Standard Abbreviations for Medications

Elsevier: Mulholland's The Nurse, The Math, The Meds

a and ā

of each

aa or āā

of each

a.c

before meals

ad lib

as desired, freely

ADE

adverse drug event

A.M, a.m, AM

in the morning, before noon

AMP

ampule

aq

water

bid

twice a day

BSA

body surface area

C

Celsius

c̄

with

cap or caps

capsule

CD*

controlled substance

comp

compound

CR*

controlled release

dil.

dilute

DR*

delayed release

DS*

double strength

elix

elixir

ext

external, extract

E-R* or XR*

extended release

F

Fahrenheit

fl. or fld

fluid

g

gram

gtt

drop

h or hr

hour

ID

intradermal(ly)

IM

intramuscular(ly)

Inj

injection

IV

intravenous(ly)

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

kg

kilogram

KVO

keep vein open

L

liter

LA* or XL*

long acting

Lb (lb or lbs)

pound(s)

liq.

liquid

m

meter

m²

squared meter

mcg

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

ml or mL

milliliter

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

oz

ounce

OTC

over the counter

p̄

after

p.c. or p̄c̄

after meals

PCA ( a pain-management method that allows patients to self-administer small, preset doses of pain medication (usually opioids) by pressing a handheld button connected to a computerized pump)

patient-controlled- analgesia

per

through , by (route)~ for example: per rectum
or

each (math term)~ for example: per hour or per tablet

PoO, po, per os

by mouth

P.M., p.m., PM

afternoon, evening

prn

as needed, when necessary

q

each, every

qh or q1h

every one hour

qid

four times daily

q2h, q4h, etc.

every 2 hours, every 4 hours, etc.

qs

as much as needed; quantity sufficient

rep.

repeat

Rx

give, treatment, prescription

s̄

without

SL, subl

sublingual (under the tongue)

sol. or soln.

solution

SR*

slow, sustained release

stat.

immediately , at once

subcut

subcutaneous(ly)

supp

suppository

susp.

suspension

Syr

syrup

tab

tablet

tbs, Tbsp, or T

tablespoon

tid

three times a day

tinct

tincture

TKO

to keep open

tsp

teaspoon

ung

ointment

vag

vaginal