Drug Abbreviations, Labels & Packaging

Time of Administration

ac: before meals
pc: after meals
daily: every day, daily
- DO NOT USE: qd/q.d.
bid: twice a day
tid: three times a day
qid: four times a day
qh: hourly
at bedtime: at bedtime
- DO NOT USE hs/h.s.
qn: every night
stat: immediately

every other day: every other day
- DO NOT USE qod/q.o.d.
prn: as needed
three times weekly: three times per week
- DO NOT USE tiw/t.i.w.
biw: twice per week

q2h: every 2 hours
q4h: every 4 hours
q6h: every 6 hours
q8h: every 8 hours
q12h: every 12 hours

Military Time

24 hour clock
Add 12 or subtract 12
ex: 1300 is 1:00pm
Midnight is 0 hour, or 0000

Routes of Administration

Right ear
- DO NOT USE: AD
Left ear
- DO NOT USE: AL
Both ears
- DO NOT USE AU
HHN: handheld nebulizer
IM: intramuscularly
IV: intravenously
IVP: intravenous push
IVPB: intravenous piggyback
MDI: metered-dose inhaler
NEB: nebulizer
NGT or ng : nasogastric tube
Right eye
- DO NOT USE OD
Left eye
- DO NOT USE OS
Both eyes
- DO NOT USE OU
PO or po: by mouth
PR or pr: in rectum
Subcutaneously or sub q
- DO NOT USE sc or sq
SL: sublingual
S&S: swish and swallow

Metric and SI Abbreviations

cc: cubic centimeter
- DO NOT USE: substitute for mL
g: gram
kg: kilogram
L: liter
mcg: microgram
- DO NOT USE: greek symbol gamma
mEq: milliequivalent
mg: milligram
ml or mL: milliliter
unit
- DO NOT USE: U

Abbreviations for Drug Prep

cap, capsules
CR: controlled release
LA: long acting
SA: sustained action
SR: slow release
DS: double strength
EC: enteric coated
el, elix: elixir
sol: solution
sp: spirit
sup or supp: suppository
susp: suspension
syr: syrup
tab or tabs: tablet
tr or tinct: tincture
ung or oint: ointment
KVO: keep vein open
TKO: to keep open
Discontinue
NKA: no known allergies
NKDA: no known drug allergies