Abbreviation

alt. dieb.
aq.
bin
bis i. d.
c.
ca.
comp
cont. rem.
d.
de d. in d.
dieb. alt.
dil.
in p. aeq.
Dur. dolor.
FDA
grad.
gt
h
hor. som.
h.s.
in d.
m.
m. et n.
mg
N.F.
n.b.
noct. maneq.
NPO
o.d.
oh
ol
om
omn. hor.
on
os
oz.
p.c.
PDR
po
p.p.a.
p.r.n.
Q(q)
q.h.
q.l.
q.p.
q.q.h.
qq. hor.
q.suff.
q.s.
quotid.
R/
si op. sit

Derivation
alternis diebus
aqua
bis in noctis
bis in diem
circa
circa
compositus
continuantur remedia
da
de die in diem
diebus alternis
dilue, dilutus
dividiatur in partes aequales
durante dolore
gradatim
gutta
hora
hora somni
hora somni
in dies
misce
mane et nocte

nota bene
noct maneque
nulla per os
omni die
omni hora
oleum
omni mane
omni hora
omni nocte
os
post cibum
per os
phiala prius agitata
pro re nata
quaque
quaque hora
quantum libet
quantum placeat
quaque quarta hora
quaque hora
quantum sufficit
quantum satis
quotidie
recipe
si opus sit

Meaning
on alternate days
water
two times a night
twice a day
about, approximately
about, approximately
Compound
let the remedies be continued
give, administer
daily
on alternate days
dilute, dilutus
divide into equal parts
while the pain lasts
Food & Drug Administration
gradually
drops
hour
at bedtime
at bedtime
daily
mix
morning and night
milligram
National Formulary
mark well
night and morning
nothing by mouth
every day
every hour
oil
every morning
every hour
every night
mouth
ounce
after meals
Physicians Desk Reference
by mouth
shake the bottle first
as occasion arises
every
every hour
as much as desired
as much as you please
every four hours
every hour
as much as suffices
as much as suffices
daily
take
if necessary

solv.
st.
subq
sum.
syr
tab
tal.
ter i. d.
ung
U.S.P.
ut dict.

solve
stet, stent
sume
syrupus
talis
ter in diem
ungentum
ut dictum

Combining forms:
aer/o: air
algesi/o: sensitivity to pain
chem/o: drug
cras/o: mixture, temperament
derm/o: skin
enter/o: intestines
erg/o: work
esthesi/o: feeling, nervous sensation
hist/o: tissue
hypn/o: sleep
iatr/o: physician, treatment
idi/o: individual, distinct, own
lingu/o: tongue
myc/o: mold
pharmac/o: drug
pyr/o: fever
narc/o: numbness, stupor
thec/o: sheath (of brain and spinal cord)
tox/o: poison
toxic/o: poison
vas/o: vessel
ven/o: vein
vit/o: life
Prefix:
anti-: against
contra-: against
Suffix:
-cidal: pertaining to killing
-lytic: reduce, destroy
-mimetic: mimic, copy
-phylaxis: protection
-static: pertaining to stopping, controlling

dissolve
let it stand, let them stand
subcutaneous injection
take
syrup
tablet
such
three times a day
ointment
United States Pharmacopeia
as directed

Abbreviations Used In Dosage And Directions:

Abbreviation
aa
ad
ad lib
b
C
c
cc
caps
Gm
gr
gtt
(h)
IM
IV
kg
l
LB., lb
ml
ocul
o.d.
o.s.
o.u.
p.o.
q.s.
R
s
s.c., sub cut
sig
s.o.s.
ss
tab
tsp
tbsp

Derivation
ana
ad
ad libitum
bis
cum
capsula
gram
granum,grana
gutta
hypodermic

kilogram
liter
libra
milliliter
oculus
oculo dextro
oculo sinistro
oculus uterque
per os
quantum sufficit
recipe
sine
sub cutem
signa
si opus sit
semis
teaspoon
tablespoon

Meaning
of each
up to
as much as desired
twice
centigrade
with
cubic centimeter
capsule
gram, grams
grain, grains
drop, drops
under the skin
intramuscular
intravenous
thousand grams
liter
pound
thousandth of a liter
the eye
in right eye
in left eye
in each eye
by mouth
a sufficient quantity
take
without
subcutaneous
label, let it be labeled
if necessary
one-half
tablet
teaspoonful
tablespoonful

Abbreviations Indicating Time of Administration:

Abbreviation
a.c.
b.i.d.
h
h.s.
o.m.
o.n.
p.c.
p.r.n.
q.d.
q.2h., q.3h., q.4h.
q.i.d., or 4. i.d.
stat

Derivation
ante cibos
bis in diem
hora
hora somni
omni mane
omni nocte
post cibos
pro re nata
quaque diem
quarter in diem
statium

Meaning
before meals
twice a day
hour
at bedtime
each morning
each night
after meals
when needed
every day (daily)
every 2,3, or 4 hours
four times a day
at once

Abbreviations Indicating Hours of Administration:

Abbreviation:
q.i.d.
q.2h
q.3h
q.4h
q.6h
b.i.d.
t.i.d.
a.c.
p.c.

Meaning:
0800, 1200, 1600, 2000
0600, 0800, 1000, 1200, etc.
0900, 1200, 1500, 1800, etc.
0800, 1200, 1600, etc.
0600, 1200, etc.
1000, 1600
1000, 1500, and 1800
1/2 hour before meals: 0630, 1130, 1630
0800, 1400, 1800

Abbreviation:
q.i.d.
q.2h
q.3h
q.4h
q.6h
b.i.d.
t.i.d.
a.c.
p.c.