Pharmacology and Medical Therapeutics: Latin Abbreviations

General Abbreviations

  • Latin abbreviations create a concise, easily understood method of communication in the medical field.
  • They provide a standardized form of communication in areas like medical records.
  • Terms may vary slightly by hospital and region, but understanding common terms is essential.
  • These abbreviations are used in patient charts, doctor's orders, and prescriptions.

Common Abbreviations

  • Percent (%): Indicates the strength of a solution (e.g., 50% dextrose solution).
  • ® (R in a circle): Registered trade name (e.g., Baytril for enrofloxacin).
    • Generic forms will not have this symbol.
  • c̄ (c with a dash above): With.
    • Indicates something given with another procedure or item.
  • s̄ (s with a dash above): Without.
  • p̄ (p with a dash above): After.
  • Rx: Prescription. Seen in patient charts.
  • Sx: Surgery.
  • Tx: Treatment.
  • Dx: Diagnosis.
  • DDx: Differential diagnosis.
  • ad lib: As desired.
    • Refers to the amount of food or water a patient can have.
  • ASAP: As soon as possible.
  • AMA: Against medical advice.
    • Used when an owner declines treatment.
  • BSA: Body surface area.
    • Used for dosing certain topical medications (e.g., nitroglycerin, pain medication).
  • STAT: Immediately.
    • Faster than ASAP.
  • WNL: Within normal limits.
    • A simple acronym for phrases.

Drug Forms Abbreviations

  • Abbreviations indicate the form of medication to be administered or dispensed.

  • The route of administration depends on the patient, condition, and setting (hospital vs. home).

  • Ease of administration is crucial for client compliance.

  • CAP: Capsules.

  • TAB: Tablet.

  • GT or GTT: Drops (from Latin "guttae").

  • Solution/Solutions: Solutions for IV solutions, dilutions, wound flushes, etc.

  • Conc: Concentrate.

    • Used when working with or mixing from a concentrate.

  • SR: Sustained release or delayed release.

    • Medications with different coatings that dissolve at different rates.
    • Can be in capsule, tablet, or bolus form.

Routes of Administration Abbreviations

  • Abbreviations communicate the administration route.
  • IA: Intraarterial (into an artery).
  • ID: Intradermal (into the skin).
  • IM: Intramuscular (into the muscle).
  • IP: Intraperitoneal.
  • IT: Intratracheal (to or around the trachea).
  • IV: Intravenous (into the vein).
  • PO: Orally, by mouth (from Latin "per os").
  • NPO: Nothing by mouth (from Latin "non per os").
  • SQ, SC, SubQ, SubC: Subcutaneous (into the subcutaneous layer of skin).

Frequency of Administration Abbreviations

  • Abbreviations indicate how often to administer medication in a 24-hour period.

  • EOD: Every other day.

  • SID: Once daily, every 24 hours.

  • BID: Twice daily, every 12 hours.

  • TID: Three times daily, every 8 hours.

  • QID: Four times daily, every 6 hours.

  • Q: Every.

  • HR: Hour.

  • Q2H: Every 2 hours.

  • Q4H: Every 4 hours.

  • Q6H: Every 6 hours (same as QID).

  • Q8H: Every 8 hours (same as TID).

  • Q12H: Every 12 hours (same as BID).

  • QD: Every day (same as SID).

  • QH: Every hour.

  • QN: Every night.

  • QOD: Every other day (like EOD).

  • PRN: As needed (from Latin "pro re nata").

  • STAT: Immediately.

    • Used in emergencies.

  • To ensure correct time intervals:

    • BID: 24÷2=1224 \div 2 = 12 hours.
    • TID: 24÷3=824 \div 3 = 8 hours.

Weights, Measures, and Volumes Abbreviations

  • Abbreviations indicate strength, weight, and volume for dosage calculations.
  • cal: Calorie.
    • Seen in nutritional supplements.
  • Kcal: Kilocalories.
    • Seen on nutritional labels.
  • cc: Cubic centimeter.
    • Often used interchangeably with milliliter (mL).
  • dr: Dram.
    • Apothecary measurement equal to 1/8 of an ounce.
  • GT or GTT: Drops (guttae).
    • Seen in fluid therapy and drug administration.
  • gal: Gallon.
  • gr: Grain.
    • Apothecary measurement equal to approximately 64.8 mg, often rounded to 65 mg.
  • lb or #: Pounds.
  • oz: Ounce.
  • fl oz: Fluid ounce.
  • pt: Pint.
  • ppm: Parts per million.
  • qt: Quart.
  • t or tsp: Teaspoon.
    • Smaller than a tablespoon.
  • T, tbs, or tbsp: Tablespoon.
    • There are three teaspoons in one tablespoon.
  • IU: International units.
  • u: Units.

Metric System Abbreviations

  • Used for mass, volume, and length in dosage calculations.

Mass/Weight

  • mcg or μg: Microgram. (Do not confuse with mg).
  • g or gm: Gram.
  • kg: Kilogram (approximately 2.2 pounds).

Volume

  • mL: Milliliter.
  • L: Liter.

Length

  • mm: Millimeters.
  • cm: Centimeters.
  • m: Meters.
  • km: Kilometers.

Metric Unit Comparison

  • Base units: grams, liters, or meters.
  • Moving up the chart (increasing unit size): deca, hecto, kilo.
  • Moving down the chart (decreasing unit size): deci, centi, milli, micro.
  • Each step up divides by 10. Moving the decimal to the left.

Common Drug Abbreviations

  • Drugs and electrolytes may be abbreviated in patient charts.

  • ACE: Acepromazine (tranquilizer).

    • Do not confuse with ACE inhibitors (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme inhibitors).

  • Bute: Phenylbutazone.

  • Torb: Torbugesic.

  • Ca: Calcium.

  • K: Potassium.

  • Na: Sodium.

  • N/S: Normal saline.

  • D5W: 5% Dextrose in water.

  • D/S: Dextrose in saline.

  • DES: Diethylstilbestrol.

  • DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.

  • If unsure of an abbreviation, verify with a supervisor or veterinarian.

Abbreviations for Directions

  • Abbreviations indicate directions and areas of the patient.
  • GI: Gastrointestinal.
  • L or Lt: Left (e.g., left side, left lip).
  • OD: Oculus dexter (right eye).
  • OS: Oculus sinister (left eye).
  • OU: Oculus uterque (both eyes).
  • R: Right.
  • UG: Urogenital.

Examples

  • Amoxicillin 1 mL PO BID × 10 days:
    • Dispense 20 mL of amoxicillin.
    • Give 1mL by mouth in the morning and at night for ten days.
      1 mL/dose×2 doses/day×10 days=20 mL1 \, \text{mL/dose} \times 2 \, \text{doses/day} \times 10 \, \text{days} = 20 \, \text{mL}
  • Siloxine 0.1 mg SID × 30 days:
    • Dispense 30 tablets of 0.1 mg of siloxine.
    • Give orally once daily for 30 days.
    • Drug used to treat hypothyroidism.
    • Check T4 levels before refilling to verify correct dose.
  • 500 mL Lactated Ringers IV @ 15 gtt/min:
    • Administer 500 mL of lactated ringer's solution intravenously at a rate of 15 drops per minute.
    • Some hospitals use IV fluid pumps; others count drops.