SIG Codes

MS / MSO4

Meaning:

Morphine Sulfate

Safer Wording:

Write ‘morphine sulfate’. Can be confused with ‘magnesium sulfate’ (MgSO4). (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

Q.O.D / q.o.d / QOD

Meaning:
Every other day
Safer Wording:
Write ‘every other day’. Mistaken as ‘qd’ (daily) or ‘qid’ (four times daily). (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

SC / SQ / sub q

Meaning:
Subcutaneous(ly)
Safer Wording:
Use ‘SUBQ’ (all caps) or ‘subcutaneous(ly)’. ‘SQ’ can be misread as ‘5 every’, ‘sc’ as ‘sl’ (sublingual)

IU

Meaning:

International Unit(s)

Safer Wording:

Write 'unit(s)'. Mistaken as 'IV' (intravenous) or '10'. (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

µg

Meaning:

Microgram

Safer Wording:

Use 'mcg'. 'µg' can be misread as 'mg' (milligram).

.5 mg

Meaning:

0.5 mg (example)

Safer Wording:

Use a leading zero: 0.5 mg. Lack of a leading zero makes it easy to misread as 5 mg. (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

Q.D. / q.d. / QD

Meaning:

Every day

Safer Wording:

Write 'daily'. Mistaken as 'q.i.d.' (four times daily). (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

1.0 mg

Meaning:

1 mg (example)

Safer Wording:

Never use a trailing zero: 1 mg. Can be misread as 10 mg if the decimal is missed. (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

cc

Meaning:

Cubic centimeters

Safer Wording:

Use 'mL' (milliliters). 'cc' can be misread as 'u' (units).

OD, OS, OU

Meaning:

Right eye, left eye, each eye

Safer Wording:

Write 'right eye', 'left eye', 'each eye'. Often confused with AD/AS/AU (ear).

AD, AS, AU

Meaning:

Right ear, left ear, each ear

Safer Wording:

Write 'right ear', 'left ear', 'each ear'. Often confused with OD/OS/OU (eye).

U / u

Meaning:

Unit(s)

Safer Wording:

Write 'unit(s)'. Mistaken as zero (0), four (4), or 'cc'. (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

MgSO4

Meaning:

Magnesium Sulfate

Safer Wording:

Write 'magnesium sulfate'. Can be confused with 'morphine sulfate' (MS/MSO4). (ISMP/TJC Do Not Use List)

ac

Meaning:

Ante cebum (before meals)

Safer Wording:

Before meals

tid

Meaning:

Ter in die (three times a day)

Safer Wording:

Three times daily

qhs

Meaning:

Quaque hora somni (every night at bedtime)

Safer Wording:

At bedtime

q6h

Meaning:

Quaque 6 hora (every 6 hours)

Safer Wording:

Every 6 hours

bid

Meaning:

Bis in die (twice a day)

Safer Wording:

Twice daily

qid

Meaning:

Quater in die (four times a day)

Safer Wording:

Four times daily

pc

Meaning:

Post cebum (after meals)

Safer Wording:

After meals

q4h

Meaning:

Quaque 4 hora (every 4 hours)

Safer Wording:

Every 4 hours

DAW

Meaning:

Dispense As Written

Safer Wording:

Dispense As Written (No generic substitution)

stat

Meaning:

Statim (immediately)

Safer Wording:

Immediately / Now

NR

Meaning:

No Refills

Safer Wording:

No refills

prn

Meaning:

Pro re nata (as needed)

Safer Wording:

As needed

IM

Meaning:

Intramuscular

Safer Wording:

Into the muscle

gtt

Meaning:

Gutta (drop)

Safer Wording:

Drop(s)

top

Meaning:

Topical

Safer Wording:

Apply to skin

pr

Meaning:

Per rectum (by rectum)

Safer Wording:

Rectally

sl

Meaning:

Sublingual

Safer Wording:

Under the tongue

IV

Meaning:

Intravenous

Safer Wording:

Into the vein

po

Meaning:

Per os (by mouth)

Safer Wording:

By mouth or Orally

cap

Meaning:

Capsule

Safer Wording:

Capsule

tab

Meaning:

Tablet

Safer Wording:

Tablet

sol

Meaning:

Solution

Safer Wording:

Solution

supp

Meaning:

Suppository

Safer Wording:

Suppository

susp

Meaning:

Suspension

Safer Wording:

Suspension

syr

Meaning:

Syrup

Safer Wording:

Syrup

crm

Meaning:

Cream

Safer Wording:

Cream

elix

Meaning:

Elixir

Safer Wording:

Elixir

ung

Meaning:

Unguentum (ointment)

Safer Wording:

Ointment

mL

Meaning:

Milliliter

Safer Wording:

mL (Preferred over 'cc')

mcg

Meaning:

Microgram

Safer Wording:

mcg (Preferred over 'µg')