COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviation Meaning Abbreviation Meaning

a.c., ac Before meals NGT / ng Nasogastric tube
A.D., AD Right ear npo / NPO Nothing by mouth
a.m. / AM Morning, before noon od Once daily
amp ampule OD Right eye
aq Aqueous water o.n. over night
A.S., AS Left ear OS Left eye
A.U., AU Both ears OTC Over the counter
b.i.d. / bid, BID Twice a day OU Both eyes
b.i.w. Twice a week pc After meals
__ with Per os / po, PO By or through mouth,
c orally
Cap / caps capsule pr Per rectum
CD Controlled dose prn as necessary
CR Controlled release qh Every hour
d.c. / DC Discontinue q2h, q4h, q6h, Every 2 hours, every 4
q8h, q12h hours, etc.
dil Dilute qhs Every night at bedtime
DS Double strength qid 4 times per day
EC Enteric coated qn Every night
elix elixer qod Every other day
ext extract rect rectum
fld fluid __ without
s
gt / GT Gastrostomy tube sc / SC / sq subcutaneous
gtt drop sl / SL sublingual
h / hr hour sol / soln solution
hs at bedtime SR Sustained release
ID intradermal S&S Swish and swallow
IM intramuscular stat/ STAT Immediately, at once
IV intravenous supp suppository
IVPB Intravenous piggyback susp suspension
I/O or I & O Intake and output [fluids] syp / syr syrup
kvo Keep vein open [a very slow tab tablet
infusion rate]
LA Long acting tid, TID Three times per day
LOS Length of stay tiw Three times per week
MAR Medication administration tr / tinct tincture
record
mcg / ug microgram iu International unit
mEq milliequivalent pm / PM Evening, before midnight
mg milligram ung / oint ointment
min minute XL Long acting
mix mixture XR Extended release
mmol millimole q Every, each
vag vaginally qid, QID Four times per day