Snapshot: This article reviews commonly used medical abbreviations, including their common meanings and (where relevant) their Latin language roots, for a variety of medication-related terms and categories.
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Medication Timing Medication Instructions Medication Administration & Placement Amount of Medication Medication Containers Medication Types Medication Routes & Sites
Medication Timing
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| a.c. |
Before meals |
ante cibum |
| alt h. |
Every other hour |
Alternis horis |
| bis |
Twice |
Bis |
| b.d./b.i.d. |
Twice daily |
Bis in die |
| b.t. |
Bedtime |
|
| h, hr |
Hour |
Hora |
| h.s. |
At bedtime |
Hora somni |
| noct. |
At night |
Nocte |
| p.c. |
After meals |
Post cibum |
| q |
Every |
Quaque |
| q.a.d. |
Every other day |
Quoque alternis die |
| q.d.s |
Four times a day |
Quarter die sumendus |
| q.h. |
Every hour |
Quaque hora |
| q.h.s. |
Every night at bedtime |
Quaque hora somni |
| q.1 h, q. 1 |
Every 1 hour; (can replace “1” with other numbers) |
Quaque 1 hora |
| q.d., q.1d |
Every day |
Quaque die |
| q.i.d. |
Four times a day |
Quattuor in die |
| q.o.d. |
Every other day |
|
| qqh |
Every four hours |
Quarter quaque hora |
| stat |
Immediately |
Statim |
| t.d.s. |
Three times a day |
Ter die sumendum |
| t.i.d. |
Three times a day |
Ter in die |
| X |
Times |
|
Medication Instructions
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| dc, D/C, disc |
Discontinue or discharge |
|
| mist. |
Mix |
Mistura |
| mitte |
Send |
Mitte |
| s |
Without (usually written with a bar on top of the “s”) |
Sine |
| s.a. |
Use your judgment |
Secundum artum |
| PRN, prn |
As needed |
Pro re nata |
| u.d., ut, diet. |
As directed |
Ut dictum |
| w |
With |
|
| wf |
With food (with meals) |
|
| w/o |
Without |
|
Medication Administration & Placement
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| a.d. |
Right ear |
Auris dextra |
| a.l., a.s. |
Left ear |
Auris laeva, auris sinistra |
| a.u. |
Both ears |
Auris utraque |
| BUCC |
Inside cheek |
Bucca |
| c, c. |
With (usually written with a bar on top of the “c”) |
Cum |
| cc |
With food |
Cum cibo |
| cf |
With food |
|
| agit |
shake |
Agita |
| e.m.p. |
As directed |
Ex modo prescripto |
| s.o.s., si op. sit |
If there is a need |
Si opus sit |
Amount of Medication
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| ad lib. |
Use as much as one desires; freely |
Ad libitum |
| bol. |
As a large single dose (usually intravenously) |
Bolus |
| g |
Gram |
|
| gr |
Grain |
|
| gtt(s) |
Drop(s) |
Gutta(e) |
| mcg |
microgram |
|
| mEq |
milliequivalent |
|
| mg |
milligram |
|
| mL |
Milliliter |
|
| tbsp |
Tablespoon |
|
| troche |
Lozenge |
Trochiscus |
| U |
Unit |
|
| ug |
Microgram |
|
| tsp |
Teaspoon |
|
Medication Containers
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| amp |
Ampule |
|
| cap., caps. |
capsule |
Capsula |
| nebul |
A spray |
Nebula |
| sol |
solution |
Solutio |
| susp |
Suspension |
|
| syr |
Syrup |
Syrupus |
| tab |
Tablet |
Tabella |
| tr, tinc., tinct. |
Tincture |
|
| ung. |
ointment |
Unguentum |
Medication Types
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
| D5W |
Dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W) |
| D5NS |
Dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%) |
| MgSO4 |
Magnesium sulfate |
| MS |
Morphine sulfate or magnesium sulfate |
| MSO4 |
Morphine sulfate |
| NS |
Normal saline (0.9%) |
| ½ NS |
Half normal saline (0.45%) |
| RL,R/L |
Ringer’s lactate |
| T.P.N. |
Total perenteral nutrition |
Medication Routes & Sites
| Abbreviation |
Meaning |
Latin Root |
| ID |
|
Intradermal |
| IM |
|
intramuscular |
| IU |
|
International unit. (Note: can be mistaken for “IV” or “10”, spell out “international unit). |
| IV |
|
Intravenous |
| IVP |
|
Intravenous push |
| IVPB |
|
Intravenous piggyback |
| PO |
Per os |
Orally or by mouth |
| p.r. |
Per rectum |
By rectum |
| SC, subc, subcut, subq, SQ |
|
Subcutaneous |
| SL |
|
Sublingually, under the tongue |
| supp |
Suppositorium |
Suppository |
| top |
|
topical |
| vag |
|
Vaginally |