Abbreviations Commonly Used in Prescriptions and Pharmacy

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering common prescription and pharmacy abbreviations and their definitions from Table 8-1.

A

Before

ā ā, aa

Of each

ac

Before meals

ad lib

As desired

AM, am

Morning

Amt

Amount

aq

Water

bid, BID

Twice a day

C̄

With

cap, caps

Capsule

Comp

Compound

D

Day

dil

Dilute

disp

Dispense

dr

Dram

dx

Diagnosis

elix

Elixir

gr

Grain

gtt

Drop

h, hr

Hour

hs

At bedtime ("hour of sleep")

ID

Intradermally

IM

Intramuscularly

inj

Inject

IV

Intravenously

liq

Liquid

mcg

Microgram

mEq

Milliequivalent

mg

Milligram

mixt

Mixture

mL, ml

Milliliter

non rep

Do not repeat, no refills

NPO

Nothing by mouth

Oint

Ointment

OTC

Over-the-counter

oz

Ounce

pc

After meals

per

Through or by

PM, pm

Afternoon

po

By mouth

pr

Through the rectum

prn, PRN

As needed

pt

Pint

pulv

Powder

q

Every

qam

Every morning

qh

Every hour

q2h

Every 2 hours

qid, QID

Four times a day

QPM, QHS

Every night

qs, qv

Quantity sufficient per directions

qt

Quart

rx, Rx

Prescription

S̄

Without

Sig

Write on label

Sol

Solution

Stat

Immediately

Supp

Suppository

T, tbsp

Tablespoon

t, tsp

Teaspoon

Tab

Tablet

tid, TID

Three times a day

TO

Telephone order

Top

Topically

tr, tinct

Tincture

tx

Treatment

ud

As directed

ung

Ointment

vo

Verbal order

x

Times, multiplied by