Common Pharmaceutical Abbreviations

Pharmacist’s Directions

aa

of each

disp

dispense

ft

make

qs

A sufficient quantity

qs.ad.

A sufficient quantity to make

Sig. (Signa)

Write (directions for label)

Patient Instructions

ac

before meals

am

morning

ATC

around the clock

BID

twice daily

c

with

d

day

h

hour

HS

at bedtime

NPO

nothing by mouth

Q

every

QAM

every morning

Q8H

every 8 hours

QID

four times daily

STAT

immediately

TID

three times daily

ut dict

as directed

wk

week

Measurements & Quantities

BSA

body surface area

cm³

cubic centimeters or milliliter

g

gram

gtt

drop

IU

international unit

lb

pound

kg

kilogram

L

liter

m²

square meter

mcg

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

mg/kg

milligrams (of drug) per kilogram (of body weight)

mg/m²

milligrams (of drug) per square meter (of body surface area)

mL

milliliter

mL/h

milliters (of drug volume) per hour

mOsm

milliosmoles

oz

ounce

pt

pint

qt

quart

ss

one-half

tbsp

tablespoon

tsp

teaspoon

Routes of Administration

ad

right ear

as

left ear

au

both ears

ID

intradermal

inj

injection

IM

intramuscular

IT

intrathecal

IV

intravenous

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

NGT

nasogastric tube

od

right eye

os

left eye

ou

both eyes

PO

by mouth

rect

rectally

SL

sublingually

Sub-Q/SC

subcutaneously

Top

topically

PV

vaginally

Dosage Forms

amp

ampule

cap

capsule

D5W

dextrose 5% in water

inj

injection

NS

normal saline

½ NS

one-half normal saline

oint/ungt

ointment

LR

lactated ringers

sol

solution

supp

suppositories

susp

suspension

syr

syrup

tab

tablet