Pharmacy Technician Common Abbreviations

bid

twice daily

tid

3 times a day

qid

4 times a day

prn

as needed

q_____h

every ____hours

hs

at bedtime

stat

given immediately, now

ac

before meals, before food

pc

after meals, after food

am/q am

morning, each morning

pm

afternoon or evening

UD

use as directed

au

each ear

as, al

left ear (auris sinister)

ad

right ear (auris dexter)

ou

both eyes (oculus uterque)

os, ol

left eye

od

right eye (oculus dexter)

po

by mouth (per os)

pr

rectally, into the rectum

pv

vaginally, into the vagina

IVPB

intravenous piggyback; medication prepared in a small volume of fluid is attached to an IV (which is already infusing fluid into a patient's vein) at specified times

SC, SQ, subc, subq*, subcut

subcutaneous

im, IM

intramuscular

iv, IV

intravenous

id, ID

intradermal

inj

injection

sl, SL

sublingually, under the tongue

inh

inhalation, inhale

tab

tablet

cap

capsule

sol

solution

susp

suspension

aq

aqueous or waer

ung, oint

Ointment

[This is a semisolid drug preparation that is applied to the skin (for external use only).]

pulv

powder

IU*

international unit

solv

solvent

elix

elixir (liquid medication)

supp

suppository

(solid, bullet-shaped preparations designed for administration PR)

gtt

drip/drops

syr

syrup ( a sugar is dissolved in a liquid medication and flavored to disguise the taste)

SR, XR, XL

slow/extended release

dx

diagnosis

c (with line over it), w

with

s (with a line over it), w/o

without

aa

of each

UD

used as directed

qs, qs ad

add sufficient quantity to make

crm

cream

aq ad

add water up to

ad

up to, to

sig, SIg

label/directions, write on label

qs

a sufficient quanity/as much as needed

kg

kilogram

g, G, gm

gram

mg

milligram

mcg

microgram (one millionth of a gram); also abbreviated µg

mEq

milliequivalent

ml

milliliter, millilitre

L

liter

tsp

teaspoon (=5ml)

tbsp

tablespoon (=3tsp) (=5 ml)

i, ii

one, two, etc.

ss (or ss with a line above it)

one half

syr

syrup

liq

liquid

fl oz

fluid ounce (30ml)

top, Top

topically, locally

DAW

dispense as written

disp

dispense

NR, 0 with line through it

no refills

ud

use as directed

amp

ampule