Pharmacy Abbreviations and Root Word Meanings

arter

artery

arthr

joint

bronch

bronchus

carcin

cancer

cardi

heart

cyst

bladder

derma

skin

enter

abdomen/intestine

gastr

stomach

gluco

sugar

hemo

blood

hepat

liver

my

muscle

nasa

nose

nephr

kidney

neur

nerve

oste

bone

patho

disease

phleb

vein

pneum

lung

psych

mind

procto

rectum

pulmo

lung

ren

kidney

rhin

nose

thromb

blood clot

vas

(blood) vessel

a-, an-

without

ante-

before

anti-

inhibit, oppose

bio-

living organisms

brady-

slow

con-

together

contra-

against

dia-

complete

dys-

abnormal, difficult

en-

in

ex-

out

hyper-

too much

hypo-

too little

inter-

between, among

intra-

within

macro-

large

mal-

abnormal

micro-

small

neo-

new

para-

around

poly-

many, much

post-

after, behind

pre-

before, in front

sub-

below, underlying

tachy-

fast

-ac

pertaining to

-al

pertaining to

-algia

pain

-ase

enzyme

-cide

kill, killer

-cyte

cell

-dipsia

thirst

-ectomy

surgical removal

-emia

blood condition

-ic

pertaining to

-itis

inflammation

-logist

specialist

-logy

study of

-oid

resembling

-oma

tumor

-osis

condition

-pathy

disease

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhage

bursting of blood

-rrhea

flowing discharge

-sclerosis

hardening

-scope

instrument

-scopy

viewing of

-stasis

control

-uria

urine

adverse drug effect

ADE

adverse drug reaction

ADR

amount

amt

average wholesale price

AWP

compound

cmpd; cpd

concentration

conc

dextrose 5% in 0.45% sodium chloride

D5/1/2NS

dextrose 5% in 0.9% sodium chloride

D5NS

dextrose 5% in water

D5W

diagnosis-related group

DRG

diluent

dil

discontinue

D/C; DC

dispense

disp.

dispense as written

DAW

Drug Enforcement Administration

DEA

drug utilization review

DUR

elixir

elix

enteric coated

EC

extended release

XL

fluid

fl.

Food and Drug Administration

FDA

lactated ringer's solution

LR

liquid

liq