Medicarions and abbreviations

Health-Related Abbreviations

  • Table of Common Medical Abbreviations
    • ssons - Abbreviation section header
    • Abbreviation List:
      • ad: right ear
      • as: left ear
      • au: both ears
      • bu: buccal
      • im: intramuscular
      • it: intrathecal
      • nare: nostril
      • od: right eye
      • OS: left eye
      • ou: both eyes
      • po: by mouth

More Frequency Abbreviations

  • Introduction to Time-Related Abbreviations

    • pr: rectal
    • pv: vaginal
    • sc, sq, sub q: subcutaneous
    • sl: sublingual

  • Table 1.2 Frequency Abbreviations

    • ac: before meals
    • bid: twice daily
    • hs: at bedtime
    • pc: after meals
    • prn: as needed

Other Abbreviations

  • Table 1.3 Other Abbreviations

    • gh: every hour

    • qid: four times a day

    • tid: three times a day

    • PE: while awake

    • Meaning of Selected Abbreviations:

      • aaa: apply to affected area
      • gtts: drops
      • ha: headache
      • qs: quantity sufficient

Cardiovascular System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Cardiovascular System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Nitrates:
        • Isosorbide mononitrate
        • Usage: Antianginal
        • Commonly used prefix: nitr-
      • Calcium Channel Blockers:
        • Nifedipine
        • Usage: Antianginal, Antiarrhythmic
        • Commonly used suffix: -pine
      • Beta-blockers:
        • Atenolol
        • Usage: Antianginal, Antiarrhythmic, Antihypertensive
        • Commonly used suffix: -lol
      • HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors:
        • Atorvastatin
        • Usage: Antihyperlipidemic
        • Commonly used suffix: -statin
      • Fibric Acid Derivatives:
        • Fenofibrate
        • Usage: Antihyperlipidemic
        • Commonly used suffix: -fibr
      • Alpha-blockers:
        • Terazosin
        • Usage: Antihypertensive
      • ACE Inhibitors:
        • Benazepril
        • Usage: Antihypertensive
        • Commonly used suffix: -pril

Reproductive System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Reproductive System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors:
        • Sildenafil
        • Usage: Erectile dysfunction
        • Commonly used suffix: -afil
      • Estrogens:
        • Estradiol
        • Usage: Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy
        • Commonly used prefix: estra-
      • Progestins:
        • Progesterone
        • Usage: Oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy
        • Commonly used prefix: progester-
      • Anabolic Steroids:
        • Testosterone
        • Usage: Male hypogonadism
        • Commonly used prefix: testo-

Nervous System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Nervous System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Benzodiazepines:
        • Lorazepam
        • Usage: Antianxiety, anticonvulsant
        • Commonly used suffixes: -zepam, -zolam
      • Tricyclic Antidepressants:
        • Amitriptyline
        • Usage: Antidepressant
        • Commonly used suffix: -tyline
      • Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs):
        • Duloxetine
        • Usage: Antidepressant
      • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs):
        • Citalopram
        • Usage: Antidepressant, antianxiety
      • Atypical Antipsychotics:
        • Quetiapine
        • Usage: Antipsychotic
        • Commonly used suffix: -pine
      • Prostaglandin Analogs:
        • Latanoprost
        • Usage: Glaucoma
        • Commonly used suffix: -oprost
      • Alpha Agonists:
        • Brimonidine
        • Usage: Glaucoma
        • Commonly used suffix: -ine
      • Narcotic Analgesics:
        • Morphine
        • Usage: Pain

Gastrointestinal System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Gastrointestinal System

    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Anticholinergics:
        • Dicyclomine
        • Usage: Reduced gastrointestinal motility
      • Antacids:
        • Magnesium
        • Usage: GERD
      • H2 Blockers:
        • Famotidine
        • Usage: GERD
        • Commonly used suffix: -tidine
      • Proton Pump Inhibitors:
        • Esomeprazole
        • Usage: GERD
        • Commonly used suffix: -prazole
      • Osmotic Laxatives:
        • Polyethylene glycol
        • Usage: Constipation
      • Stool Softeners:
        • Docusate sodium
        • Usage: Constipation

  • Important Notes:

    • Match the medications to their uses through categorization exercises.

Musculoskeletal System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Musculoskeletal System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs:
        • Methotrexate
        • Usage: Antirheumatic
        • Commonly used suffix: -ine
      • Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors:
        • Allopurinol
        • Usage: Gout
        • Commonly used suffix: -inol
      • Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs:
        • Ibuprofen
        • Usage: Anti-inflammatory
        • Commonly used suffix: -ofen
      • COX-2 Inhibitors:
        • Celecoxib
        • Usage: Pain, anti-inflammatory
        • Commonly used suffix: -oxib
      • Bisphosphonates:
        • Alendronate
        • Usage: Osteoporosis
        • Commonly used suffix: -onate
      • Muscle Relaxants:
        • Cyclobenzaprine
        • Usage: Muscle relaxation
        • Commonly used suffix: -prine

Urogenital System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Urogenital System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Anticholinergics:
        • Oxybutynin
        • Usage: Incontinence
      • Alpha-blockers:
        • Doxazosin
        • Usage: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
        • Commonly used suffix: -azosin
      • Antibiotics:
        • Nitrofurantoin
        • Usage: Urinary tract infections, sexually transmitted infections
      • Testosterone 5α-reductase Inhibitors:
        • Finasteride
        • Usage: Benign prostatic hyperplasia
        • Commonly used suffix: -asteride

Integumentary System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Integumentary System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Corticosteroids:
        • Prednisone
        • Usage: Anti-inflammatory
        • Commonly used suffix: -sone
      • Antibiotics:
        • Amoxicillin
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
      • Antifungals:
        • Ketoconazole
        • Usage: Fungal infection
        • Commonly used suffix: -azole
      • Antivirals:
        • Oseltamivir
        • Usage: Viral infection
        • Commonly used suffix: -vir

Immune System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Immune System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Antivirals:
        • Acyclovir
        • Usage: Herpes virus
        • Commonly used suffix: -vir
      • Beta-lactam Antibiotics:
        • Amoxicillin
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
        • Commonly used suffix: -cillin
      • Sulfa Antibiotics:
        • Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
        • Commonly used prefix: sulfa-
      • Topical Antibiotics:
        • Mupirocin
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
      • Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics:
        • Ciprofloxacin
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
        • Commonly used suffix: -floxacin
      • Lincosamide:
        • Clindamycin
        • Usage: Bacterial infection
        • Commonly used suffix: -mycin
      • Antifungal:
        • Fluconazole
        • Usage: Fungal infections
        • Commonly used suffix: -zole

Respiratory System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Respiratory System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Antihistamines:
        • Loratadine
        • Usage: Allergies
        • Commonly used suffix: -adine
      • Bronchodilators:
        • Albuterol
        • Usage: Antiasthmatic
        • Commonly used suffix: -terol
      • Corticosteroids:
        • Fluticasone
        • Usage: Anti-inflammatory
        • Commonly used suffix: -sone
      • Expectorants:
        • Guaifenesin
        • Usage: Congestion
      • Antitussives:
        • Benzonatate
        • Usage: Cough

Endocrine System Medications

  • Medication Classes Used for the Endocrine System
    • Generic Names and Uses
      • Insulin:
        • Insulin degludec
        • Usage: Diabetes
      • Sulfonylureas:
        • Glimepiride
        • Usage: Diabetes
      • Selective Sodium-Glucose Transport 2 Inhibitors:
        • Canagliflozin
        • Usage: Diabetes
        • Commonly used suffix: -gliflozin
      • Biguanides:
        • Metformin
        • Usage: Diabetes
      • Thiazolidinediones:
        • Pioglitazone
        • Usage: Diabetes
        • Commonly used suffix: -glitazone
      • Bisphosphonates:
        • Alendronate
        • Usage: Osteoporosis prevention
        • Commonly used suffix: -dronate
      • Glucagon-like Peptide-1 Agonists:
        • Dulaglutide
        • Usage: Diabetes
        • Commonly used suffix: -glutide

Medication Dispensing Systems

  • Ward Boxes:
    • Storage containers or units used to organize and dispense medications for specific hospital wards or units.
  • Robots:
    • Automated systems or machines designed to assist with various tasks related to medication dispensing.
  • Aseptic Suite:
    • Sterile compounding areas or clean rooms used for medication preparation and dispensing.