Common Medical Abbreviations and Their Meanings

Abbreviations and Their Meanings

The following is a comprehensive list of commonly used medical abbreviations along with their meanings:

Common Abbreviations

  • a
    • Meaning: before
  • aa, aa
    • Meaning: of each
  • a.c., ac
    • Meaning: before meals
  • ad lib.
    • Meaning: as desired, freely
  • am, AM
    • Meaning: morning, before noon
  • p.m., PM
    • Meaning: evening, before midnight
  • ODT
    • Meaning: orally disintegrating tablet
  • p.o.
    • Meaning: by mouth, oral
  • p.r.
    • Meaning: by rectum
  • b.i.d., bid
    • Meaning: twice a day
  • b.i.w.
    • Meaning: twice a week
  • p.r.n., prn
    • Meaning: when necessary/required, as needed
  • C
    • Meaning: with
  • C, C
    • Meaning: cup
  • CD
    • Meaning: controlled dose
  • 8g
    • Meaning: 8 grams
  • cap, caps
    • Meaning: capsule
  • q.a.m.
    • Meaning: every morning
  • CR
    • Meaning: controlled release
  • q.h., qh
    • Meaning: every hour
  • q2h, q4h, q6h, q8h, q12h
    • Meaning: every 2 hours, every 4 hours, every 6 hours, every 8 hours, every 12 hours
  • DS
    • Meaning: double strength
  • EC
    • Meaning: enteric coated
  • elix.
    • Meaning: elixir
  • ER
    • Meaning: extended release
  • fl, fld.
    • Meaning: fluid
  • q.i.d., qid
    • Meaning: four times a day
  • GT
    • Meaning: gastrostomy tube
  • q.s.
    • Meaning: a sufficient amount/as much as needed
  • gtt
    • Meaning: drop
  • h, hr
    • Meaning: hour
  • rect
    • Meaning: rectum
  • ID
    • Meaning: intradermal
  • IV
    • Meaning: intravenous
  • DMW
    • Meaning: direct measure of weight
  • S
    • Meaning: without
  • IM
    • Meaning: intramuscular
  • sl, SL
    • Meaning: sublingual
  • IVPB
    • Meaning: intravenous piggyback
  • S.O.S., SOS
    • Meaning: may be repeated once if necessary
  • IVSS
    • Meaning: intravenous Soluset
  • JSR
    • Meaning: job safety review
  • KVO
    • Meaning: keep vein open
  • S&S
    • Meaning: signs and symptoms (a very slow infusion rate)
  • LA
    • Meaning: long acting
  • subcut
    • Meaning: subcutaneous
  • length of stay
    • Meaning: LOS
  • min
    • Meaning: minute
  • supp
    • Meaning: suppository
  • mix
    • Meaning: mixture
  • syp, syr
    • Meaning: syrup
  • NAS
    • Meaning: not a significant difference
  • NG, NGT
    • Meaning: nasogastric tube
  • tab
    • Meaning: tablet
  • noc, noct
    • Meaning: at night
  • t.i.d., tid
    • Meaning: three times a day
  • n.p.o., NPO
    • Meaning: nothing by mouth
  • tr., tinct
    • Meaning: tincture
  • NS, N/S
    • Meaning: normal saline
  • ung., oint
    • Meaning: ointment
  • vag, v
    • Meaning: vaginally
  • XL
    • Meaning: long acting
  • XR
    • Meaning: extended release

Note

  • Abbreviations may be written with or without periods.