60 PHARMACEUTICAL CALCULATIONS

TABLE 4.2 SELECTED ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS, AND SYMBOLS USED

IN PRESCRIPTIONS AND MEDICATION ORDERSa,b
ABBREVIATION ABBREVIATION
(LATIN ORIGINc ) MEANING (LATIN ORIGINc ) MEANING
Prescription Filling Directions pt. pint
aa. or (ana) of each qt. quart
ad (ad) up to; to make ss or ss (semissem one half
disp. (dispensatur) dispense tbsp. tablespoonful
div. (dividatur) divide tsp. teaspoonful
d.t.d. (dentur tales give of such doses Signa/Patient Instructions
doses) a.c. (ante cibos) before meals
ft (fiat) make ad lib. (ad libitum) at pleasure, freely
M. (mice) mix admin administer
No. (numero) number A.M. (ante morning
non rep. or NR (non do not repeat meridiem)
repatatur)
aq. (aqua) water
q.s. (quantum a sufficient quantity ATC around the clock
sufficit) b.i.d. (bis in die) twice a day
q.s. ad (quantum a sufficient quantity c or c (cum) with
sufficiat ad) to make d (die) day
Sig. (Signa) write (directions dil. (dilutus) dilute
on label) et and
Quantities and Measurement h. or hr. (hora) hour
BSA body surface area h.s. (hora somni) at bedtime
cm3 cubic centimeter i.c. (inter cibos) between meals
or milliliter (mL) min. (minutum) minute
f or fl (fluidus) fluid m&n morning and night
fl! or f! fluid dram (! N&V nausea and vomiting
teaspoonful, 5 mL) noct. (nocte) night
flJss orfJss half-fluidounce (! NPO (non per os) nothing by mouth
tablespoonful, 15mL) p.c. (post cibos) after meals
g gram P.M. (post afternoon; evening
gal gallon meridiem)
gtt (gutta) drop p.o. (per os) by mouth (orally)
lb (libra) pound p.r.n. (pro re nata) as needed
kg kilogram q (quaque) every
L liter qAM every morning
m2 or M2 square meter q4h, q8h, etc. every — hours
mcg microgram q.i.d. (quarter four times a day
mEq milliequivalent in die)
mg milligram rep. (repetatur) repeat
mg/kg milligrams (of drug) per s (sine) without
kilogram (of body s.i.d. (semel in die) once a day
weight) s.o.s. (si opus sit) if there is need; as
mg/m2 milligrams (of drug) per needed
square meter (of body stat. (statim) immediately
surface area) t.i.d. (ter in die) three times a day
mL milliliter ut dict. (ut dictum) as directed
mL/h milliliters (of drug wk. week
administered) per hour Medications
(as through intravenous APAP acetaminophen
administration) ASA aspirin
mOsm or mOsmol milliosmoles AZT zidovudine
oz. ounce
(continued)
 CHAPTER 4 • INTERPRETATION OF PRESCRIPTIONS AND MEDICATION ORDERS 61

TABLE 4.2 Continued

ABBREVIATION ABBREVIATION
(LATIN ORIGINc ) MEANING (LATIN ORIGINc ) MEANING
EES erythromycin D5NS dextrose 5% in normal
ethylsuccinate saline (0.9% sodium
HC hydrocortisone chloride)
HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide D5W dextrose 5% in water
MTX methotrexate D10W dextrose 10% in water
NTG nitroglycerin elix. elixir
Clinical inj. injection
NS normal saline
BM bowel movement 1
⁄2NS half-strength normal
BP blood preasure
BS blood sugar saline
oint or ungt. ointment
CHD coronary heart disease
(unguentum)
CHF congestive heart failure
pulv. (pulvis) powder
GERD gastrointestinal reflux
disease RL, R/L or LR Ringer’s Lactate or
GI gastrointestinal Lactated Ringer’s
GFR glomerular filtration rate sol. (solutio) solution
GU genitourinary supp. suppository
HA headache (suppositorium)
HBP high blood pressure susp. suspension
HRT hormone replacement syr. (syrupus) syrup
therapy tab. (tabletta) tablet
HT or HTN hypertension Routes of Administration
IOP intraocular pressure CIVI continuous (24 hour)
MI myocardial ischemia/ intravenous infusion
infarction ID intradermal
OA osteoarthritis IM intramuscular
Pt patient IT intrathecal
SOB shortness of breath IV intravenous
TPN total parenteral nutrition IVB intravenous bolus
URI upper respiratory IV Drip intravenous infusion
infection IVP intravenous push
UTI urinary tract infection IVPB intravenous piggy back
Dosage Forms/Vehicles NGT nasogastric tube
amp. ampul p.o. or PO ( per os) by mouth
rect. rectal or rectum
cap. capsule
SL sublingual
D5LR dextrose 5% in lactated
Ringer’s SubQ subcutaneously
Top. topically
V or PV vaginally
a
The abbreviations set in boldface type are considered most likely to appear on prescriptions. It is suggested that
these be learned first.
b
In practice, periods and/or capital letters may or may not be used with the abbreviations. Some abbreviations,
acronyms, and symbols have medication-error risks associated with their use. Therefore, the Institute for Safe
Medication Practices (ISMP) and the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) have
issued a list of items prohibited from use and others considered for prohibition (see text).9 These designated items
are not included in Table 4.2, with the exception of hs, subQ, AZT, and HCTZ, which are included for instructional
purpose due to their remaining use in practice.
c
Muldoon HC. Pharmaceutical Latin. 4th Ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1952.