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