Drug Abbreviations, Labels, and Packaging

ac

before meals

pc

after meals

daily

every day, daily

bid

twice a day

tid

three times a day

qid

four times a day

qh

every hour

at bedtime

at bedtime, hour of sleep

qn

every night

stat

immediately

q2h (q2°)

every 2 hours

q4h (q4°)

every 4 hours

q6h (q6°)

every 6 hours

q8h (q8°)

every 8 hours

q12h (q12°)

every 12 hours

every other day

every other day

prn

as needed

3 times weekly

three times per week

biw

twice per week

right ear

right ear

left ear

left ear

each ear

each ear

HHN

handheld nebulizer

(device that produces a fine spray for inhalation)

IM

intramuscularly

IV

intravenously

IVP

intravenous push

(injected directly into a vein)

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

(medication prepared in a small volume of fluid is attached to an IV at specified times)

MDI

metered-dose inhaler

NEB

nebulizer

(produces a fine spray for inhalations)

NGT (ng)

nasogastric tube

in the right eye

in the right eye

in the left eye

in the left eye

in both eyes

in both eyes

PO (po)

by mouth

PR (pr)

in the rectum

subcutaneously (sub q)

subcutaneously

SL

sublingual, under the tongue

S & S

swish and swallow

cc

cubic centimeter

g

Gram

kg (Kg)

kilogram

L

liter

mcg

microgram

mEq (meq)

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

mL (ml)

milliliter

unit

unit

pt

pint

qt

quart

tbsp

tablespoon

tsp

teaspoon

oz

ounce

cap, caps

capsule

CR

controlled release

LA

long acting

SA

sustained action

SR

slow release, sustained release

DS

double strength

EC

enteric coated

el, elix

elixir

sol

solution

sp

spirit

sup, supp

suppository

susp

suspension

syr

syrup

tab, tabs

tablet

tr, tinct.

tincture

ung, oint.

ointment

KVO

keep vein open

TKO

to keep open

discontinue

discontinue

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

gr

grains (dosage)

gt

drop

hs

at bedtime

pil

pill

Sig

patient instructions

T

one tablet

U

unit

NDC number

National Drug Code; number used by the pharmacist to identify the drug and method of packaging

drug quantity

always appears on the label at the top left, the top right, or the bottom

trade name

brand/propriety name; usually followed by the federal registration symbol (R)

generic name

official accepted name of a drug

drug strength

\--solid drugs: metric weights

\--liquid drugs: solution of the drug in a solvent

drug form

specifies the type of preparation in the container

uses

may include indication for the drug

usual dosage

states how much drug is administered at a single time or during a 24-hour period; also identifies who should receive the drug

storage

this information is crucial; drug may need one kind of storage when it's dry and another kind after reconstitution

precautions and warnings

may include specific instructions that the nurse must note and follow

manufacturer's name

if you have any question about the drug, direct them to the manufacturer

expiration date & lot number

• after the last day of the indicated month, the drug cannot be used

• indicates the batch of drug from which the stock came

unit-dose packaging

• a package containing a single dose of a medication

• can be administered via oral, parenteral, and topical routes

ampule (ampoule)

• glass container that holds a single dose of drug, either a liquid, powder, or a crystal

• has a narrow neck that must be broken to reach the drug

vial

glass or plastic container with a sealed rubber top

plastic bags and glass containers

• flexible containers that may hold sterile medication for IV use

• the nurse administers the fluid via IV tubing connected to a needle or catheter placed in the patient's blood vessel

prefilled syringe

syringe that contains sterile liquid medication that is ready to administer without further preparation

prefilled cartridge

small vial with a needle or needleless device attached that fits into a metal or plastic holder and ejects one unit-dose of a sterile drug in liquid form

transdermal patches or pads

adhesive bandages placed on the skin that hold a drug form that is slowly absorbed into the circulation over a period ranging from hours to several days

lozenges, troches, and pastilles

disklike solids that slowly dissolve in the mouth