Medical Assisting Pharmacological Abbreviations

a

before

liq

liquid

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

mcg

microgram

agit

shake, stir

MDI

metered dose inhaler

AM

morning

med

medicine

amp

ampule

mEq

milliequivalent

aq

water

mg

milligram

ASA

aspirin

mg/dL

milligram per deciliter

bid

twice a day

MO

mineral oil

C

cup, Celsius

NKA

no know allergies

cap

capsule

noct

night

cmpd

compound

NPO

nothing by mouth

cr

cream

N/V

nausea/vomiting

d

day, daily

nr

no refills

DAW

dispense as written

OTC

over the counter

dil

dilute

oz

ounce

disp

dispense

ds

double strength

elix

elixir

per

by means of, through

pc

after meals

eq

equivalent

PM

evening, nighttime

ext

extract

PO

by mouth, orally

PR

rectally

Fe

iron

g, gm

gram

PRN

whenever necessary

gen

generic

q

every

gr

grain

qam

every morning

gtt

drop

q4h

every 4 hours

h, hour

hour

qid

four times a day

qs

quantity sufficient

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

r, rec

rectally

rept

repeat

rf

refill(s)

inj

inject, injection

IV

intravenously

rx

prescription

K

potassium

kg

kilogram

sig

write on the label

stat

immediately

L

liter

lb

pound

subcut

subcutaneously

sup

suppository

top

topical

tsp

teaspoon

tx

treatment

ung

ointment

ut dict

use as directed

VO

verbal order

TO

telephone order

tbsp

tablespoon

tab

tablet

syr

syrup

susp

suspension