Interpreting Prescriptions

amp(s)

ampule(s)

cc ; cm³

cubic centimeter (liquid)

APAP

acetaminophen

cap(s)

capsule(s)

fl oz ; fluid ounce

(liquid)

ASA

aspirin

cr

cream

g ; gm

gram (solid)

Ca

Calcium

el ; elix

elixir

gr

grain (solid)

Epi

Epinephrine

fl

fluid

gtt(s)

drop(s) (liquid)

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

liq

liquid

IU

International Unit (solid)

IBU

ibuprofen

lot

lotion

mcg

microgram (solid)

KCl

potassium chloride

pulv

powder

kg

kilogram (solid)

MSO4

morphine sulfate

sol ; soln

solution

L

Liter (liquid)

Na

sodium

spr

spray

mEq

milliequivalent (solid)

NaF

sodium fluoride

supp

suppository

mg

milligram (solid)

NS

normal saline

susp

suspension

mL

milliliter (liquid)

ntg

nitroglycerine

syr

syrup

oz

ounce (solid)

PCN

penicillin

tab(s)

tablet(s)

t ; tsp

teaspoonful (liquid)

PB

phenobarbital

tinc

tincture

T ; tbsp

tablespoonful (liquid)

SMZ/TMP

(generic) Bactrim3

ung

ointment

u

unit (liquid)

TCN

Tetracycline

ac

before meals

ad

use as directed

AM

in the morning

ad

right ear

ad lib

as often as necessary

as

left ear

ASAP

immediately

au

both ears

atc

around the clock

ien

in each nostril

bid

twice daily

IM

intramuscularly

d

daily

inj

inject

h ; hr ; ⁰

hour, on the hour

IV

intravenously

hs

at bedtime

loc

locally

noc

at night

po

by mouth

p

after

od

right eye

pc

after meals

os

left eye

PM

in the evening

ou

both eyes

q

every

pr

rectally

qid

four times daily

sc ; subQ ; SQ

under the skin

qod

every other day

sL

under the tongue

q*h

every * hours

top

on the skin

stat

immediately

ud

use as directed

tid

three times daily

vag

vaginally

wk

weekly

a

apply

HA

headache

aa

affected area(s)

NKA ; NKDA

no known drug allergies

aff

affected

NR

no refills

BC

birth control

n/v

nausea/vomiting

c

with

pa

pain

DC

discontinue

s

without

DS

double