Symbols & Abbreviations

½ NS

½ NS

half strength normal saline (0.45% NaCl)

a.c.

before meals

a.d.

right ear

a.s., a.l., AL

left ear

Aa, a̅a̅

of each

ad

up to

ad lib

at pleasure, freely

elix

elixir

Alb.

albumin

am, AM

in the morning

amp

ampul

APAP

acetaminophen

Aq (ex aq)

water (in water)

aq. pur.

purified water

ATC

around the clock

au

each ear

bid, b.i.d.

twice a day

BP

blood pressure

BS

blood sugar

BSA

body surface area

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

c. , c̅

with

cap, caps

capsule

CBC

complete blood count

cc, cm³

cubic centimeter (=milliliter)

chart

powder in a paper

CHF

congestive heart failure

CIVI

continuous (24 hour) intravenous infusion

Cr

Creatinine

crm, crem

cream

d

day

d.t.d. , DTD

give of such doses

D10W

dextrose 10% in water

D5LR

Dextrose 5% in lactated Ringer’s

D5NS

dextrose 5% in normal saline

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

disp

dispense

div

divide

e.m.p.

in the manner prescribed

e.o.d.

every other day

et

and

f, fl

fluid

F, ft

make

g

gram

gal

gallon

flℨss, fℨss

half-fluidounce (around 15mL)

flℨ , fℨ

fluid dram

gl. aq.

glass of water

gtt

drops

h, hr.

hour

HA

headache

Hb

hemoglobin

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

HR

heart rate

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

hs

at bedtime

HT, HTN

hypertension

i

one

i.c.

between meals

ID

intradermal

ii

two

IM

intramuscular

inj

injection

IOP

intraocular pressure

iso.

isotonic

IV

intravenous

iv

four

IV drip

intravenous infusion

IVB

intravenous bolus

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggy back

kg

kilogram

KVO

keep vein open

L

liter

lb

pound

liq

liquid

LR

Lactated Ringer’s

M

mix

m&n

morning and night

m. ft.

mix to make

m²

square meter

max.

maximum

mcg

microgram

MDI

metered dose inhaler

mEq

milliequivalents

mg/kg

milligrams (of drug) per kilogram (body weight)

mg/m²

milligrams (of drug) per square meter (of body surface area)

MI

myocardial infarction

min

minute

min.

minimum

mOsm, mOsmol

milliosmols

MVI

multivitamins infusion

n&v, N/V

nausea and vomiting

neb

nebulizer

NGT

nasogastric tube

No., #

number

noct

night

non rep., NR

do not repeat

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline (0.9% NaCl)