Common SIG Codes

& Other Abbreviations Appearing on Prescriptions

ā

before

aa

of each

aaa

apply to affected area(s)

ac

before meal(s)

ad

up to/right ear

ad lib

at pleasure, freely

as

left ear

au

each ear/both ears

am/a.m.

morning

bid

two (2) times a day

biw

two (2) times a week

w/c/c̄

with

cap(s)

capsule(s)

cc (interchangeable with mL)

cubic centimeter (interchangeable with milliliter)

CCT

crude coal tar

chart/chartulate

powder/powder paper

comp

compound

COPD

chronic pulmonary obstructive disease

cr/crm

cream

d

day

disp

dispense

div

divide

e.m.p./ud/ut dict

as directed

gtt(s)

drop(s)

g/gm

gram

h/hr

hour(s)

hs

at bedtime

i, ii, iii, iv, x, etc.

number of units

mr

may repeat

mr x

may repeat _ times

non rep./NR

do not repeat/no refills

od

right eye

os

left eye

ou

each eye/both eyes

oz

ounces (avoirdupois)

p̄/post

after

pc

after meals

per

by

pm/p.m.

afternoon/evening

po

by mouth

pr

per rectum/rectally

prn/s.o.s/sos

as needed

pv

per vagina/vaginally

q

every

qd

every day

qh

every hour

qod

every other day

qid

four (4) times a day

qs

a sufficient quantity

qs ad

a sufficient quantity to make

r

rectal

s̄

without

sc/sq/subc/subq/subcut

subcutaneous

sig

write on label

sl

sublingual

stat

immediately/now

sol

solution

ss.

one-half (1/2)

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

svr

alcohol

syr.

syrup

tab(s)

tablet(s)

tid

three (3) times a day

tiw

three (3) times a week

tbsp

tablespoonful

tsp

teaspoonful

oint/ung

ointment

IU/U/u

international unite/units

vol

volume

wa/w.a./(w/a)

while awake