Retail Abbreviations

po

by mouth

tab

tablet

cap

capsule

qd

every day, daily

bid

twice a day

tid

three times a day

qid

four times a day

qod

Every other day

qw

every week

qow

every other week

am

morning

pm

evening

hr

hour

q

every

qh

every hour

q4-6hr

every 4 to 6 hours

hs

at bedtime

prn

as needed

stat

immediately

WA

while awake

ATC

around the clock

ud

as directed

a, ā

before

ac

before meals

p, p̂

after

pc

after meals

cc

cubic centimeter

c/c

cough and congestion

fl. oz

Fluid ounce

oz

ounce

mL

milliliter

L

liter

od

right eye

ad

right ear

os

left eye

as

left ear

ou

both eyes

au

both ears

dil

dilute

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

SQ, sq, subc, sc, subq

subcutaneous

inj

injection

SL

Sublingual (under the tongue)

elix

elixir

sol, soln

solution

susp

suspension

supp

suppository

oint, ung

ointment

cm

cream

syp

syrup

syr

syringe

mg

milligram

mcg, ug

microgram

g, gm

gram

kg

kilogram

gr

grain

mEq

milliequivalent

pr

rectally

pv, vag

vaginally

opth

ophthalmic

top

topical

per neb

by nebulizer

n/v

nausea and vomiting

n/v/d

nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

NTE

not to exceed

NPO

nothing by mouth

AAA

apply to affected area

OTC

over the counter

HA

headache

BP

blood pressure

URI

Upper Respiratory Infection

UTI

Urinary Tract Infection

SOB

Shortness of Breath

APAP

acetaminophen

ASA

aspirin

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

PCN

penicillin

MS

morphine sulfate

SMZ/TMP

sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim

MVI

multivitamin

NTG

nitroglycerin

EC

enteric coated

LA

long acting

SL abbreviation

slow release, sustained release

ER, XR, XL

extended release

CR

controlled release

CD

controlled delivery

TR

timed release

MR

may refill, may repeat

NR

no refill

U

unit

MDI

metered dose inhaler

aq

water

sig

directions

ss

half

c

with

s

without

s/s

swish and swallow

qs

quantity sufficient