Medical abbreviations

a

before(ante)

ac

before meals (ante cibum)

AD

right ear(auris dextra)

AM

moring

AS

left ear(auris sinistra)

ASAP

as soon as possible

AU

each ear

bid

twice a day

BSA

body surface area

cap

capsule

d

day

DAW

Dispense as written

MD

medical doctor

D/W

Dextrose in water

Dx

diagnosis

EENT

Eye, ear, nose, throat

fl

fluid

g

gram

gal

gallon

gtt(s)

drops

h

hour

hs

hours of sleep, bedtime

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

inj

injection

IU

international units (on Do Not Use List)

IV

intravenous

K

potassium

kg

kilogram

L

liter

lb

pound

m

meter

mcg

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

mL

milliliter

mm

millimeter

Na

sodium

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

npo

nothing by mouth

NS

normal saline

OD

right eye (oculus dexter)

OS

left eye (oculus sinister)

OTC

over the counter

OU

each eye

oz

ounce

p

after

pc

after meals

PM

afternoon, evening

po

by mouth

posy-op

after surgery

pr

per rectum

pre-op

before surgery

PRN

as needed

pt

pint

Pt

patirent

PT

Physical Therapy

q

every

qh

everyhour

qd

every day(on Do Not Use List)

q8h

every 8 hours

qid

four times a day

qod

every other day (on do not use list)

qs

quantity sufficient

qt

quart

Rx

prescription

SQ, sub q

subcutaneous

STAT

immediately

SL

sublingual ( under the tongue)

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

tab

tablet

T or tbsp

tablsepoon

tid

three times a day

top

topically

TO

telephone order

t or tsp

teaspoon

Wt

weight

VO

verbal order