nebulizer

NGT or ng

nasogastric tube

what to write out

right ear

left ear

each ear

in the left eye

in the right eye

in both eyes

subcutaneously, Sub q

po or PO

by mouth

pr or PR

in the rectum

SL

sublingual, under the tongue 

S & S

swish and swallow

cap, caps

Capsule

• medication is encased in a gelatin shell

CR

controlled release

• indicates that the drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action. therefore, the drug is given less frequently

LA

long acting

• indicates that the drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action. therefore, the drug is given less frequently

SA

sustained action

• indicates that the drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action. therefore, the drug is given less frequently

SR

slow release or sustained release

• indicates that the drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action. therefore, the drug is given less frequently

DS

double strength

• indicates that the drug has been prepared in a form that allows extended action. therefore, the drug is given less frequently

EC

enteric coated

• the tablet is coated with a substance that will not dissolve in the acid secretions of the stomach; instead, it dissolves in the more alkaline secretions of the intestines 

el, elix

elixir

• a drug is dissolved in hydroalcoholic sweetened base 

sol

solution

• the drug is contained in a clear liquid preparation

sp

spirit

• this is an alcoholic solution of a volatile substance (e.g., spirit of ammonia)

sup, supp

suppository

• this is a solid, cylindrically shaped drug that can be inserted into a body opening (e.g., the rectum or vagina)

susp

suspension

• small particles of a drug are dispersed in a liquid base and must be shaken before being poured; gels and magmas

syr

syrup 

• a sugar is dissolved in a liquid medication and flavored ot disguise the taste 

tab, tabs

tablet

• medication is compressed or molded into a solid form; additional ingredients are used to shape and color it 

tr, tinct.

tincture

• this is a liquid alcoholic or hydroalcoholic dolution of a drug 

ung, oint. 

ointment 

• this is a semisolid drug preparation that is applied to the skin (for external use only)

KVO

keep vein open

TKO

to keep open

discontinue

discontinue

NKA

no known allergies

• this is an important assessment that is noted on the medication record of a client 

NKDA

no known drug allergies

• this is an important assessment that is noted on the medication record of a client 

formula method

desire / have x supply = x

• desire = the medication order

• have = strength of the drug supplied

• supply = the unit form of medication is supplied in (tabs, caps, pill, mL, mEq, etc)

• X = how much to administer

dimensional analysis

supply: the unit form of medication is supplied in

have: strength of the drug supplied

desire: the medication order

X: how much to administer