Comprehensive Medical Abbreviations for Healthcare Students

ā or a

before

mg

milligrams

aa or a

of each

ml or mL

milliliter

AC

before meals

NG or NGT

nasogastric tube

ad lib

as desired, freely

NKA

no known allergies

ADE

adverse drug event

NKDA

no known drug allergies

AM or am

in the morning, before noon

NPO

nothing by mouth

amp

ampule

NS

normal saline

aq

water

oz

ounce

BID or bid

twice a day

OTC

over the counter

BSA

body surface area

p̄

after

C

Celsius

PC

after meals

c or c̄

with

PCA

patient-controlled analgesia

cap or caps

capsule

per

through (route)

CD

controlled dose

comp

compound

PO, po, per os

by mouth

CR

controlled release

PM or pm

afternoon or evening

dil.

dilute

prn

as needed

DR

delayed release

q

each, every

DS

double strength

qh or q1h

every hour

Elix

elixir

qd

every day

ER or E-R

extended release

qod

every other day

ext

external, extract

q2h, q4h, etc

every 2 hours, every 4 hours...

F

Fahrenheit

qs

as much as needed

fl or fld

fluid

rep

repeat

g

gram

RX

prescription, give, treatment

gtt

drop

h or hr

hour

SL or subl

sublingual (under tongue)

HS

at bedtime

sol. or soln.

solution

ID

intradermal

SR

slow or sustained release

IM

intramuscular

stat

immediately, at once

inj

injection

subcut or SQ

subcutaneous

IV

intravenous

supp

suppository

IVPB

IV piggyback

Syr

syrup

kg

kilograms

tab

tablet

KVO

keep vein open

tbs, tbsp

tablespoon

L

liter

TID

three times a day

LA

long acting

tinct

tincture

lb

pounds

TKO

to keep open

liq

liquid

tsp

teaspoon

m

meter

ung

ointment

m2

meter squared

vag

vaginal

mcg

micrograms

XL

long acting

mEq

milliequivalent

XR

extended release