HOSPITAL PHARMACY

Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER

TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS NSAID Non-steroidal AntiInflammatory
Drugs
p.m. Afternoon / Evening
TERMS DESCRIPTION RE Retinol Equivalent
ACE Angiotensin-converting enzyme Resp. Soln. Respiratory Solution
ADR Adverse drug reaction Rx Prescription
AIDS Acquired Immunodeficieny lin. Liniment
Syndrome (SC Subcutaneous
a.m. Morning, before noon (SL) Sublingual; under the tongue
Amp Ampule sig. Signa / write on label
AV Atrioventricular Soln. Solution
BCG Bacille Calmette-Guérin spp. Species
BP Blood pressure SR Sustained Release
BSA Body surface area SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake
cap., caps Capsule(s) Inhibitor
CNS Central Nervous System supp. Suppository
comp. Compound susp. Suspension
cr., crm. Cream syr. Syrup
CR Controlled-release tab., tabs. Tablet(s)
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid TB Tuberculosis
D5NS D5NS - Glucose (dextrose) 5% top. Topical
in normal saline (0.9%) XDR-TB XDR-TB - Extensively Drug-
D5W Glucose (dextrose) 5% solution resistant Tuberculosis
DOTS Directly observed treatment,
short-course
DMARD Disease modifying agents in DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
rheumatoid disorders TERMS DESCRIPTION
DPI Dry powder inhaler Active Ingredient is that portion of a drug that has
EC Enteric-coated therapeutic properties.
ECG Electrocardiogram Antineoplastic means acting to prevent, inhibit
emuls. Emulsion or half development of a
EPS Extrapyramidal syndrome neoplasm (tumor). It is an agent
ER Extended Release with antineoplastic properties.
FC Film-coated Example: Oxalipatin (eloxatin) is
G Gram an antineoplastic used in the
GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate treatment of metastatic of colon
GI Gastrointestinal cancer.
gtt(s) Drop(s) Area Under the Curve (AUC) refers to the amount or extent of
h, hr. Hour drug absorption.
HAI Hospital-Acquired Infections Bin card I is a stock record form in which
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus information on receipts, prices,
issuances and balances of
HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy
stocks is recorded It is
(ID) Intradermal
maintained with each product in
(IM) Intramuscular the storage area as a duplicate
Inj. Injection record.
INR International Normalized Ratio Bioavailability refers to the rate and extent of
IU International Unit(s) availability of an active
(IV) Intravenous ingredient from a dosage form
L Liter as measured by the
LA Long-Acting concentration /time curve in the
lin. Liniment systemic circulation or its
lot. Lotion excretion in the urine.
MAOI Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Bioequivalence refers to two related drugs that
MDI Metered Dose Inhaler show comparable bioavailability
MDR-TB Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and similar times to achieve
mEq Milliequivalent peak blood concentration.
Mg Milligram Biological products are viruses, sera, toxins, and
mL Milliliter analogous products used for the
Mmol Millimole prevention or cure of human
MR Modified release [includes CR, diseases.
ER, SR, LA] Clinical toxicology focuses on the effects of
nebul. Spray substances in patients caused
by accidental poisoning or

KDP | 3F-PH 1
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER
TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
intentional overdoses of
medications, drugs of abuse,
household products or various
other chemicals.
Cold Chain Monitors are cards used to monitor the
temperature of vaccines during
distribution.
Dangerous drugs refers to drugs included in the
list of Schedules annexed to the
1961 Single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs, as amended by
the 1972 protocol, and in the
Schedules annexed to the 1971
Single Convention on
Psychotropic Substances as
enumerated in the annexes
which are an integral part of the
Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002.
Device is an instrument, apparatus, or
contrivances including their
components, parts, and
accessories intended for the
cure, mitigation, treatment, or
prevention of disease in man or
animals, or two (2) to affect the
structure or any function of the
body in man or animals.
Dispensing is the act by a validly registered
pharmacist of filling a
prescription or doctor’s order o
the patient’s chart
Drug-Drug Interaction refers to the pharmacologic or
clinical response to the
administration of a drug
combination different from that
anticipated from the known
effects of the two (2) agents
when given alone.
Drug Outlets are drugstores, hospital
pharmacy and other business
establishment, which sells drugs
or medicines.
Drug Product or Medicine is a finished form that contains
the active ingredient(s)
generally, but not necessarily in
association with inactive
ingredients.
Drugs are articles recognized in the
current official United States
Pharmacopoeia- National Drug
Formulary (USP-NF), official
Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of
the United States, Official
Philippine National Drug
Formulary, or any supplement
to any of them, and (2) articles
intended for use to diagnosis,
cure, mitigation, treatment or
prevention of disease in man or
animals; and (3) articles (other
than food) intended to affect the
structure or function of the body
of man or animals; and (4)
articles intended for use as a
component of any articles
specified in clauses (1), (2), or
(3) but do not include devices or
their components, parts or
accessories.
First Expiry First Out (FEFO) is a method of inventory
management in which products
with the earliest expiry date are
the first products issued,
regardless of the order in which
they are received. This method
is more demanding than FIFO.
First In First Out (FIFO) is a method of inventory
management in which the first
products received is the first
products issued.
Generic Dispensing is dispensing the
patient’s/buyer’s choice from
among generic equivalents, i.e.
finished pharmaceutical
products having the same active
ingredient(s), same dosage
form and same strength as the
prescribed drug.
Generic Prescribing means prescribing of drugs and
medicines using their generic
name(s) or generic terminology.
Generic Substitution means the act of dispensing a
different branded or unbranded
drug product for the drug
product prescribed (i.e. a
pharmaceutical equivalent
distributed by a different
company).
Inventory refers to the total stock kept on
hand at any storage point to
protect against uncertainty,
permit bulk purchasing,
minimize waiting time, increase
transportation efficiency, and
buffer against seasonal
fluctuations.
Inventory Control is a method of supply
management that aims to
provide sufficient stocks of
drugs at the lowest costs
possible.
Menu Card is a list of drug products in
generic names with brand
names, ( if any), and
corresponding selling prices,
which is posted outside the
dispensing area of the hospital
pharmacy. It should be readily
accessible to the
patient/consumer.
Medication Error refers to any preventable event
that may cause or lead to
inappropriate medication use or
patient’s harm, while the
medication is in the control of
the health care professional,
patient, or consumer.
Non-prescription or over the are drugs that may be
counter drug dispensed even without an
KDP | 3F-PH 2
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER
TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS
order of a validly registered
physician, dentist, or
veterinarian in duly licensed
drug outlets. When dispensing
OTC drugs without a doctor’s
prescription, it is the duty of the
pharmacist to provide the
necessary information and
direction for use of the drug
product
Overdose is an intentional toxic exposure
either in the form of a suicide
attempt or as an inadvertent
exposure secondary to
intentional drug abuse.
Pallet is a transportable flat storage
base with or without sides,
designed to hold goods and to
permit handling by mechanical
aids such as pallet trucks and
forklifts.
Peak Plasma Drug is the plasma drug
Concentration (Cmax) concentration at Tmax that
relates to the intensity of the
pharmacological response.
Piggyback Infusions re solutions or dilutions given
through a secondary line. This
is used to administer doses of
IV medications such as
potassium or antibiotics. The
primary line would be the
infusion directly connected to a
solution administration set going
to the venous access. The
piggyback is going through
another set which tubing will be
connected to the injection port
of the main line when piggyback
unit is hung on an IV pole of at
least 6 inches higher than the
primary container
Pharmaceutical care means the responsible provision
of pharmaco-therapy for the
purpose of achieving definite
outcomes that improve or
maintains a patient’s quality of
life. It is a collaborative process
that aims to prevent or identify
and solve medicinal products
and health related problems.
This is a continuous quality
improvement process for the
use of medicinal products.
Pharmaceutical equivalence refers to medicinal products that
contain the same active
ingredient(s) in the same
dosage forms that meets the
same or comparable standards.
Pharmaceutical equivalence
does not necessarily imply
bioequivalence as differences in
the excipients and/or the
manufacturing process can lead
to faster or slower dissolution
and/or absorption.
Pharmacodynamics is the response following
administration of a drug is
directly related to the
concentration of the drug at the
site of its action, which is a
function of the dose,
administered.
Pharmacoeconomics refers to the scientific discipline
that compares the value of one
pharmaceutical drug or drug
therapy to another. It is also
defined as “the description and
analysis of the costs of drug
therapy to healthcare systems
and society.”
Pharmacokinetics is defined as the quantitative
items dependent changes of
both the plasma drug
concentration and the total
amount of drug in the body,
following the drug’s
administration by various
routes.
Pharmacy is the branch of pharmacology
that deals with the preparation,
dispensing, and proper use of
drugs.
Pharmacotherapeutics refers to the study of the uses of
drugs in the treatment of
disease.
Poison is any drug, active principle or
preparation of the same capable
of destroying life or seriously
endangering health when
applied externally to the body or
introduced internally in
moderate doses.
Poisoning refers to accidental toxic
exposure (e.g. the case of an
elderly patient who misreads a
drug label) or unintentional (e.g.
the case of an inquisitive toddler
or a child who gives drugs to
another child when ‘playing
doctor’’) or unawareness of the
toxic pressure (e.g. he or she is
the victim of an intended
homicide)
Prescription means a written or electronic
order and instruction of a validly
registered physician, dentist or
veterinarian for the use of a
specific drug product for a
specific patient or animal. For
the purpose of these Rules and
Regulations, the doctor’s order
on the patient’s chart for the use
of specific drug(s) shall be
considered a prescription.
Prescription or Ethical Drugs are drugs that can only be
dispensed upon a written order
of a validly registered physician,
dentist or veterinarian.
Quality Assurance is an investigational function
involves the auditing of quality
KDP | 3F-PH 3
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER

TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

control procedure and systems ADE Adverse Drug
with suggestions for changes as Events/Experiences
needed. ALOBS Allotment and Obligation Slip
STAT Orders are defined as emergency AO Administrative
medications (needed only in life Officer/Administrative Order
threatening situations) and APP Annual Procurement Plan
written by the prescribing BAC Bids and Awards Committee
physician. The physician calls a BFAD Bureau of Food and Drugs
STAT order to the attention of BHFS Bureau of Health Facilities
the nurse so it can be taken off Service
the chart immediately. BnB Botika ng Barangay
Pharmacy can fill these orders BSA Body Surface Area
in five (5) minutes or less if the
BUR Budget Utilization Review
order is called down and ready
CAA Clean Air Act
for pick up.
CBA Cost Benefit Analysis
S-3 license is a license issued by PDEA to
CBO Community-based Organization
the pharmacists who sell,
procure, acquire, deal in or with CEA Cost Effectiveness Analysis
specified (a) dangerous drugs cGMP current Good Manufacturing
preparations or (b) drug Practice
preparations, in parenteral or CHD Center for Health Development
tablet or capsule form, CHED Commission on Higher
containing Table I controlled Education
chemicals as the only active CMA Cost Minimization Analysis
medicinal ingredient or CMPS Chief, Medical Professional
containing Table I controlled Service
chemical and therapeutically COA Commission on Audit
insignificant quantities of COE Current Operating Expenses
another active medicinal COH Chief of Hospital
ingredient. It covers activities CPR Certificate of Product
granted to S1 license holders. Registration
Stock card is a stock record form that CQI Continuous Quality
provides basic information for Improvement
inventory management by CRI Cross Reference Index
recording all transactions for an CSC Civil Service Commission
item including receipts, issues, CSR Central Supply Room
orders received and stock CUA Cost Utility Analysis
losses. DD Dangerous Drugs
Therapeutic equivalence means two similar drugs have DepEd Department of Education
comparable efficacy and safety. DIS Drug Information Service
Therapeutic Index is the ratio of the dose that DO Department Order
produces toxicity to the dose
DPO Department Personnel Order
that produces critically desired
DOH Department of Health
or effective response in a
population of individuals. DR Delivery Room/Delivery Receipt
Time for Peak Plasma Drug relates to the rate constants for DTI Department of Trade and
Concentration (Tmax) systemic drug absorption and Industry
elimination. DUE Drug Utilization Evaluation
Toxicology is the study of poisons, their DUR Drug Utilization Review
actions, their detection, and the DV Disbursement Voucher
treatment of the conditions EO Executive Order
produced by them. ER Emergency Room
Wholesaler means and includes every FEFO First Expiry-First Out
person who acts as merchant, FIFO First In-First Out
broker, or agent, who sells or GAA General Appropriations Act
distributes for resale GOCC Government Owned and
pharmaceuticals, propriety Controlled Corporation
medicines or pharmaceutical HEMS Health Emergency Management
specialties. Staff
HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air
HHRDB Health Human Resource
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Development Bureau
TERMS DESCRIPTION HOMIS Hospital Operations
AA Administrative Aide Management Information
ADR Adverse Drug Reaction System

KDP | 3F-PH 4
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER

TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

ICC Infection Control Committee PTC Pharmacy and Therapeutics
ICT Infection Control Team Committee
ICU Intensive Care Unit PTR Professional Tax Receipt
ITHOMP Integrated Hospital Operations RA Republic Act
and Management Program RCATS Regional Committee on
IM Intramuscular Affiliation and Training of
IR Invoice Receipt Students
IV Intravenous RIS Requisition and Issue Slip
LFH Laminar Flow Hood RR Recovery Room
LTO License to Operate SAI Supplies Availability Inquiry
MIMS Medical Index of Medical SC Subcutaneous
Specialties SI Sales Invoice
MMD Materials Management Division SOP Standard Operating Procedures
MOA Memorandum of Agreement SPS Stock Position Sheet
MOOE Maintenance and other TPN Total Parenteral Nutrition
Operating Expenses TT Tetanus Toxoid
MSW Medical Social Worker TWG Technical Working Group
NCATS National Committee on UNICEF United Nations International
Affiliation and Training of Children Emergency Fund
Students USP United States Pharmacopeia
NCHFD National Center for Health WHO World Health Organization
Facilities Development WMR Waste Material Report
NFC National Formulary Committee
NF National Formulary
NGAS New Government Accounting COMMONLY USED ABBREVIATION IN PRESCRIPTIONS
System TERMS DESCRIPTION
NGO Non-Government Organizations aa of each
NHIP National Health Insurance ac before meals
Program a.d. right ear
NST Nutrition Support Team as left ear
OR Operating Room am morning
OTC Over-the-Counter amp ampoule
PACOP Philippine Association of au each ear
Colleges of Pharmacy bid twice a day
PAPPI Philippine Association of BP Blood Pressure
Pharmacists in Pharmaceutical BSA Body Surface Area
Inductry cap capsule
PCA Patient Controlled Analgesic dc discontinue medication
PDAF Priority Development dil dilute
Assistance Fund
disp dispense
PDEA Philippine Drug Enforcement
div divide
Agency
Dx diagnosis
PECs Precursor and Essential
g gram g gram
Chemicals
GI gastrointestinal
PES Performance Evaluation System
gr grain
PHIC Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation git drop
PITC Philippine International Trading h an hour
Corporation HCTZ hydrochlorothiazide
PNDF Philippine National Drug hs at bedtime
Formulary IU. international unit
PO Purchase Order IVP intravenous push
PPhA Philippine Pharmacists K Potassium
Association lin liniment
PPMP Project Procurement lot. lotion
Management Plan M mix
PR Purchase Request mcg microgram
PRC Professional Regulation mEq Milliequivalent
Commission mg Milligram
PS Procurement Service ml milliliter
PSHP Philippines Society of Hospital MS Morphine Sulfate
Pharmacists MTX Methotrexate
PTAHC Philippine Traditional and MVI Multivitamin
Alternative Health Care Na Sodium

KDP | 3F-PH 5
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER

TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

NPO nothing by mouth (at) might night, nocte
NS Normal Saline every 4 hours every 4 hrs, 4 hourly, 4 hrly
od Right eye every 6 hours every 6 hrs, 6 hourly, 6 hrly
oint Ointment every 8 hours every 8 hrs, 8 hourly, 8 hrly
os Left eye once a week once a week and specify the
ou Each eye day in full, eg, once a week on
pm Afternoon/evening Tuesdays
po By mouth three times three times a week and specify
postop After surgery the exact days in full, e.g., three
prn When necessary/as needed times a week on Mondays,
q Every Wednesdays and Saturdays
qd Every day when required prn
qh Every hour Immediately stat
qad Every other day before food before food
qid Four times a day after food after food
SL sublingual with food with food
Sol Solution Routes of administration
Ss One-half epidural epidural
stat Immediately inhale, inhalation inhale, inhalation
supp Suppository intraarticular intraarticular
susp suspension intramuscular IM
sx Symptom intrathecal intrathecal
syr Syrup intranasal intranasal
tab Tablet intravenous IV
tbsp Tablespoonful irrigation irrigation
tid Three times a day left left
TMP-SMX Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole nebulised NEB
naso-gastric NG
oral PO
TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS percutaneous enteral PEG
gastrostomy
• Objectives per vagina PV
o In order to promote patient safety through clear and
per rectum PR
unambiguous prescribing of medicines, this topic establishes
peripherally inserted central PICC
the following:
catheter
o principles for consistent prescribing terminology
a set of approved terms and acceptable abbreviations night right
a list of error-prone abbreviations, symbols and dose designations that subcutaneous subcut
have a history of causing error and must be avoided Sublingual subling
o knowledge on hospital formulary topical topical
Units of Measure and Concentrations
PRINCIPLES FOR CONSISTENT PRESCRIBING grarm(s) g
TERMINOLOGY International unit(s) International unitis)
Unit(s) Unit(s)
1. Use plain English - avoid jargon.
litre(s) L
2. Write in full - avoid using abbreviations wherever possible,
milligram(s) mg
including Latin abbreviations.
3. Print all text - especially drug names. milliliters) mL
4. Use generic drug names. Microgram(s) microgram, microg
5. Write drug names in full. percentage %
6. Do not use chemical names/symbols. millimole mmol
7. Dose - Use words or Hindu-Arabic numbers, metric system, do not Dose Forms
use trailing zeros capsule cap
8. Avoid fractions cream cream
9. Do not use symbols ear drops ear drops
10. Avoid acronyms or abbreviations for medical terms and procedure ear ointment ear ointment
names on orders or prescriptions eye drops eye drops
eye ointment Eye ointment
injection Inj
ACCEPTABLE TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS metered dose inhaler metered dose inhaler, inhaler,
Intended Meaning Acceptable terms or MDI
abbreviation moisture mixture
Dose Frequency or Timing ointment ointment, oint
(in the) morning morning, mane pessary Press
(at) midday midday power Powder

KDP | 3F-PH 6
 HOSPITAL PHARMACY
Laboratory \ FIRST SEMESTER

TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS, AND DEFINITIONS

suppository Supp • is a method whereby the medical staff of a hospital with the help
tablet tablet, tab of pharmacy and therapeutic committee selects and evaluates medical
Patent controlled analgesia PCA agents and their dosage forms which are considered to be most useful
in the patient care.

ERROR-PRONE ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS AND DOSE PREPARATION OF HOSPITAL FORMULARY

1. Introductory information:
DESIGNATIONS TO BE AVOIDED
o Acknowledgement
Error-prone Abbreviation Intended Meaning o List of abbreviations
ua. mcg or ug microgram o Intended usage of the formulary manual.
BID or bid Twice daily 2. Basic information of the drug:
BT or bt Bedtime o Generic name
cc Cubic centimeters o Dosage form
D/C Discharge or discontinue o Strength Indications
e or E Ear or eye o Pharmacological action
gtt or gutte Drops o Precautions
HS Half-strength o Side effects
Hs At bedtime, hours of sleep o Frequency Instructions
IJ Injection o Drug interactions.
IN Intranasal 3. Supplementary information on each drug:
IT Intrathecal o Price Regulatory category
IU International units o Storage guidelines
IVI Intravenous injection o Patient counseling information
o Brand names
M morning
4. Prescribing and dispensing guidelines:
N Night
o Principles of prescription writing Name and address of the
Oc or Occ Eye ointment patient
Mist Mixture o Prescribed drug should be written in formulary terminology
o.d. or OD Once daily o strength of prescribed medication must be given in accepted
Qd or QD Every day metric system
pulv Powder o Correct dispending guidelines. Prevention and reporting of
Qhs Nightly at bedtime ADRs
Qh Every hour 5. General drug use advice:
qod or QOD Every other day o Use of IV additives. Prescribing in special situations
Q6PM etc Every evening at 6 pm o Poisoning and antidotes
SC Subcutaneous 6. Other components:
SL or S/L Sublingual o Formulas for various diagnostic stains
Ss Sliding scale (insulin) or half o Diagnostic aids
(apothecary) o Table of common Lab-values
SSRI or SSI Sliding scale regular insulin o Posological tables
Or sliding scale insulin o Index of the drugs included in the formulary Metric units indexes
TID Three times a day (by generic name, brand name, therapeutic category)
TIW Three times a week
i/D One daily REFERENCES
6/24 Every six hours
PHA6129 Lab Files:
1/7 For one day
½ Half - HOSPITAL-PHARMACY-ABBREVIATIONS-
I, ii, iii, iv (Roman numerals) 1,2,3,4 etc PNF8thED.pdf
Trailing zero after decimal 1 mg - HOSPITAL-PHARMACY-DEFINITIONS-AND-
point (eg. 1.0mg) ABBREVIATIONS-DOH-HOSPPHAR-MANAGEMENT-
No leading zero before a 0.5 mg MANUAL-2012-1
decimal point (eg. 5mg) - 01 Terms and Abbreviation Discussion-2.pdf
Large doses without properly 100, 000 units
places commas (eg. 1, 000, 000 untis
100000units, 1000000 units)
106 etc One million

HOSPITAL FORMULARY
• is a continuously revised compilation of pharmaceuticals
including important ancillary information that reflects the current clinical
judgement of the medical staff.

HOSPITAL FORMULARY SYSTEM

KDP | 3F-PH 7