PHRM 5200: Commonly Used Abbreviations

before meals

ac

right ear

ad

morning

am

left ear

as

each ear

au

of each

aa

up to

ad

at pleasure, freely

ad lib

water

aq

around the clock

ATC

twice a day

bid

with

c

divide

div

give of such doses

dtd

dispense as written

DAW

5% dextrose solution

D5W

make

F or ft

fluid

fl

drop

gtt

hour

h or hr

bedtime

hs

intake and output

I/O

intramuscular

IM

injection

inj

intravenous

IV

mix

M

mix to make

m ft.

metered dose inhaler

MDI

nausea and vomiting

N&V

nothing by mouth

NPO

normal saline

NS

not to exceed

NTE

nitroglycerin

NTG

right eye

od

left eye

os

both eyes

ou

over the counter

OTC

after meals

pc

afternoon/evening

pm

by mouth

po

when required, as needed

prn

powder

pulv

once daily

QDaily

four times a day

qid

quantity sufficient

qs

a sufficient quantity to make

qs ad

Recipe, you take

Rx

without

s

write on label

Sig

sublingual

SL

subcutaneously

SQ or subq

one-half

ss

immediately

stat

three times a day

tid

three times a week

tiw

tablespoonful

tbsp

teaspoonful

tsp

to keep (vein) open

TKO

telephone order

TO

total parenteral nutrition

TPN

use as directed

ud

ointment

ung

verbal order

VO