Common Medical Abbreviations and Medications

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering common medical abbreviations, patient assessment terminology, diagnostic tests, diseases, and frequently used medications as provided in the lecture notes.

Pt

Patient

VS

Vital signs

WNL

Within normal limits

A&O x3

Alert and oriented to person, place, time

NAD

No acute distress

LOC

Level of consciousness

I&O

Intake and output

PRN

As needed

PO

By mouth

IV

Intravenous

IM

Intramuscular

SQ / SubQ

Subcutaneous

ID

Intradermal

PR

Per rectum

SL

Sublingual

q

Every

qd

Every day

bid

Twice a day

tid

Three times a day

qid

Four times a day

qhs

At bedtime

ac

Before meals

pc

After meals

Stat

Immediately

CBC

Complete blood count

CMP / BMP

Comprehensive / Basic metabolic panel

CXR

Chest X-ray

EKG / ECG

Electrocardiogram

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

CT

Computed tomography

UA

Urinalysis

ABG

Arterial blood gas

HTN

Hypertension

DM

Diabetes mellitus

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CHF

Congestive heart failure

MI

Myocardial infarction

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

UTI

Urinary tract infection

URI

Upper respiratory infection

L / R

Left / Right

Bilateral

Both sides

Supine

Lying on back

Prone

Lying on stomach

Amb

Ambulate

ROM

Range of motion

DNR

Do not resuscitate

POA

Power of attorney

AMA

Against medical advice

H&P

History and physical

SOAP

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan

Dx

Diagnosis

Tx

Treatment

Hx

History

Sx

Symptoms

Rx

Prescription / Treatment

Px

Prognosis

Fx

Fracture

c/o

Complains of

s/p

Status post

BP

Blood pressure

HR

Heart rate

RR

Respiratory rate

T

Temperature

$O_2$ sat

Oxygen saturation

BMI

Body mass index

Wt / Ht

Weight / Height

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Analgesic / Antipyretic used for pain and fever.

Ibuprofen (Advil)

NSAID used for pain and inflammation.

Aspirin (ASA)

NSAID / Antiplatelet used for pain and clot prevention.

Morphine

Opioid analgesic used for severe pain.

Oxycodone

Opioid analgesic used for moderate–severe pain.

Amoxicillin

Penicillin antibiotic used for ear, throat, and respiratory infections.

Azithromycin (Z-Pak)

Macrolide antibiotic used for respiratory infections and STIs.

Ciprofloxacin

Fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for UTIs and GI infections.

Cephalexin (Keflex)

Cephalosporin antibiotic used for skin and UTI.

Vancomycin

Glycopeptide antibiotic used for serious infections like MRSA.

Lisinopril

ACE inhibitor used for hypertension; often ends in the suffix -pril.

Losartan

ARB (Angiotensin Receptor Blocker) used for hypertension; often ends in the suffix -sartan.

Metoprolol

Beta blocker used for HTN and heart rate control; often ends in the suffix -olol.

Amlodipine

Calcium channel blocker used for HTN and angina.

Furosemide (Lasix)

Diuretic used for CHF and edema.

Metformin

Biguanide medication used for Type 2 diabetes.

Insulin

Hormone used for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Albuterol

Bronchodilator used for asthma and COPD; known as the rescue inhaler.

Fluticasone

Corticosteroid used for inflammation.

Prednisone

Corticosteroid used for asthma and autoimmune conditions.

Omeprazole

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used for GERD and ulcers; often ends in the suffix -prazole.

Famotidine

H2 blocker used for GERD.

Ondansetron (Zofran)

Antiemetic used for nausea and vomiting.

Loperamide

Antidiarrheal medication.

Sertraline / Fluoxetine

SSRI medications used for depression and anxiety.

Lorazepam (Ativan) / Diazepam (Valium)

Benzodiazepines used for anxiety and seizures; often end in the suffix -pam.

Heparin / Warfarin (Coumadin)

Anticoagulants used to prevent clots.

Levothyroxine

Hormone replacement for hypothyroidism.

Oxytocin (Pitocin)

Hormone used for labor induction.