Hospital Pharmacy: Commonly Used Abbreviations in Prescription

aa

of each

ac

before meals

a.d.

right ear

as

left ear

am

morning

amp

ampoule

au

each ear

bid

twice a day

BP

Blood Pressure

BSA

Body Surface Area

cap

capsule

dc

discontinue medication

dil

dilute

disp

dispense

div

divide

Dx

diagnosis

g

gram

GI

gastrointestinal

gr

grain

gtt

a drop

h

an hour

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

hs

at bedtime

I.U.

International unit

IVP

intravenous push

K

Potassium

lin

liniment

lot.

lotion

M

mix

mcg

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

ml

milliliter

MS

Morphine Sulfate

MTX

Methotrexate

MVI

Multivitamin

Na

Sodium

NPO

nothing by mouth

NS

Normal Saline

od

right eye

oint

Ointment

os

left eye

ou

each eye

pm

Afternoon/evening

po

by mouth

postop

after surgery

prn

when necessary/as needed

q

every

qd

every day

qh

every hour

qad

every other day

qid

four times a day

SL

sublingual

sublingual

solution

ss

one-half

stat

immediately

supp

suppository

Susp

suspension

Sx

symptom

syr

syrup

tab

tablet

tbsp

tablespoonful

tid

Three times a day

TMP-SMX

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole