Abbreviations

ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament. ACL injuries are one of the most commonligament injuries
to the knee. The ACL can be sprained or completely torn from trauma and/or degeneration.
Ad lib: At liberty. For example, a patient may be permitted to move out of bed freely and
orders would, therefore, be for activities to be ad lib.
AKA: Above the knee amputation. BKA: Acronym standing for "below knee amputation." A
nurse scrubbing for a BKA is preparing to assist in a below-knee amputation.
Anuric: Not producing urine. A person who is anuric is often critical and may
require dialysis.
b.i.d. (on prescription): Seen on a prescription, b.i.d. means twice (two times) a day. It is
an abbreviation for "bis in die" which in Latin means twice a day. The abbreviation b.i.d. is
sometimes written without a period either in lower-case letters as "bid" or in capital letters
as "BID". However it is written, it is one of a number of hallowed abbreviations of Latin
terms that have been traditionally used in prescriptions to specify the frequency with which
medicines should be taken.
Other examples include:

 q.d. (qd or QD) is once a day; q.d. stands for "quaque die" (which means, in Latin,
once a day).

 t.i.d. (or tid or TID) is three times a day ; t.i.d. stands for "ter in die" (in Latin, 3 times a
day).

 q.i.d. (or qid or QID) is four times a day; q.i.d. stands for "quater in die" (in Latin, 4
times a day).

 q_h: If a medicine is to be taken every so-many hours, it is written "q_h"; the "q"
standing for "quaque" and the "h" indicating the number of hours. So, for example, "2
caps q4h" means "Take 2 capsules every 4 hours."

 q2h: Every 2 hours. As in taking a medicine every 2 hours.

 q3h: Every 3 hours. As in taking a medicine every 3 hours.
 qAM: Each morning. As in taking a medicine each morning.
 qhs: At each bedtime. As in taking a medicine each bedtime.
 qod: Every other day. As in taking a medicine every other day.
 qPM: Each evening. As in taking a medicine each evening.


 BMP: Basic metabolic panel. Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, carbon dioxide,

and chloride) and creatinine and glucose.
 BP: Blood pressure. Blood pressure is recorded as part of the physical
examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
 BSO: Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A BSO is the removal of both of the ovaries
and adjacent Fallopian tubes and often is performed as part of a total abdominal
hysterectomy.
 
 C&S: Culture and sensitivity, performed to detect infection.
 C/O: Complaint of. The patient's expressed concern.
 cap: Capsule.
 CBC: Complete blood count.
 CC: Chief complaint. The patient's main concern.
 cc: Cubic centimeters. For example, the amount of fluid removed from the body is
recorded in ccs.
 Chem panel: Chemistry panel. A comprehensive screening blood test that
indicates the status of the liver, kidneys, and electrolytes.~´
 COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
 CVA: Cerebrovascular accident (Stroke).

 D/C or DC: Discontinue or discharge. For example, a doctor will D/C a drug.
Alternatively, the doctor might DC a patient from the hospital.
 DDX: Differential diagnosis The variety diagnostic possibilities being considered.
 DM: Diabetes mellitus.
 DOE: Dyspnea on exertion. Shortness of breath with activity.
 DTR: Deep tendon reflexes. These are reflexes that the doctor tests by banging on
the tendons with a rubber hammer.
 DVT: Deep venous thrombosis (Blood clot in large vein).
 H&H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit. When the H & H is low, anemia is present. The
H&H can be elevated in persons who have lung disease from long term smoking or
from disease, such as polycythemia rubra vera.
 H&P: History and physical examination.
 h.s.: At bedtime. As in taking a medicine at bedtime.
 H/O or h/o: History of. A past event that occurred.
 HA: Headache.
 HTN: Hypertension.

 I&D: Incision and drainage.
 IM: Intramuscular. This is a typical notation when noting or ordering an injection
(shot) given into muscle, such as with B12 for pernicious anemia.
 IMP: Impression. This is the summary conclusion of the patient's condition by the
healthcare practitioner at that particular date and time.
 in vitro: In the laboratory.
 in vivo: In the body.
 IU: International units.

 JT: Joint.
LBP: Low back pain. LBP is one of most common medical complaints.

mg: Milligrams.
ml: Milliliters.
MVP: Mitral valve prolapse.
N/V: Nausea or vomiting.

P: Pulse. Pulse is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
p.r.n.: Abbreviation meaning "when necessary" (from the Latin "pro re nata", for an
occasion that has arisen, as circumstances require, as needed).

PERRLA: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation

Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) is a complete evaluation of the respiratory system

including patient history, physical examinations, chest x-ray examinations, arterial blood gas
analysis, and tests of pulmonary function. The primary purpose of pulmonary function testing is
to identify the severity of pulmonary impairment.[1] Pulmonary function testing has diagnostic
and therapeutic roles and helps clinicians answer some general questions about patients with
lung disease. PFT's are normally performed by a specialist technician.

SOB: Shortness of breath.

SQ: Subcutaneous. This is a typical notation when noting or ordering an injection (shot)
given into the fatty tissue under the skin, such as with insulinfor diabetes mellitus.
T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of
the "vital signs."

tab: Tablet.

UA or u/a: Urinalysis. A UA is a typical part of a comprehensive physical examination.

URI: Upper respiratory infection, such as sinusitis or the common cold.

ut dict: As directed. As in taking a medicine according to the instructions that the
healthcare practitioner gave in the office or in the past.
UTI: Urinary tract infection.

VSS: Vital signs are stable. This notation means that from the standpoint of the
temperature, blood pressure, and pulse, the patient is doing well.

Wt: Weight. Body weight is often recorded as part of the physical examination.

List of abbreviations used in medical prescriptions[3]

Abbreviation Latin Meaning Possible confusion

aa ana of each
AAA apply to affected area
a.c. ante cibum before meals
"a" can be mistaken as an "o" which
a.d. auris dextra right ear
could read "o.d.", meaning right eye
use as much as one
ad lib. ad libitum
desires; freely
admov. admove apply
agit agita stir/shake
alt. h. alternis horis every other hour
ad manu
a.m.m. at doctors hand
medicae
a.m. ante meridiem morning, before noon
amp ampule
amt amount
aq aqua water
"a" can be mistaken as an "o" which
auris laeva,
a.l., a.s. left ear could read "o.s." or "o.l", meaning
auris sinistra
left eye
A.T.C. around the clock
"a" can be mistaken as an "o" which
a.u. auris utraque both ears could read "o.u.", meaning both
eyes

bis bis twice

b.d./b.i.d. bis in die twice daily
B.M. bowel movement
British National
BNF
Formulary
as a large single dose
bol. bolus
(usually intravenously)
B.S. blood sugar
B.S.A body surface areas
mistaken for "b.i.d", meaning twice
b.t. bedtime
daily

BUCC bucca inside cheek

cap., caps. capsula capsule
with (usually written with
c, c. cum
a bar on top of the "c")
cib. cibus food
mistaken for "U", meaning units;
with food, (but also
cc cum cibo also has an ambiguous meaning;
cubic centimetre)
use "mL" or "milliliters"
cf with food
comp. compound
cr., crm cream

CST Continue same

 treatment
ambiguous meaning, write out
D or d days or doses
"days" or "doses"

dextrose 5% solution
D5W (sometimes written as
D5W)
dextrose 5% in normal
D5NS
saline (0.9%)
dispense as written (i.e.,
D.A.W.
no generic substitution)
discontinue or
dc, D/C, disc ambiguous meaning
discharge
dieb. alt. diebus alternis every other day
dil. dilute
disp. dispersible or dispense
div. divide
dL deciliter
dentur tales
d.t.d. give of such doses
doses
can easily be confused with "diluted
tincture of opium," which is 1/25th
deodorized tincture of
DTO the strength of deodorized tincture
opium
of opium; deaths have resulted due
to massive morphine overdose
D.W. distilled water
elix. elixir
ex modo
e.m.p. as directed
prescripto
emuls. emulsum emulsion
et et and
eod every other day
ex aq ex aqua in water
fl., fld. fluid
ft. fiat make; let it be made
g gram
gr grain
gtt(s) gutta(e) drop(s)
H hypodermic
h, hr hora hour
h.s. hora somni at bedtime
hour sleep or half-
h.s ambiguous meaning
strength
ID intradermal
mistaken for "IV", meaning
IJ, inj injectio injection
intravenously
intramuscular (with
IM
respect to injections)
mistaken for "IM", meaning
IN intranasal intramuscular, or "IV", meaning
intravenously
IP intraperitoneal
mistaken for "IV" or "10", spell out
IU international unit
"international unit"
IV intravenous
IVP intravenous push
IVPB intravenous piggyback
kg kilogram
L.A.S. label as such
LCD coal tar solution
lin linimentum liniment
liq liquor solution
lot. lotion

MAE Moves All Extremities

mane mane in the morning
M. misce mix
m, min minimum a minimum
Recommended replacement for
mcg microgram "µg" which may be confused with
"mg"
more dicto
m.d.u. to be used as directed
utendus
mEq milliequivalent
mg milligram
mg/dL milligrams per deciliter
MgSO4 magnesium sulfate may be confused with "MSO4",
 spell out "magnesium sulfate"
mist. mistura mix
mitte mitte send
mL millilitre
morphine
can mean either morphine sulfate or
MS sulfate or magnesium
magnesium sulfate, spell out either
sulfate
may be confused with "MgSO4",
MSO4 morphine sulfate
spell out "morphine sulfate"
nebul nebula a spray
N.M.T. not more than
noct. nocte at night
non rep. non repetatur no repeats

NPO nil per os nothing by mouth

NS normal saline (0.9%)
half normal saline
1/2NS
(0.45%)
N.T.E. not to exceed
both eyes, sometimes
o_2
written as o2
every day/once daily
od omne in die (preferred to qd in the
UK[4])
"o" can be mistaken as an "a" which
od oculus dexter right eye could read "a.d.", meaning right ear,
confusion with omne in die
om omne mane every morning

on omne nocte every night

o.p.d. once per day
"o" can be mistaken as an "a" which
o.s. oculus sinister left eye
could read "a.s.", meaning left ear
"o" can be mistaken as an "a" which
o.u. oculus uterque both eyes could read "a.u.", meaning both
ears
oz ounce
per per by or through
p.c. post cibum after meals
pig./pigm. pigmentum paint
p.m. post meridiem evening or afternoon
p.o. per os by mouth or orally
p.r. per rectum by rectum
PRN, prn pro re nata as needed
pulv. pulvis powder
PV per vaginam via the vagina
q quaque every, per
quaque
q.a.d. every other day
alternis die
quaque die
q.a.m. every day before noon
ante meridiem
quater die can be mistaken for "qd" (every
q.d.s. four times a day
sumendus day)

quaque die every day after noon or

q.p.m.
post meridiem every evening
q.h. quaque hora every hour
quaque hora
q.h.s. every night at bedtime
somni
every 1 hour; (can
q.1 h, q.1° quaque 1 hora replace "1" with other
numbers)
mistaken for "QOD" or "qds," spell
q.d., q1d quaque die every day
out "every day" or "daily"
can be mistaken for "qd" or "qod,"
q.i.d. quater in die four times a day
write out "four times a day"
q4PM at 4pm mistaken to mean every four hours
mistaken for "QD," spell out "every
q.o.d. every other day
other day"

quater quaque
qqh every four hours
hora
quantum
q.s. a sufficient quantity
sufficiat
QWK every week
R rectal
rep., rept. repetatur repeats
RL, R/L Ringer's lactate
without (usually written
s sine
with a bar on top of the
 "s")
according to the art
secundum
s.a. (accepted practice); use
artem
your judgement
"SC" can be mistaken for "SL,"
SC, subc,
meaning sublingual; "SQ" can be
subcut, subq, subcutaneous
mistaken for "5Q" meaning five
SQ
every dose
used exclusively in veterinary
s.i.d/SID semel in die once a day
medicine
sig signa write on label
sublingually, under the
SL
tongue
sol solutio solution
s.o.s., si op. sit si opus sit if there is a need
ss semis one half or sliding scale mistaken for "55" or "1/2"
mistaken to mean
sliding scale insulin or
"strong solution of iodine" or
SSI, SSRI sliding scale
"selective serotonin reuptake
regular insulin
inhibitor"

Serotonin–
SNRI
norepinephrine
(antidepressant)
reuptake inhibitor
selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitor
SSRI
(antidepressant) (a specific class of
antidepressant)

stat statim immediately

SubQ subcutaneously
supp suppositorium suppository
susp suspension
syr syrupus syrup
tab tabella tablet

tal., t talus such

tbsp tablespoon
troche trochiscus lozenge
ter die
t.d.s. three times a day
sumendum
t.i.d. ter in die three times a day
t.i.w. three times a week mistaken for twice a week
top. topical
T.P.N. total parenteral nutrition
tr, tinc., tinct. tincture
tsp teaspoon
mistaken for a "4", "0" or "cc", spell
U unit
out "unit"
u.d., ut. dict. ut dictum as directed
ung. unguentum ointment
United States
U.S.P.
Pharmacopoeia

vag vaginally
w with
w/a while awake
wf with food (with meals)
w/o, s without
X times
Y.O. years old