Pharmacology Abbreviations

a

a

before

ac

before meals

agit

shake, stir

aq

water

aq dest

distilled water

bid

twice a day

c

with

cap

capsule

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

dil

dissolve, dilute

disp, dis

dispense

elix

elixir

ext

extract

g

gram

gr

grain

gtt

drops

h

hour

hs

at bedtime

IA

intra-arterial

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

IVPB

IV piggyback

kg

kilogram

mEq, meq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

Mcg, μg (do not use)

microgram

no

number

non rep

do not repeat

OD

Right eye

OS, OL

left eye

OTC

over the counter

OU

both eyes

p

after

pc

after meals

PO

by mouth

PR

per rectum

prn

when needed

q

every

qam, om

every morning

qd (do not use)

every day (write daily)

qh, q 1h

every hour

q2h, q3h

every 2 hours, every 3 hours, etc.

qhs

every night at bedtime

rept, repeat

may be repeated

Rx

take

s

without

SC, SQ

subcutaneous

Sid (veterinary)

once a day

Sig, S

label

sos

if needed

ss

one half

stat

at once

sup, supp

suppository

susp

suspension

tab

tablet

tbsp. (do not use)

tablespoon (use 15ml)

tid

three times a day

tr, tinct

tincture

tsp (do not use)

teaspoon (use 5ml)

u (do not use)

units (write units)

vag

vaginal

i, ii, iii, iv, etc

one, two, three, four, etc.