pharmacology abbreviations

a

before

alt. h.

every other hour

a.c.

before meals

amp

ampule

bid

twice a day

cap

capsule

cr., crm

cream

D.A.W

dispense as written

D/C

discontinue

elix

elixir

emuls.

emulsion

et

and

fl.,fld.

fluid

gr

grain

g

gram

g/dL

grams per deciliter

gtt

drop

gtt/min

drops per minute

h

hour(s)

hr

hour

h.s.

at bedtime

IM

intramuscular

inj.

injection

IV

intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

liq

solution

L

liter

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

mEq

milliequivalent

mcg

microgram

mg

milligram

ml, mL

milliliter (equivalent to cc)

nebul

a spray

noct.

night

oz

ounce

p.c.

after meals

PM

afternoon

PO

by mouth, orally

PRN

as required

pt

pint, patient

qh

every hour

q2h

every 2 hours

q3h

every 3 hours

q4h

every 4 hours

qs

quantity sufficient

qt

quart

qod

every other day

q.a.m.

every day before noon

qd

every day

q.h.s.

every night at bedtime

q.i.d

four times a day

p.r.

by rectum

SC/SQ

subcutaneous

sig

write on label

SL

sublingual/under tongue

sol

solution

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

syr

syrup

t.i.d.

three times a day

tab

tablet

top.

topical

troche

lozenge

tbsp

tablespoon

tsp

teaspoon

U

unit

USP

United States Pharmacopeia

vag

vaginal

X

times