PharmTech Medical Abbreviations

a.c.

before meals

a.m.

morning

p.m.

afternoon or evening

ad. lib.

as desired

p.r.n.

as needed

b.i.d.

twice a day

q.i.d.

four times a day

h. / hr.

hour

q.2h

every 2 hours

q.12h

every 12 hours

p.c.

after meals

h.s.

at bedtime

q.d.

once daily

stat

immediately

q.o.d.

every other day

t.i.d.

three times a day

min.

minute

q.h.

every hour

q.8h

every 8 hours

u.d.

as directed

a.d.

right ear

a.s.

left ear

a.u.

both ears

IM

intramuscular

inj.

injection

IV

intravenous

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

IVP

intravenous push

o.d.

right eye

o.u.

both eyes

o.s. / o.l.

left eye

p.o.

by mouth

pr

per rectum

SL

sublingual

SC / SQ

subcutaneous

ID

intradermal

aq.

aqeuous (water)

cap

capsule

comp.

compound

gtt.

drop

pulv

powder

sol.

solution

supp.

suppository

susp.

suspension

syr.

syrup

tab

tablet

tinct / tr

tincture

ung

ointment

a

before

p

after

c

with

s

without

q

every

ad

up to

aa

of each

ante

before

DC / d/c / disc.

discontinue

dil.

dilute

disp.

dispense

div.

divide

d.t.d

give of such doses

dx

diagnosis

et

and

ft.

make

N/V

nausea and vomiting

hx

history

q.s.

a sufficient quantity

rt.

right

non rep. / N.R.

do not repeat

GI

gastrointestinal

R/O

ruled out

noct.

night

NPO

nothing by mouth

SIg

write on label

SOB

shortness of breath

BP

blood pressure

UTI

urinanry tract infection

M

mix

URI

upper respiratory infection

HA

headache