Abreviations

• a.c. = before meals (from "ante cibum," before meals)
• ad lib: use as much as one desires (from "ad libitum")
• b.i.d. = twice a day
• caps = capsules
• da or daw = dispense as written
• g (or gm or GM) = gram
• gtt. = drops (from "guttae," drops)
• h. = hour
• mg = milligram
• ml = milliliter
• p.c. = after meals (from "post cibum," aftermeals)
• p.o. = by mouth, orally (from "per os," by mouth)
• p.r.n. = when necessary (from "pro re nata," for an occasion that has arisen, as circumstances require, as needed)
• q.d. = once a day (from "quaque die," once a day)
• q.i.d. = four times a day (from "quater in die," 4 times a day)
• q._h.: If a medicine is to be taken every so-many hours (from "quaque," every andthe "h" indicating the number of hours)
• q.h. = every hour
• q.2h. = every 2 hours
• q.3h. = every 3 hours
• q.4h. = every 4 hours
• t.i.d. = three times a day (from "ter in die," 3 times a day)
• ut dict. = as directed (from "ut dictum," as directed)
• S.D single dose
• BIW twice a week
• MWF (Monday-Wednesday, Friday
p.o.: by mouth

IM:intramuscular injection

SC: subcutaneous injection

IV: intravenous

PR: per rectum

h.s.: at hour of sleep (bedtime)

ac: before meals

pc: after meals

q: every, ie, q 8 h means every 8 hours

q.d.: every day

b.i.d.: twice/day

t.i.d.: three times/day

q.i.d.: four times/day

q.o.d.: every other day

Abbreviation Latin Meaning

aa ana of each

ad ad up to

a.c. ante cibumbefore meals

a.d. auris dextra right ear

ad lib. ad libitum use as much as one desires; freely

admov. admove apply

agit agita stir/shake

alt. h. alternis horis every other hour

a.m. ante meridiem morning, before noon

amp ampule

amt amount

aq aqua water

a.l., a.s. auris laeva, auris sinistra left ear

A.T.C. around the clock

a.u. auris utraque both earsbis bis twice

b.d./b.i.d. bis in die twice daily

B.M. bowel movement

bol. bolus as a large single dose (usually intravenously)

B.S. blood sugar

B.S.A body surface areas

BUCC bucca inside cheek

cap., caps. capsula capsule

c, c. cum with (usually written with a bar on top of the "c")

cib. cibus food

cc cum cibo with food, (but also cubic centimetre)

cf withfood

comp. compound

cr., crm cream

CST Continue same treatment

D5W dextrose 5% solution (sometimes written as D5W)

D5NS dextrose 5% in normal saline (0.9%)

D.A.W. dispense as written (i.e., no generic substitution)

dc, D/C, disc discontinue

dieb. alt. diebus alternis every other day

dil. dilute

disp. dispersible or dispense

div. divide

d.t.d.dentur tales doses give of such doses

D.W. distilled water

elix. elixir

e.m.p. ex modo prescripto as directed

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

IDintradermal

IM intramuscular (with respect to injections)

inj. injectio injection

IP intraperitoneal

IV intravenous

IVP intravenous push

IVPB intravenous piggyback

L.A.S. label as such

LCD coal tar solution

lin linimentum liniment

liq liquor solution

lot. lotion

mane mane in the morning

M. misce mix

m, min minimum a minimum

mcg microgramm.d.u. more dicto utendus to be used as directed

mEq milliequivalent

mg milligram

mist. mistura mix

mitte mitte send

mL millilitre

nebul nebula a spray

N.M.T. not more than

noct. nocte at night

non rep. non repetatur no repeats

NS normal saline (0.9%)

1/2NS half normal saline (0.45%)

N.T.E. not to exceed

o_2 both eyes, sometimes written as...