Pharmacy Abbreviations and Dosage Forms Vocabulary

A comprehensive reference guide for common pharmacy abbreviations, dosage forms, routes of administration, frequency of administration, units of measure, common diagnoses, IV solutions, and drug abbreviations.

cap

capsule

elix

elixir

comp

compound

inj

injection

cr

cream

oint

ointment

pulv

powder

sol

solution

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

syr

syrup

tab

tablet

tr

tincture

ung

ointment

AD

right ear

AS

left ear

AU

both ears

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

IVP

intravenous push

IVPB

intravenous piggyback

NPO

nothing by mouth

OD

right eye

OS

left eye

OU

both eyes

Po

by mouth

PR

rectally

PV

vaginally

PO

by mouth

SL

sublingual

SC

subcutaneous

SQ

subcutaneous

Sub-Q

subcutaneous

AC

before meals

AM

morning

BIW

two times a week

D

day

BID

two times a day

H

hour

HR

hour

HS

bedtime

MRXI

may repeat once

PC

after meals

PM

evening

PRN

as needed

Q

every

QD

everyday

QH

every hour

QID

four times a day

QOD

every other day

QOH

every other hour

S&S

Swish & swallow

TID

three times a day

STAT

immediately

U.D.

as directed

CC

cubic centimeter

fl

fluid

gr

grain

g

gram

gm

gram

I.U.

international unit

mcg

microgram

mEq

milliequivalent

mg

milligram

ml

milliliter

O, pt

pint

oz

ounce

tbs, tbsp

tablespoon

tsp

teaspoon

U

unit

SS

one half

upside down h

microgram

a

before

aq

water

ATC

around the clock

BM

bowel movement

BSA

body surface area

c

with

CBC

complete blood count

c/o

complaint of

CXR

chest x-ray

DC

discontinue

disp

dispense

Dx

diagnosis

FBS

fasting blood sugar

Fx

fracture

H/A

headache

Hx

history

LFT

liver function test

NF

non-formulary

NKA

no known allergy

NR

no refill

N/V

nausea & vomiting

O2

oxygen

Qsad

sufficient qty to add

SOB

shortness of breath

VS

vital signs

squiggle symbol

ounce

ATC

around the clock

C

with