Medical Abbreviations and Pharmacy Vocabulary

Comprehensive flashcards for pharmacy and medical abbreviations based on chronological lecture pages, covering measurements, administration frequencies, routes, dosage forms, and common pharmaceuticals.

Q.S.

Quantity Sufficient ● Adding enough specific ingredient to reach desired target volume

ss

$$\frac{1}{2}$$

dr

One dram ($5\,mL$)

fl oz

$$30\,mL$$

tsp, t

$$5\,mL$$

Tbsp, T

$$15\,mL$$

gtt(s)

Drops

IU

International units

mcg, ug

$0.000001\,g$ ● $0.001\,mg$

mEq

Milliequivalent

gr

Grain

pv, vag

Vaginally

qod

Every other day

qd

Every day

bid

Twice daily

tid

Three times daily

qid

Four times daily

pm, noc

At night, or in the evening

hs

At bedtime

qh

Every hour

q4h

Every $4\,\text{hours}$

qw

Every week

ud, ad, ut dict

As directed

c

With

s

Without

ac

Before meals

pc

After meals

p

After (post-)

prn

As needed

ad

Right ear

as

Left ear

au

Both ears

od

Right eye

os

Left eyes

ou

Both eyes

po

By mouth

ien

In each nostril

pr

Rectally

IM

Intramuscular

IV

Intravenous

SC, subQ, SQ

Subcutaneous

neb

Nebulizer

loc

Locally

top

Topically

aa

Affected areas

sl

Under tongue

amp

Ampule

cap

Capsule

tab

Tablet

cr

Cream

elix

Elixir

lot

Lotion

soln, sol

Solution

susp

Suspension

syr

Syrup

ung, oint

Ointment

spr

Spray

aff

Affected

aq, aqua

Water

dist aq

Distilled water

bc

Birth control

bp

Blood pressure

cmpd

Compound

HA

Headache

Hbp

High blood pressure

nka, nkda

No known allergies, non known drug allergies

nr

No refills

cwr

Call when ready

n/v

nausea/vomitting

apap

Acetaminophen

asa

Aspirin

Calcium

$$Ca$$

epi

Epinepherine

Iron

$$Fe$$

Ferrous Sulfate

$$FeSO_4$$

HCTZ

Hydrochlorothiazide

ibu

Ibuprofen

K

Potassium

KCl

Potassium Chloride

MSO4

Morphine Sulfate

MgSO4

Magnesium Sulfate

MOM

Milk of magnesium

Na

Sodium

NaCl

Sodium Chloride

NaF

Sodium Fluoride

NS

Normal Saline 0.9% NaCl

ntg

Nitroglycerine

PEN, PCN

Phenobarbital

TCN

Tetracycline

EC

Enteric coated

DAW

Dispense as written

DC

Discontinue

disp

Dispense

SS

Single strength

DS

Double strength

HTN

Hypertension