Pharmacy Technician Abbreviations

Abbreviations: How Often to Give a Medication

  • q - Every
  • qd - Every day or once daily
    • May be written as q1d
    • Can be mistaken for qid (four times a day) or qod (every other day)
  • qam - Every morning
  • qpm - Every evening
  • qhs - Every bedtime or every night at bedtime
    • Can be mistaken for qhr (every hour)
  • qh - Every hour
    • A number in front of the “h” designates how many hours (e.g., q6h is every 6 hours)
  • qod - Every other day
    • Can be mistaken for qid (four times daily) or qd (every day)
  • bid - Two times a day or twice daily
    • Can be mistaken for BT (bedtime)
  • tid - Three times a day or three times daily
  • qid - Four times daily
    • Can be mistaken for qd (every day) or qod (every other day)
  • nr - No refills
    • May be omitted on an Rx
  • prn - As needed
    • Can be mistaken for pm (evening)
  • ud, uad, ut dict - As directed
    • Some insurance plans will refuse to pay for claims with these directions
  • w, wk - Weekly
    • Can be mistaken for daily

Abbreviations: How Much Medication to Give

  • dtd - Dispense such doses
    • Determine days’ supply from directions
  • qs - Quantity sufficient
    • Determine days’ supply from directions
  • ss - One-half (1/2)
    • Can be mistaken for “sliding scale” on insulin Rxs or the number 55

Abbreviations: Dosage Units

  • U - Units
    • Can be mistaken for the number 0 or 4
  • IU - International units
    • Can be mistaken of IV (intravenous) or the number 10
  • g - Grams
    • Can be mistaken for gr (grains)
  • mcg, µg - Microgram
    • Can be mistaken for “mg” (milligram)
  • mg - Milligram
    • Can be mistaken for “mcg” (microgram) or µg (microgram)
  • kg - Kilogram
    • May need to convert from pounds
  • oz - Ounces
    • May need to convert to mL (milliliter)
  • gtts - Drops
  • L, l - Liter
    • Can be mistaken for the number 1
  • mL - Milliliter
    • Same amount as cc (cubic centimeter)
  • cc - Cubic centimeter
    • Same amount as mL (milliliter)
    • Can be mistaken for u (units)
  • tbsp, T - Tablespoon
    • Can be mistaken for t or tsp (teaspoon)
  • tsp, t - Teaspoon
    • Can be mistaken for T or tbsp (tablespoon)

Abbreviations: Drug Names

  • APAP - Acetaminophen
  • ASA - Aspirin
  • Fe, Fe++ - Iron
  • K, K+ - Potassium
  • Na, Na+ - Sodium
  • HCl - Hydrochloride
    • Can be mistaken for KCl (potassium chloride)
  • MSO4 - Morphine sulfate
    • Can be mistaken for MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate)
  • MgSO4 - Magnesium sulfate
    • Can be mistaken for MSO4 (morphine sulfate)
  • ZnSO4 - Zinc sulfate
    • Can be mistaken for MSO4 (morphine sulfate) or MgSO4 (magnesium sulfate)
  • PEN, PCN - Penicillin
  • TCN - Tetracycline
  • TMP/SMX - Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
  • IV vanc - IV vancomycin
    • Can be mistaken for Invanz
  • HCTZ, HCT - Hydrochlorothiazide
    • HCT can also mean “hydrocortisone” or “hematocrit”
  • NTG - Nitroglycerin
  • D5W - Dextrose 5% in water
  • LR - Lactated Ringer’s
  • NS - Normal saline

Abbreviations: Disease States and Symptoms

  • BP, HBP - Blood pressure (BP); High blood pressure (HBP)
  • HA - Headache
  • N/V - Nausea and vomiting
  • P, PA - Pain
  • NKA, NKDA - No known allergies (NKA); No known drug allergies (NKDA)