Beyer's Abbreviations

*AU

each ear

bid

twice a day

*OD

right eye

oint/ung

ointment, unguent

*OS

left eye

i

one

ii

two

iii

three

v

five

x

ten

aa

of each

a

before

a.c.

before meals

*AD

right ear

ad lib

as desired

agit

shake/agitate

am

in the morning

aq

aqueous, water

*AS

left ear

ASAP

as soon as possible

OTC

over the counter

*OU

each eye

3

ounce of apothecary system/metric system

oz

Ounce = 30 cc

P

after

pc

after meals

per

by, with

pm

in the afternoon

po

by mouth (per os)

post-op

after surgery

pr

per rectum, rectally

pre-op

before surgery

prn, PRN

as needed; as necessary (pro re nata, as the occasion arises)

BSA

body surface area

c, C

cup

c-

with

cap(s)

capsules

cr

cream

d

"day"

DAW

dispense as written

dil

dilute

dr, 3

dram

Dr., MD

doctor

D/W

dextrose in water

Dx, dx

diagnosis

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, throat

elix

elixir

emul

emulsion

ext

extract

fl

fluid

pt

pint, patient

Pt

patient

PT

physical therapy

pv

vaginal

q

every

qam

every morning

qh

every hour

q2h

every two hours

q4h

every four hours

q6h

every six hours

qid

four times a day

*tqd

once a day- "use daily"

*tqod

"use" every other day-

qs

quantity sufficient

qt

quart

G

gauge

g

gram

gal

gallon

gr

grain

gtt

drop, drops

H, hr, h

hour

*hs

hour of sleep (bedtime)

ID

intradermal

IM

intramuscular

inj

injection

IT

intrathecal

*tIU/U

international units

IV

intravenous

K

Potassium

kg

kilogram

L

liter

lb, #

pound

q week

every week

q month

every month

rep

to repeat

R, Rx

prescription

S

without

*SC, SQ, sub q

subcutaneous, subcut

Sig

directions, write on label

sol

solution

ss-

one half

stat, STAT

immediately, at once

SL

sublingual (under the tongue)

supp

suppository

susp

suspension

syr

syrup

tab

tablet

Tbsp, tbsp, T

tablespoon

tid

three times a day

tinc, tr

tincture